A hairy green one and a Duke

Green Hairstreak, Callophrys rubi

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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

Perfect Malachite

Siproeta stelenes, Malachite

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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

Tropicals, an adder and Orange-tips

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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