www.ukbutterflies.co.uk

Dang Pete, you nailed it. I really gotta try harder at this , your turn

I'm seriously running out of questions here!

The Green Hairstreak has several characteristics that are unique among the British butterflies. Name three of them.

Cheers,

- Pete

This species has the widest range of foodplants of any British species, which include Bilberry, Broom, Common Bird’s-foot-trefoil, Common Rockrose, Dogwood, Bramble and Gorse.

Larvae polymorphic, displaying a wide colour range.

This butterfly will regulate its body temperature by tilting its wings appropriately to catch the sun’s rays.

The undersides, by contrast, provide the illusion of being green, an effect produced by the diffraction of light on a lattice-like structure found within the wing scales.

Denise

"This species has the widest range of foodplants of any British species, which include Bilberry, Broom, Common Bird’s-foot-trefoil, Common Rockrose, Dogwood, Bramble and Gorse."
Correct. 1 down. 2 to go.

"Larvae polymorphic, displaying a wide colour range."
Lots of other species do too. Sorry - still 2 to go.

"This butterfly will regulate its body temperature by tilting its wings appropriately to catch the sun’s rays."
So will other species - such as the Grayling. Still 2 to go.

"The undersides, by contrast, provide the illusion of being green, an effect produced by the diffraction of light on a lattice-like structure found within the wing scales. "
Correct. 2 down. 1 to go

Cheers,

- Pete

The Green Hairstreak hibernates as a pupa, which distinguishes it from all other hairstreaks found in the British Isles, which all hibernate as eggs.

Early butterfly collectors thought that the only foodplant was Bramble (blackberry) Rubus fruticosus hence its scientific name, which is now known to be wrong.

The range of foodplants means that it is able to use a range of habitats including chalk downland, heathland, moorland and woodland.

Denise

The pupae squeak, attracting ants even though the larvae aren't attended. I don't know if any other pupae squeak, but I've never heard any do it!!

Guy

Excellent attempts Denise - but Guy managed to get the 3rd item I was after. Since Guy is such a gent, and since you got 2 out of the 3 I was looking for - over to you Denise

Cheers,

- Pete

I would have suggested it myself!

And anyway, I'm just off for a bit of private teaching to try and pay off these vets' bills...

Guy

Thanks Pete, but Guy got it fair and square.
I wouldn't have given that answer as I thought Chalkhill Blue also did this. It was featured on the Inside Out program on Chalkhill Blue, with our very own Lynn.
Chris Packham even played a recording of it

http://www.ukbutterflies.co.uk/phpBB2/v ... f=1&t=2677

(not sour grapes, just didn't think that this was what you were looking for.)

Denise

Actually - it was - but perhaps Guy wasn't explicit enough. The "unique" is that it can be heard by the human ear (others, I believe, require some amplification).

Cheers,

- Pete

Ahh, that explains it.
What a great way to learn interesting facts about our native butterflies.

Denise

I'm not quite sure now if I'm supposed to be playing Jeremy Paxman or if Denise is. It seems Denise is a gentleman too!

Here's a riddle anyway, even if I did get the last one only because of Denise's initial insights:

Prickly customer causes rational girl to be upset.

I don't think it will take you long...

Guy

Peacock pupa?

Denise

No... But I'd love to know your reasoning!

Hope you didn't mind my jumping Denise - I didn't know if you were waiting for me or not.

Guy

Prickly customer, upset = Peacock

causes rational girl to be upset = pupa.

Worth a shot. If no-one gets it by morning, i'll have another go.

Yes, I was waiting for you Guy. You won the last question fair and square.
Night all. Got a bit of a chest infection so not on top form.

Denise

Drink plenty, sleep well, and I hope it clears soon, Denise.

Guy

Guess this is wrong, but I'd have a shot and say:

Prickly customer = Thistle
causes rational girl to be upset = Painted Lady

Fascinating ideas, but I have the pedestrian, pedantic mind of a maths teacher. And I got to the regional finals of the Times Crossword Competition once (hint).

Guy

Amanda's Blue, makes sense for the " girl upset " good knows about the prickly bit.

Gruditch

Amanda's blue is very good, but quite wrong.

I used the word 'riddle' loosely. It's just a traditional crossword clue.

Guy