www.ukbutterflies.co.uk

Anyone else bored with no butterflies...?

1) Name a Christmas Carol that should be of interest to which particular species of butterfly and why.............?

Easy one to start
along the same lines....

2) Which Christmas bird would you associate with the Purple Hairstreak and why.......?

N

......
3) The larval food-plant of which seasonal species of lepidoptera should everyone have in their house at Christmas?

Any takers yet?

N

OK Nick, for (1) I was going to say 'Deck the Hall...'. I think that would do for (3) too (holly blue).

Guy

...h'mmmm. Some right answers sort-of mixed in there, but not, as they say, to the right questions....

Not what I have on my card, Guy!


Don't worry, the real answers don't get any better....

EDIT: PS _ If anyone else would like to join in the fun (sic!) so that we could get 12 lepidoptera-related Christmas quiz questions for the Aurelians' Christmas Party please do feel free to add to the questions. The cornier the better........

I'll change answer 1 to 'The holly and the ivy', then! Same species, same reason...



Now will you let me get on with my marking and reports?

Guy

I'll have a go!

For #3, Google tells me there's a Mistletoe Marble Moth Celypha woodiana. Is that it?

For #2, Purple Hairstreaks sometimes feed on Turkey Oak...?

#3 seems to be the one.
Guy is right for #1) "The Holly and the ivy, when they are both full-grown" do feed the larvae of the Holly Blue...
#2 - dilettante has got the bird! A real Turkey Oak sometimes used by Purple Hairstreak larvae...

I'm going to need some more help here to keep going; and Guy - not until you get #3. Lepidoptera and seasonal are clues....

OK...
#4) What butterfly links the classical birth-place of the muses or water-nymphs and a traditional Christmas dinner dish, and why?

...back to your marking, Guy.
#3 - dilettante: along the right lines....

No. 3 -
Winter Moth and Norway Spruce?

4/ Large White Pieris brassicae - Pieria and Brussel Sprouts or Cabbage

Hi roger
Have you nothing else to do this morning (like me) ? Very quick to respond and spot-on, mate!
I'm making these too easy am I?
N
Edit . Your turn now? Please....?

Leave me to get on with my work will you!
I have a report to write, and haven't time to keep answering your damn fool questions.

(Next one please?)

...
#5) Which butterfly is associated with a traditional Christmas condiment; and what might link this to the Green-veined White?

...I'm running down quickly boys....

Orange tips feed on garlic mustard and the American mustard white used to be treated as the same species as the green-veined white. Any good?

Guy

Guy
I reckon Nick is after the Cranberry Blue or Fritillary.
However, I can't find a connection with either of these and the Green-veined White though.
Fiendish one this.

Whilst we await the outcome of Nick's last teaser, perhaps you may like to challenge these 10 cryptic clues?

a/ Caught up in dotcom madness.
b/ Let's hope a cocktail will solve this one.
c/ A common architectural inclusion.
d/ Boring letter included.
e/ “Know all” will get this.
f/ This Mall he athletically explored.
g/ Organised by a timid whaler.
h/ This married lad all a flutter.
i/ Chased around by the over eager bull.
j/ If you need props, call me to arrange.

I thought of the cranberries, Roger, but I assumed Nick would stick to UK Butterflies... You might be right. What they have to do with P. napi, though, I don't know either!

I can do most of your crossword clues but I'm NOT going to dwell on the others - there's still a pile of marking to be done and reports to be written. I did think I would draw up a Christmas butterfly Only Connect grid when it's all over, in celebration of the ever-festive Victoria Coren. Or maybe someone else would like to turn their hand to that.

Guy

.. a false assumption, Guy, as it turned out, as I struggled to find more Christmas associations
Cranberry and Garlic mustard are right; condiments on the table at Christmas!

#6) Also the name of a maiden, this plant supports a classically-named species of butterfly.

Rogerdodge wrote:Whilst we await the outcome of Nick's last teaser, perhaps you may like to challenge these 10 cryptic clues?

f/ This Mall he athletically explored.

I can solve clue f/ only if it contains a typo.

Paul

I can solve f) too, and it doesn't contain a typo...

Guy