Sunday 26 August 2012

The Comma pupates

Comma, Polygonia c-album
This morning I headed to Steyning Downland early as the sky was blue. There was no activity until much later by which time a large group of butterfly enthusiasts had gathered. We all clustered round a rather sad looking female. Later another was seen by Paul. On the way out I looked for my Comma caterpillar and instead found a pupa.
Comma, Polygonia c-album
Comma pupa, Polygonia c-album
Steyning Downland
The prunus on top of the hill where I found my
first Brown Hairstreak in 2009
Common Blue, Polyommatus icarus
Dragonfly - id needed
Meadow Brown, Maniola jurtina on teasel
Red Admiral, Vanessa atalanta
Speckled Wood, Pararge aegeria under cloud cover
and in sunlight
Brown Hairstreak,  female, Thecla betulae

Brown Hairstreak,  female, Thecla betulae
Brown Hairstreak resting in prunus
The female would come down to prunus near the ground, lay eggs, then return to rest in the canopy for some time before returning to the low prunus again. It uses Bullace or Blackthorn.
Brown Hairstreak resting in prunus

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