February 2022

[David M]

Well, after what was surely a record-breaking January for butterfly activity, will February follow suit?

[Old Wolf]

Today I saw my first butterlfy of the year. Walking the dogs around the block at lunchtime today with shining sun and 12 degrees, although a little breezy, I saw a Small Tortoiseshell flapping around someones UPVC front door. As I stood watching a gust of wind encouraged it to be on it's merry way and with a toodle pip, it was away over the houses

[fiveleaves]

Saw a Peacock in Weston Woods around 1pm 2/2/22.

[Wolfson]

The hedge has lost a few leaves, but the Brimstone has now been in residence for 3 months.

[Matsukaze]

Small Tortoiseshell in the garden this morning, nectaring on winter-flowering heather.

[David M]

Small Tortoiseshell in the garden this morning, nectaring on winter-flowering heather.

Good stuff, Chris. I presume the sun must have put in an appearance round your way?

[David M]

The hedge has lost a few leaves, but the Brimstone has now been in residence for 3 months.

Great that it's survived, Wolfson. I daresay it'll be off on its way the next sunny day you have.

[Matsukaze]

Small Tortoiseshell in the garden this morning, nectaring on winter-flowering heather.

Good stuff, Chris. I presume the sun must have put in an appearance round your way?

Yes, a lovely morning. Hoverflies, honey bees and a queen bumblebee working the heather as well.

[Vince Massimo]

Several sightings and observations over the course of the past 5 days during the sunny spells. In Tilgate Park, Crawley on Monday 7th there were 4 Red Admirals nectaring on the Daphne bush between 12.10 and 12.30. At the time it was a sunny 10C with a light wind. Another butterfly was seen in town.

Two Red Admirals - Crawley, Sussex 7-Feb-2022

Today, 11th February the were 3 Red Admirals on the same bush between 12.15 and 12.30 before the cloud rolled in. At the time it was sunny and 8C with no wind.

Since the beginning of February, 8 Red Admiral eggs have hatched in the Ifield Meadows nettlebed, the last 2 were on the 9th of the month.

Four Red Admiral eggs - Crawley, Sussex 9-Feb-2022

Only 6 remain unhatched, but one of these may be dead, as it's turned yellow at the top, which is not a good sign.

Red Admiral egg (poss. dying) - Crawley, Sussex 28-Jan-2022

Only a few of the new 1st instar hatchlings have been found, but these seem to disappear soon afterwards, or are found dead. Later instars seem to be more numerous. Their size makes them easier to find, of course, but whether this also makes them better able to deal with the colder conditions is difficult to say without more data. I hope to make a more detailed report on this in a few weeks time.

Red Admiral 3rd instar larva - Crawley, Sussex 9-Feb-2022

Also, I have had a report from Dave Harris that a Small White larva pupated in his Newhaven garden on 4th February. The food plant was Nasturtium.

Vince

[David M]

Nice to see thinks getting moving down your way, Vince. Be nice if the cloud shifted from my area as I'm sure butterflies here are ready to get moving again.

[Matsukaze]

The strong winds here see the leaves pretending to be Clouded Yellows rather than Small Tortoiseshells or Commas.

[David M]

Thursday 17th - Saw my first butterfly of 2022, a Red Admiral flying in light woodland behind the Gower Inn at Parkmill, close to where I live. This sheltered area is well protected from the wind and with temperatures reaching 11c, it was no surprise to find it.

[Wurzel]

Red Admiral in central Salisbury this morning and then 2 Small Tortoiseshells at Middle Street (Wiltshire) this afternoon. 'Not Quite So Little L' got a Peacock over at Downton - she took great delight in getting photos before me

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[David M]

Brimstone, Small Tortoiseshell and Red Admiral all seen in Swansea today.

The Brimstone was at the entrance to Lower Kilvey Hill and was very flighty. Best I could do was take potshots (the butterfly is just above the arrow):

The Small Tortoiseshell was seen in a field a few hundred yards away, and decided to rest on a metal panel:

The Red Admiral was sighted some while later after I'd driven to the wild area near my workplace:

So good to see these beauties back.

[Matsukaze]

Peacock seen here yesterday, fluttering bat-like around the eaves of a house. Three species before the end of February - some years I have not yet seen a butterfly by this point.

[zigzag_wanderer]

This took a liking to the garden geraniums today (visited twice between noon and 1 pm).

Bit early for a newly emerged one ?

It has a tear to its left hind-wing.....do they sometimes hibernate ?

[David M]

...do they sometimes hibernate ?

They hibernate as both pupae and larvae, ZZW. They aren't usually on the wing before the spring equinox but if one has pupated in a warm spot then that will possibly lead to an ultra-early emergence. There was one seen near Cardiff in January this year! I presume that one pupated in a greenhouse.

[zigzag_wanderer]

...do they sometimes hibernate ?

They hibernate as both pupae and larvae, ZZW. They aren't usually on the wing before the spring equinox but if one has pupated in a warm spot then that will possibly lead to an ultra-early emergence. There was one seen near Cardiff in January this year! I presume that one pupated in a greenhouse.

Thanks David, I guess this one must have pupated somewhere similarly warm to emerge this early, although it was a glorious day here today.

It's certainly the earliest new adult I've knowingly seen !

[millerd]

My second butterfly of 2022 seen today (Sat 26th) on my local patch near Heathrow. It was certainly pretty sunny, but not actually as warm as quite a few earlier February days.

This now makes thirteen consecutive calendar months in which I have seen a butterfly locally.

Cheers,

Dave

[David M]

Nice that you saw it settled, Dave. The one I came across on Friday was having none of it!!