www.ukbutterflies.co.uk

Whilst the expected influx of Painted Ladies has yet appear on these shores, there has been a sighting of a female Long-tailed Blue near Exeter on 5th July by Guy F (dorsetguy.) It was observed ovipositing on everlasting pea in a residential garden. Reported on UKB sighting forum viewtopic.php?t=8379&start=20#p100739 with a link to twitter for a photo https://www.flickr.com/photos/61117641@ ... ed-public/

Vince

A Monarch was seen in the Brighton Pavilion gardens on 7th July by Bob Eade. Posted on UKB sightings forum with photo viewtopic.php?f=8&t=8379&start=20#p100842
It was reportedly seen flying in off the sea the previous day.

However, it is now clear that there were two different individuals photographed in the gardens on 10th July (including the original). See Pauline's UKB personal diary viewtopic.php?f=29&t=6199&start=1660#p101008 for details. It is now thought that these butterflies are the result of a release as explained by Neil Hulme in his UKB personal diary viewtopic.php?f=29&t=4065&start=2080#p101003.

Other than highlighting the effect of inappropriate and irresponsible releases, it is debatable whether this item is now newsworthy.

Vince

A Queen of Spain Fritillary was reported roosting on the Cherbourg to Poole ferry on 13th July by Tom Brereton. Report and photo on Twitter https://twitter.com/tom_m_brereton/stat ... 20/photo/1

As the ETA was 21.45 it is not known whether the butterfly would have had time to disembark before the ferry returned to Cherbourg.

Vince

A Large Tortoiseshell photographed by UKB member Trevor Rapley at Litlington, East Sussex on 4th July. Reported in Personal Diary entry viewtopic.php?f=29&t=7953&start=280#p101265
Another photographed at St Margaret's-at-Cliffe, Kent on 22nd July by T Morris. Reported on Twitter https://twitter.com/MigrantMothUK/statu ... 04/photo/1
More photos of the same sighting were posted by Dave Brown on his UKB Personal Diary viewtopic.php?t=4108&start=380#p101775

Vince

Freshly emerged Brimstones are now on the wing, which is not unusual in itself, but a female from the previous generation was seen still ovipositing at Mill Green Common, Essex on 17th July. Reported by Essex Bertie in the UKB sightings forum viewtopic.php?t=8379&start=40#p101382

Vince

A spectacular pale Comma aberration photographed by Michael Swanns in north Norfolk on 17th July. Reported on the iSpot website http://www.ispotnature.org/node/700799?nav=latest and drawn to the attention of UKB members by Mark Tutton viewtopic.php?f=8&t=8379&start=40#p101475

There is a slightly darker specimen in the Natural History Museum's Cockayne database labelled as ab dilutus http://www.nhm.ac.uk/research-curation/ ... utterflies


Vince

Holly Blue ovipositing on Heather:

viewtopic.php?f=8&t=8379&start=80#p101911

Cheers,

- Pete

As I live in an area where heathland is common, I have often observed Holly Blues ovipositing on heather, always Ling (Calluna) and never the other heathers. I have always thought that this was because they choose to lay among unopened flower buds and the Erica species, which flower earlier, are unsuitable. I have bred them through without problems. The purple marked form of the larva is perfectly camouflaged among the flowers of heather.

M.

Is a Green Hairstreak seen on 06-07-2015 worth mentioning? I looked on the phrenology charts and if shows them gone by June?
viewtopic.php?f=29&t=5040&start=2040#p101934

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Hi Wurzel,
just to add my two pennorth to your question, my records over the last 10 years give me the latest dates that I have seen Green Hairstreak as 11 June 2015 at Fairwood Common, Gower and 19 June twice ( 2006 and 2008 ) on Westleton Heath, Suffolk and at Martin Down, near you. No later dates. Richard Lewington in his book states "single-brooded with worn specimens sometimes lasting into July". I think you found the centenarian butterfly equivalent to have lasted that long !

Great reports and photos from you.

Jenks.

I suspect the cool spring prolonged the flight period of Green Hairstreak this year like it appears to have done for the Orange Tip. I wonder if other early single-brooded species like the Grizzled Skipper responded in the same way.

ATB

Peter

Purple Hairstreak courtship?

viewtopic.php?t=8464&start=0#p102153

Cheers,

- Pete

3-way pairing of Grayling:

viewtopic.php?f=8&t=8463&p=102170#p102168

Cheers,

- Pete

A Queen of Spain Fritillary sighted by Ricky Fairhead at Fritton Lake Country Park, Norfolk on 18th and 19th July. Report dated 26th July with photo on Suffolk BC website http://www.suffolkbutterflies.org.uk/sightings.html

Vince