Monday 30 April 2012

A hairy green one and a Duke

Green Hairstreak, Callophrys rubi
This morning I did my weekly transect at Mill Hill as it was a blue sky day. There were several Green Hairstreaks at the north end of the lower slope, plus many Dingy Skippers and some Grizzled Skippers. I spotted the brown female adder at the southern end. Then I visited a local Duke of Burgundy site where we did conservation work two winters ago. A single Duke was out, plus a Small Heath, a male and female Brimstone and a Peacock.
Adder, Vipera berus

Dingy Skipper, Erynnis tages
Dingy Skipper, Erynnis tages
Dingy Skipper, Erynnis tages
Grizzled Skipper, Pyrgus malvae
Grizzled Skipper, Pyrgus malvae

Grizzled Skipper, Pyrgus malvae
Duke of Burgundy site:
Brimstone, Gonepteryx rhamni
Duke of Burgundy, Hamearis lucina

Duke of Burgundy, Hamearis lucina








White Plume moth, Pterophorus pentadactyla
Seven-spot ladybird, Coccinella septempunctata

Sunday 29 April 2012

Perfect Malachite

Siproeta stelenes, Malachite
I took Sue to Bognor this afternoon for her meeting then headed to Earnley again to see what new butterflies had emerged. There were some freshly hatched Malachites.
Siproeta stelenes, Malachite
Athyma perius, Common Sergeant
Caligo memnon, Owl
Cethosia biblis, Malay Lacewing
Cethosia biblis, Malay Lacewing
Hebornia glaucippe, Giant Orange Tip
Hebornia glaucippe, Giant Orange Tip
Heliconius sara, Sara Longwing
Hypolimnas bolina, Eggfly, female
Hypolimnas bolina, Eggfly, female
 Papilio rumanzovia, Scarlet Swallowtail, male
Idea leuconoe, Tree Nymph
Idea leuconoe, Tree Nymph
Papilio lowi, Asian Swallowtails mating
Papilio memnon, Great Mormon
late afternoon

Saturday 28 April 2012

Tropicals, an adder and Orange-tips


Yesterday I started the day at the Earnley tropical butterfly garden where I met up with Mark. As the sun was shining we headed up to Oaken Wood to check for Wood Whites. I spotted a brown adder in the bushes by the triangle. We saw each other at the same time and both froze and looked at each other for a minute or so, then she slithered off into the leaves. I then called in at Houghton Forest on the way back and saw 3 male Orange-tips, 2 females, a couple of Peacocks a male Brimstone and a Pearl-bordered Fritillary.
Athyma perius, Common Sergeant
Athyma perius, Common Sergeant
Heliconius sara, Sara Longwing
Hypolimnas bolina, Eggfly
Hypolimnas bolina, Eggfly, mating
Idea leuconoe, Tree Nymph
Idea leuconoe, Tree Nymph
Junonia lemonias, Lemon Pansy
Kallima inachus, Orange Oakleaf or Dead Leaf

There are many Kallima species and K. Inachus is similar to K. paralekta. I am grateful to Mark Colvin who has made the identification of this specimen. He has studied the specimens at The Oxford University Museum of Natural History.

Kallima inachus, Orange Oakleaf or Dead Leaf
Papilio clytia form dissimilis, Common mime
Papilio demoleus, Lime butterfly
Papilio demoleus, Lime butterfly
Papilio demoleus, Lime butterfly
Papilio memnon, Great Mormon
Papilio polytes, Common Mormon
Siproeta stelenes, Malachite
Oaken Wood:
Greater stitchwort, Stellaria holostea


lichen
Longhorn moth, Adela reaumurella, female


Primrose, Primula vulgaris

Houghton Forest:



Bracket fungus

Brimstone, Gonepteryx rhamni, male

Orange-tip, Anthocharis cardamines, female

Orange-tip, Anthocharis cardamines, female
Orange-tip, Anthocharis cardamines, female
Orange-tip, Anthocharis cardamines, male