Kithurst meadow in full flower with butterflies

Pebble Prominent larva, Notodonta ziczac

to view a gallery with more photos, click here

Kithurst meadow looked wonderful yesterday with many butterflies on show: Marbled Whites, Meadow Browns, Peacock, Red Admiral, a few Chalk Hill Blues, Large skippers, Gatekeepers, Ringlets, Brimstone, Whites. Moths seen: an amazing Pebble Prominent larva (Notodonta ziczac) on Goat Willow, Dark Strawberry Tortrix and a new one for me -  Translucent Pearl (Paratalanta hyalinalis).

Alder Spittlebug, Aphrophora alni

Chalk Hill Blue, Polyommatus coridon

Common Green Lacewing, Chrysoperla carnea

Gatekeeper, Pyronia tithonus

Gatekeeper getting away

Giant Bellflower, Campanula latifolia

Large Skipper, Ochlodes sylvanus

Marbled White, Melanargia galathea

unidentified micro moth

Pebble Prominent larva, Notodonta ziczac

Pebble Prominent larva

Pebble Prominent larva on Goat Willow

Pyramidal Orchid, Anacamptis pyramidalis

Red Soldier beetles mating, Rhagonycha fulva

Ringlet, Aphantopus hyperantus

Translucent Pearl, Paratalanta hyalinalis

Butterflies and moths at Ditchling Common

White-backed Marble, Hedya salicella

to view a gallery with more photos, click here

Yesterday I visited Ditchling Common and was pleased to meet David Cook with grandson and Jamie Burston. Also Denise and James who attended my Iping Common walk last Saturday (to be blogged) - they had just seen many Dark Green Fritillaries at Lullington. Butterflies seen at Ditchling: a Purple Emperor above the oak by the lake, where I disturbed a Purple Hairstreak on a low branch, Meadow Browns, Ringlets, Small Heath, Small Skipper, Large Skipper, Comma, Marbled White, Red Admiral. Moths: The Dun-bar (Cosmia trapezina), Garden Grass-veneer (Chrysoteuchia culmella) and a new one: a tiny White-backed Marble (Hedya salicella).

Comma, Polygonia c-album

one of many habitats at Ditchling Common which now has all five British Hairstreaks!

Garden Grass-veneer, Chrysoteuchia culmella

Lesser Stitchwort Stellaria graminea

Meadow Brown, Maniola jurtina

Musk Mallow, Malva moschata

Orange Ladybird, Halyzia sedecimguttata

Red-legged Shieldbug, Pentatoma rufipe

Ringlet, Aphantopus hyperantus

Small Skipper, Thymelicus sylvestris

The Dun-bar, Cosmia trapezina

Kithurst meadow blues

Small Blue, Cupido minimus

to view a gallery with more photos, click here

I visited Kithurst meadow on Friday and saw Small Blues, Common Blues a Large Skipper and Marbled Whites. There were many moths: Dark Strawberry Tortrix (the commonest moth on every site I visit), Clouded Border, Satin Grass Veneer, Straw Dot plus several micromoths which remain unidentified. At home several species visited our balcony: Common Plume, Small Dusty Wave, Willow Beauty.

unidentified bug

Cinnabar, Tyria jacobaeae

Clouded Border, Lomaspilis marginata

Common Blue, Polyommatus icarus

Common Green Capsid, Lygocoris pabulinus 

Large Skipper, Ochlodes sylvanus

Marbled White, Melanargia galathea

unidentified Tortrix micromoth

unidentified Tortrix micromoth

unidentified Tortrix micromoth

unidentified medium-sized moth

pupa of case-bearing moth

Mirid bug, Orthotylus marginalis

Satin Grass-veneer, Crambus perlella

Small Blue, Cupido minimus

Straw Dot, Rivula sericealis

Balcony moths:

Common Plume, Emmelina monodactyla

Small Dusty Wave, Idaea seriata

Willow Beauty, Peribatodes rhomboidaria