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Re: Pete Eeles
Posted: Wed Apr 23, 2014 7:33 pm
by Pete Eeles
Catchup of various bits and bobs!
Well, the Cryptic Wood White may not be out yet at Craigavon Lakes in Northern Ireland, but the Irish Orange-tips are
![Smile :)](./images/smilies/icon_smile.gif)
Of the shots below, the females conform most closely to the definition of
ssp. hibernica since the yellow suffusion on the hindwing is quite clear, whereas the yellow suffusion on the underside of the male forewing is nigh on impossible to photograph but is definitely there!:
"Slightly smaller on the average than the type, the black spots at the ends of the nervures more strongly marked. The male frequently suffused with yellow on the underside of the forewing, the female usually with the hindwing strongly suffused with yellow". The last female shown appeared to have unusually-shaped spots on the forewings.
![0.1.jpg (233.96 KiB) Viewed 561 times Orange-tip ssp. hibernica (male)](./files/thumb_3_fdc695d56c2187203456773aeda72afd)
- Orange-tip ssp. hibernica (male)
![0.2.jpg (289.44 KiB) Viewed 561 times Orange-tip ssp. hibernica (male)](./files/thumb_3_f6dafa2d2db5087ff4e37fa6c7261837)
- Orange-tip ssp. hibernica (male)
![0.3.jpg (229.55 KiB) Viewed 561 times Orange-tip ssp. hibernica (female)](./files/thumb_3_f9cc81decb50279025c1532dfa9d46b4)
- Orange-tip ssp. hibernica (female)
![0.4.jpg (278.14 KiB) Viewed 561 times Orange-tip ssp. hibernica (female)](./files/thumb_3_7635b84550f253d1e334c7a1bcb2d7ff)
- Orange-tip ssp. hibernica (female)
![0.5.jpg (273.18 KiB) Viewed 561 times Orange-tip ssp. hibernica (female)](./files/thumb_3_ee3aa9869a8980abf4c352e49832c12c)
- Orange-tip ssp. hibernica (female)
Closer to home, the Dingy Skipper larvae have emerged from hibernation and, without further feeding, have each built a shelter in which to pupate. The pupal colour seems quite variable, with one being particularly dark and very moth-like, the other conforming more to "type" and showing a beautiful combination of green and red hues. One of these pupated in a plastic box and gave me a window onto its world as the larva threaded together leaves with silk, leaving the side of the box clear, where I saw it build a silk pad on the "ceiling" of its chamber before settling down on the pad and, after a few days, pupating.
![1.jpg (459.64 KiB) Viewed 561 times Dingy Skipper pupa](./files/thumb_3_b03b78e931ce8992e60e80efaf53a1d3)
- Dingy Skipper pupa
![2.jpg (486.24 KiB) Viewed 561 times Dingy Skipper pupa](./files/thumb_3_fee2b050d21c11ee68c82803129c64e6)
- Dingy Skipper pupa
The first of the Silver-studded Blue have now entered their final instar and are an amazing colour - the contrast between the green ground colour and red dorsal stripe is quite something! It seems that even the brown form of larva are turning green as they move into their final instar, but I'll keep a close eye on this to confirm.
![3.jpg (403.11 KiB) Viewed 561 times Silver-studded Blue larva](./files/thumb_3_485e61c10fe91e9e45ef5c228f7be7ba)
- Silver-studded Blue larva
![4.jpg (312.89 KiB) Viewed 561 times Silver-studded Blue larva](./files/thumb_3_a0ef55c3218691ead9d728a62ec8a099)
- Silver-studded Blue larva
And finally - the first of the White-letter Hairstreak larvae has whizzed through its instars and is now preparing to pupate. This is well ahead of schedule, despite it being kept outside in the coolest place in the garden. Fortunately, the Purple Hairstreak ova I rescued have only just started to emerge, so seem to be in sync with the oak burst in West Berks!
![5.jpg (357.25 KiB) Viewed 561 times White-letter Hairstreak larva attached to an Elm leaf](./files/thumb_3_356d9ac7e8b8f14a2251945e9c168083)
- White-letter Hairstreak larva attached to an Elm leaf
Cheers,
- Pete
Re: Pete Eeles
Posted: Wed Apr 23, 2014 8:27 pm
by Maximus
Amazing shots of the Dingy Skipper pupa Pete and the Silver-studded Blue larva are a lovely colour. The White-letter Hairstreak larva look very similar to Purple Hairstreak larva which also seem to speed though their instars too. Brown Hairstreak larva however seem to be a little more sedate.
Mike
Re: Pete Eeles
Posted: Wed Apr 23, 2014 8:38 pm
by David M
You've excelled even yourself there, Pete.
Magnificent images.
Re: Pete Eeles
Posted: Wed Apr 23, 2014 8:57 pm
by Vince Massimo
Great efforts Pete.
Those are superb images of rarely recorded subjects
Also filling a few gaps in the Species Albums...............
Vince
Re: Pete Eeles
Posted: Wed Apr 23, 2014 9:18 pm
by Butterflysaurus rex
Some amazing images there Pete!
Best Wishes
B'saurus
Re: Pete Eeles
Posted: Wed Apr 23, 2014 9:55 pm
by Wurzel
Agreed with everyone else - real top drawer photos
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
. The final female OT does have noticeably larger spots. I can see the lemony suffusion as well though I have seen that on a "British" OT female before. Good luck with the Cryptics
Have a goodun
Wurzel
Re: Pete Eeles
Posted: Fri Apr 25, 2014 2:50 pm
by Pete Eeles
Thanks all!
Another Eggcellent day
With it bucketing down all day, I decided I needed a good soak and went to a site that I visited last weekend and where I saw a female Small Tortoiseshell ovipositing. The leaf she was laying on was weighted down with eggs - possibly laid by more than one female. Another sprig of nettle, also with a sheltered south-facing outlook, had another egg batch on it. All batches seemed to have a small level of predation, with a few damaged or empty egg shells among them. I'm sure I could have found many more egg batches, but my socks needed a good wringing out so I headed back home instead! Photos below.
Cheers,
- Pete
Re: Pete Eeles
Posted: Fri Apr 25, 2014 3:27 pm
by Vince Massimo
Well done Pete, I was hoping you had found some of your own by now
I reckon there at least 6 egg batches on that single leaf. The first three images are also showing a visiting parasitic wasp, while I believe the damage in the last three images is due to slugs.
Vince
Re: Pete Eeles
Posted: Fri Apr 25, 2014 3:30 pm
by Pete Eeles
Vince Massimo wrote:Well done Pete, I was hoping you had found some of your own by now
I reckon there at least 6 egg batches on that single leaf. The first three images are also showing a visiting parasitic wasp, while I believe the damage in the last three images is due to slugs.
Vince
Thanks Vince - strewth, I didn't even notice the wasp! Darn!
Cheers,
- Pete
Re: Pete Eeles
Posted: Fri Apr 25, 2014 9:02 pm
by Lee Hurrell
Lovely close up images Pete.
Do slugs eat the eggs?
Lee
Re: Pete Eeles
Posted: Mon Apr 28, 2014 9:33 pm
by Pete Eeles
Hi Lee - not sure what the slugs do.
As sweet as sugar
Silver-studded Blue are, without doubt, one of the most interesting species I've ever reared! The organs on the 8th abdominal segment are quite something, so I decided to look into this a little further and learned some things along the way. First off, the Newcomer's gland is found on the 7th abdominal segment and it is this, not the 8th segment organs, that produces the "honey dew" (and is sometimes called the
dorsal nectary gland as a result). You can see it here:
![IMG_8694.jpg (250.09 KiB) Viewed 412 times Newcomer's gland on the 7th segment](./files/thumb_3_e2fc0454136b03a97c2906ad41701090)
- Newcomer's gland on the 7th segment
The pair of cylindrical organs on the 8th abdominal segment are each topped with a ring of "spikes" that emit chemical signals which are believed to help in communicating with ants (according to Wikipedia). These things are just so prominent when the larva is moving or feeding, and very hard to miss! Here's a variety of shots showing them:
Cheers,
- Pete
Re: Pete Eeles
Posted: Mon Apr 28, 2014 9:44 pm
by Robin
Those SSB photos are amazing! Did they involve any new kit?
robin
Re: Pete Eeles
Posted: Mon Apr 28, 2014 9:49 pm
by Pete Eeles
Robin wrote:Those SSB photos are amazing! Did they involve any new kit?
robin
Hi Robin - nope, no new kit, just getting the hang of my old kit
![Smile :)](./images/smilies/icon_smile.gif)
But extension tubes help
Cheers,
- Pete
Re: Pete Eeles
Posted: Mon Apr 28, 2014 10:13 pm
by David M
Remarkable stuff, Pete.
Excellent images as ever and a rare insight into the earlier stages of one of Britain's most precious butterfly species.
Re: Pete Eeles
Posted: Mon Apr 28, 2014 10:35 pm
by Maximus
Amazing photos Pete, revealing the gaps that exist in our understanding of the early stages in the life of some of our butterfly species.
Mike
Re: Pete Eeles
Posted: Mon Apr 28, 2014 10:51 pm
by Wurzel
Amazing stuff Pete
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
Can those cylindrical organs on the 8th segment retractable?
Have a goodun
Wurzel
Re: Pete Eeles
Posted: Tue Apr 29, 2014 7:53 am
by Padfield
You've really inspired me, Pete! These are amazing pictures of a quite remarkable subject. Something I would love to see for myself, though I doubt my eye or camera could get as good a view as you've given us!
Guy
Re: Pete Eeles
Posted: Tue Apr 29, 2014 11:15 am
by Jack Harrison
Superb photos Pete. Only just been able to see them as I had internet router failure. Five whole days without internet
You asked:
Hi Lee - not sure what the slugs do.
I can answer that. They all move to the Isle of Mull, specifically my kitchen. I have no idea how/where they get in but they are a real pain. Suggestions how to deal with them welcome We have cats so slug pellets might not be a good idea.
Jack
Re: Pete Eeles
Posted: Tue Apr 29, 2014 1:22 pm
by MikeOxon
Jack Harrison wrote:Suggestions how to deal with them welcome We have cats so slug pellets might not be a good idea.
Try beer traps - see
http://www.slugoff.co.uk/killing-slugs/beer-trap
Re: Pete Eeles
Posted: Tue Apr 29, 2014 2:17 pm
by Pauline
Astonishing level of detail Pete and so interesting. I'm totally intrigued.