Maximus

[Maximus]

Thanks Pauline, this probably does happen fairly often, it's just finding them

Thanks Goldie, so would I


While we were away our single Purple Hairstreak lava pupated. He seems to have done this in a rather unusual place. All of those we reared last year pupated on the 'ground', amongst the moss in the pot!

Pupa among the Oak buds

[William]

Amazing photos of that mixed pairing Mike - look forward to seeing some Glanville photos

BWs,

William

[bugboy]

Very odd place. As far as I know (from what I read at any rate) they always pupate on the ground and most are taken into ants nests. Having said that they seem to have the perfect camaflage to pupate where this one has, it would be a very sharp eyed Blue Tit who would find that!

[Jamie Burston]

Fantastic documentation of the Purple Hairstreak Pupa.The pupa has great camouflage next to the bud remains. I feel this occurrence may happen with a select few, I think that the final instar larva might be able to choose the best situation in which to pupate. It makes great sense, in the instance of Purple Hairstreak colonies, which have territories on oaks which are blocked in by other trees within a woodland complex, to adopt this method of pupating on and higher up in the canopy, without having to fall or travel to the ground. Additionally to being found in ants nests they do pupate on the trunks of oak, assuming at any height. These are all just my theories but at the very least it is plausible . Great work as the first Purple Hairstreaks in the wild normally start to pupate between now and the first week of June. I'm going to guess a female will emerge, fun if I'm wrong. Has the pupa produced a silk thread to keep it attached ? A bit hard to tell at that resolution.

[Maximus]

It's a very odd place bugboy, but as you say it's perfectly perfect camouflaged among the Oak buds.

Hi Jamie, yes your theories do make sense, why leave the tree if it's not necessary! I'll try to take some better shots of the pupa, i'm pretty sure that it has attached itself to the Oak with silk. I'll post them in a couple of days time. I'll also post what sex it is when it emerges

[David M]

Brown Argus x Adonis Blue...

That is an incredible sighting, Mike.

Over to the geneticists to tell us whether this is a 'viable' pairing....

[Neil Freeman]

Hi Mike,

Great report and photos from Bonchurch Down

I have seen male Brown Argus chasing after females of other 'blues' a few times but never witnessed an actual pairing...amazing stuff.

Cheers,

Neil

[Jamie Burston]

Hi Jamie, yes your theories do make sense, why leave the tree if it's not necessary! I'll try to take some better shots of the pupa, i'm pretty sure that it has attached itself to the Oak with silk. I'll post them in a couple of days time. I'll also post what sex it is when it emerges

It's all really interesting stuff, much appreciated for doing that. With my Purple Hairstreak article next year and that I'm now the Purple Hairstreak species champion for Sussex BC, I feel I need to learn as much as possible. Especially the pupa stage which is still clouded in mystery. I very much enjoy looking back on your previous rearing experiences of this species.

[trevor]

HI Mike.
Super set of images !. What are the chances of repeating that Brown Argus triple.
Good luck with the Purple Hairstreak pupae.

Happy hunting,
TREVOR.

[Maximus]

Thanks William, I somehow missed your kind comment some Glanvilles to follow

Hi David, It would be interesting to return to the IOW for the second brood Adonis, who knows what you might find!

Thanks Neil, you were at Bonchurch last year and got some great photos too I've never seen a mixed pairing before - it was amazing.

It is very interesting Jamie, I know that Purple Hairstreak are your favourite species, therefore it's great that you are Sussex BC - PH species champion. I'll try to get some extra photos on tomorrow.

Thanks Trevor, pretty slim chance I think Hopefully the Purple Hairstreak will emerge sometime in late June.


Isle of Wight (part 2)


We decided that we would spend our second day on the island visiting Wheelers Bay, hoping that the Glanville Fritillaries had begun to emerge. Arriving at the car park we noted that the wind was lighter than on our first day, so set off with a certain amount of haste along the promenade. It wasn't long before we spotted our first Glanville Fritillary perched low down on some vegetation.

We saw ten more Glanvilles as we walked along searching, some of them on the Valerian which was growing in abundance along the undercliff.

These were a mating pair which had just separated

The only female we saw

As we were taking photos we heard a familiar voice behind us and turned to find Andy Butler talking to a group of people he was just returning with from a field trip along the revetment. We chatted to him briefly about all things Glanville and he asked whether we'd seen Glanville Fritillary pupae in the wild. We said we hadn't, so he invited us to pop up to his house when we'd finished with our walk then he'd show us where he'd found some pupae in a very unusual place that very morning. When we climbed the steep steps up to his house a little while later we were amazed to see a fair number of Glanvilles nectaring on his well-planted terrace garden just below the house.

These shots were taken in Andy's garden

This discarded glove was where the larvae had pupated

Andy also managed to find us a larva which was just beginning to pupate!

We also saw 4 Common Blues, 1 Small White, 1 Large White, 1 Peacock, 1 Holly Blue, 1 female Orange-tip and 2 Clouded Yellows.

Another great day out in lovely surroundings - To be continued...

[Pauline]

Well Mike, what a great time you obviously had. Not just great shots but really unusual ones too. I can't wait for the next installment. Where ever you are planning on going next - can I come too?

[trevor]

HI Mike,
Those Glanville images are some of the best i've seen, Photography at Wheelers Bay is not easy,especially
when a dark Butterfly settles on chalk in very bright sunshine, which were the conditions when i last went
there.
How does your very yellow Clouded Yellow compare to the one in my diary ?. that one dazzled.

All the best,
TREVOR.

[Willrow]

Agree with other comments Mike, fascinating reading, some really unusual occurences...great stuff

Regards,

Bill

"When in doubt - venture out"

[Maximus]

It was a great time Pauline,it's just a case of right place right time next instalment follows. Not sure where next, but we've only got a two man tent

Thanks Trevor, Wheelers Bay can be challenging for photography. Cloudies always dazzle

Thanks Bill, glad you enjoyed the read.


Isle of Wight (part 3)


On our final day we decided to head to Brading Down, where we had seen, among others, plenty of Wall Browns last year. Walking across the down it was apparent that it had become fairly overgrown since our last visit. Common Blues were not so common and Dingy Skippers appeared in low numbers. The habitat however seemed to favour Holly Blues. we saw at least a dozen, mostly females of which we got some shots, although we also saw several males. We only saw one Wall, but as usual it kept going!

We also saw a Red Admiral sitting on a post, our first sighting of this species for a while!

We decided it was time to move on to Compton Bay in West Wight as this had been a rich source of various butterfly species for us last year. And indeed it was again this year, with the notable exception of Green Hairstreak, which were mostly very worn and faded!

Brown Argus are having a good year

We saw some lovely fresh Small Blues

Mating Small Heaths and Common Blues..

We saw plenty of Dingy Skippers and Common Blues..

We also found our first Small Copper and Large Skipper of 2015 - Thursday 21st May - earlier than last year!

We still have a few other shots to add to finish this posting, some butterfly related, some not, at a later date...

[millerd]

Wonderful shots from the I.o.W., Maximus. What a place to spend a few days at this time of year. I can't begin to pick out a highlight...

Dave

[Neil Freeman]

Hi Mike,

Great reports and photos from your visit to the IOW, brings back memories of being there myself last year ...can't believe that was a year ago

Cheers,

Neil.

[kevling]

Nice report from IOW Maximus. I like especially like the Common Blues mating.

Regards Kev

[bugboy]

Nice reports with some beautiful photographs to match, I'm glad the Glanvilles are doing well down there

[Wurzel]

Fantastic series of reports from the IOW Mike - those Glannies are something else I haven't seen one for two years now The Clouded Yellow is really Canary coloured, a really clouded YELLOW

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[trevor]

Hi Mike,
Yes good to see more RAs. Looking forward their White cousins !, only about twenty days to wait
for them.
Great report from the IOW. Brilliant Glanville images.

Best wishes,
TREVOR.