Tag: Large white butterflies

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A Magical Week

Posted on by BITM

I have begun to notice a chill in the mornings as the nights grow colder. I love the promise of Autumn. It doesn’t quite feel autumnal yet (especially as the weather has warmed up again this weekend) but some changes are occurring. Conkers and beech masts have started dropping and fungi are appearing in some lawns. A couple of times I have come across fairy rings; in both instances the Marasmius oreades fungi was the cause (sadly no magical elvish, fairy or pixie dancing).

The week continued with more observations of Painted lady (Vanessa cardui) butterflies. On Monday there were two visiting a Buddleja bush along with a Small tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae) and a Large white (Pieris brassicae).
Then on Friday, in different gardens, more were flitting about. On one occasion, during the morning, I saw a Painted lady on a Ceratostigma willmottianum.

In the second half of the week I noticed more butterflies including a Green-veined white (Pieris napi) on Verbena bonariensis

and a Small tortoiseshell visiting an Erysimum ‘Bowles’s Mauve’.

Throughout last week I saw lots of pollinators busily collecting nectar and pollen.
On Monday I noticed lots of small flies and Buff-tailed bumblebees (Bombus terrestris) pollinating Marigold (Tagetes) flowers. Perhaps they are enticed by their overwhelming aroma which even I found hard to ignore.

Then on Wednesday there was a Common carder (Bombus pascuorum) bee flying between Nandina domesticas and several Agapanthus africanus.

On Friday while working near some Hebe ‘Great Orme’ there were lots of honey bees (Apis mellifera) as well as a Hornet mimic hoverfly (Volucella zonaria).

Another interesting thing I noticed last week was a Red campion (Silene dioica) plant growing on an old moss covered log.

With no soil surrounding its roots clearly it was receiving sufficient moisture and nutrients from this unusual source. It has been flowering healthily all summer but I hadn’t realised it had been relying on the log for its growth until then. I found this plants ability for survival amazing and will closely watch its development.

Lastly I have been aware of how wonderful hardy Fuchsias (Fuchsia magellanica) are currently looking. Although I don’t see pollinators visiting the flowers, there have been a couple of times, in the past, when I have seen Elephant Hawk-moth (Deilephila elpenor) caterpillars feeding on Fushia plants. (See Elephant Hawk-moth).

These caterpillars also eat Himalayan balsam (Impatiens glandulifera) and Willowherbs including Enchanter’s nightshade (Circaea lutetiana) and Rosebay willowherb (Epilobium angustifolium). This beautiful pink and olive green moth flies at night and therefore feeds on Honeysuckle (Lonicera).

Across the way from this hardy Fushia there was a Honeysuckle growing along the wall so it would have been a fantastic place for these moths to inhabit. Unfortunately I didn’t come across any Elephant Hawk-moths this year but hopefully I will in years to come (and I am sure it will feel magical).

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The Ladies Arrived

Posted on by BITM

I finally got to see a some Painted lady (Vanessa cardui) butterflies, in fact there were three visiting a Buddleia I was working near. I thought I caught a glimpse of one last week (but couldn’t be sure) however this was a definite sighting.

I got to see them again on Tuesday together with a Large white (Pieris brassicae), Small tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae) and a Red admiral (Vanessa atalanta) on the same Buddleia.

Plus earlier on Tuesday I got to see two Small white (Pieris rapae) butterflies, a Holly blue (Celastrina argiolus) along with a Meadow brown (Maniola jurtina) butterfly.

Also on Tuesday I got to feast on my first blackberries (Rubus) of the season and see an Oak bush (Meconema thalassinum) cricket in the hallway upon my return from work.

Wednesday was a washout and Thursday quiet too therefore it was nice to have some wildlife sightings on Friday morning before the rain returned.

While I ate breakfast, I observed the young Bluetits (Cyanistes caeruleus) visit the Rowan (Sorbus) tree. I noticed that their plumage was more like the adults, no longer predominantly green.

Then just before lunch, I noticed a Red-tailed (Bombus lapidarius) bumblebee and a Heath bumblebee (Bombus jonellus) visiting some Thyme (Thymus).

The Heath bumblebee visiting some Thyme.
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The Very Hungry Caterpillar

Posted on by BITM

The weather at the beginning of last week started nicely. Early on a sunny Monday morning I spotted seven Large white (Pieris brassicae) butterfly caterpillars on a Nasturtium (Tropaeolum) plant.
Used as a companion plant near brassicas this plant has been sacrificed to prevent the butterfly eggs being laid on the cabbages.

Unknown to me at the time, I also photographed some caterpillar faeces as well as an undeveloped egg on the leaf. I don’t remember the loved childhood picture book, The Very Hungry Caterpillar mention poo (although I’m sure children would have loved that addition to the story).

As with elsewhere in the country, the weather continued to be unsettled throughout the week. Tuesday was mostly overcast but the bees were still out foraging. As the lavender (Lavandula) was over lots of Honeybees (Apis mellifera) started visiting the Echinops bannaticus.

Later the same day I managed to see another Male Gatekeeper (Pyronia tithonus) butterfly too, this time visiting a Geranium.

Plus on Thursday I noticed a Holly blue (Celastrina argiolus) butterfly on some Verbena bonariensis. I haven’t seen Holly blue butterflies since spring, so that was nice.

Unfortunately on Wednesday I managed to disturb a Silver Y (Autographa gamma) moth.

Although this isn’t a great photo, it is clear enough to be able to identify the moth. I managed to identify it because of the shape and light colouring along with the unbroken y shaped silver marking on each forewing. This moth is a migrant, visiting from the continent. It can be seen here with the wings vibrating to warm up it’s flight muscles before flying off.

The week ended with a visit to the Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew on Saturday. There were some insects braving the stronger winds and the afternoon rain.

Amongst the Wildflower meadow surrounding The Hive experience the flowers still blooming were; Red Campion (Silene dioica), Red clover (Trifolium pratense), Ragwort (Senecio jacobaea), Yellow toadflax (Linaria vulgaris), Creeping buttercup (Ranunculus repens), Yarrow (Achillea millefolium), Flatweed (Hypochaeris radicata) and Wild marjoram (Origanum vulgare).

Yarrow and Yellow toadflax along the path.

A Volucella inanis Hoverfly visiting the Wild marjoram.

In the Agius Evolution Garden there were lots of bees visiting the Salvias as well as a Buff-tailed bumblebee (Bombus terrestris) on a hollyhock (Alcea)

and a Honey bee (Apis mellifera) visiting a Wallflower (Erysimum).

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Who you Gonna Call? 🎶👻🎵

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It was a slow start to last week, not brightening up until later on.
Yet as I waited for the bus to work on Monday I saw some Common yarrow (Achillea millefolium).

It would have been flowering since June but the council have allowed the verges to grow long enough for it to fully bloom around the bus stop. Once in folklore it was believed to bring good luck and wellbeing if you carried it with you.

Tuesday was a washout so it was nice when I started to see bees and butterflies flying around from Wednesday onwards.

I noticed a different butterfly to those I usually identify.
There were two Gatekeepers (Pyronia tithonus) also called Hedge brown butterflies basking on some Bergamot (Monarda).

Bergamot is also called Bee balm because it is loved by bees.

The Gatekeeper in the previous photo is a male due to the pattern on the upper wings. Wing patterns vary within the genders, dependent on high temperature conditions while the butterfly is in the chrysalis stage of development.
The caterpillars feed on long grasses such as Couch-grass (Elymus repens) or fescues (Festuca) while the adults like the nectar of Wild marjoram (Origanum vulgare), Common ragwort (Jacobaea vulgaris) or Bramble (Rubus fruticosus).

The name Gatekeeper made me remember Sigourney Weaver’s character Dana (who is possessed by Zuul the gatekeeper for Gozer) in Ghostbusters; therefore I have had the theme tune in my head ever since. Thankfully I like this earworm as it reminds me of an enjoyable childhood film. 🎶

In the same border I also noticed Buff-tailed bumblebees (Bombus terrestris) and Garden bumblebees (Bombus hortorum) on a Catmint (Nepeta × faassenii) plant.

On Thursday I was working near a pond and came across a dragonfly which I have been unable to completely identify.

The leg stripes rule it out as a Ruddy darter (Sympetrum sanguineum); however given the position I took the photo from, I can not see the frons (area on the face above the mouth parts) well enough to be certain if it is a female Vagrant (Sympetrum vulgatum) or a female or immature male Common darter (Sympetrum striolatum).

Friday was the opposite of Tuesday, both for the weather and successfull nature observing. In fact during the afternoon in the space of twenty minutes I saw a Large white (Pieris brassicae), Small tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae), Red admiral (Vanessa atalanta), Comma (Polygonia c-album), Meadow brown (Maniola jurtina)
along with three Peacock (Aglais io) butterflies.

I managed to obtain a photo of the Comma on a purple Buddleia as well as (finally) manage to capture the elusive Peacock on a white Buddleia.

I had to photograph something else from that garden too. A Chinese trumpet vine (Campsis grandiflora) plant was arching over the wall from the neighbours.

The gorgeous colour of the flowers took my breath away, especially set against the white house and sunny blue sky. I couldn’t resist sharing its beauty.

Lastly I have ended a tiring week relaxing at a cafe drinking a mocha. Once again my spirits were lifted as I watched a Wagtail (Motacilla alba) hoping to benefit from dropped crumbs; it was a lovely thing to see.

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The Heat Is On. 🔆🌡️⛈️☔

Posted on by BITM

The weather last week was a mixed bag. Sunshine with the temperature rising into the thirties, fantastic storms and then dull days of rain. Thankfully it is a little cooler now; while I enjoy the sun, I wilt in muggy heat.

Given the weather there were still lots of butterflies around, mostly Peacock (Aglais io), Red admiral (Vanessa atalanta) and Small white (Pieris rapae). Unfortunately I haven’t managed to capture photos of any of these as they didn’t remain in situ for long. I see many white butterflies flit past me. It can be difficult to say if they are Large white (Pieris brassicae), Small white or female Orange tip (Anthocharis cardamines) butterflies because they disappear before I can identify them.

Happily I was able to photograph one butterfly on a Buddleia on Wednesday. The combination of the pattern in the underside, orange colouring I saw on the upper wings, together with the wing outline means the butterfly in the photo below is a Comma (Polygonia c-album).

Their Caterpillars usually feed on the Common nettles (Urtica dioica) but also Elms (Ulmus), Hops (Humulus lupulus) as well as Willows (Salix). Peacocks often visit Buddleia too. The Common Nettle is also the favoured food of Peacock Caterpillars; although they have been recorded feeding on hops and small nettle (Urtica urens) as well. As the common nettle is the favourite food of both Comma and Peacock caterpillars, what better reason is there for allowing some nettles to grow in a garden?

There were other observations last week too;
– a Harlequin ladybird (Harmonia axyridis) on some Lesser Burdock (Arctium minus),

– a Scalloped oak (Crocallis elinguaria) moth,

The caterpillars of these moths feed on honeysuckle (Lonicera), heather (Calluna vulgaris) and broadleaf trees like Oak (Quercus) and Birch (Betula).

– plus a Long hoverfly (Sphaerophoria scripta), whose larvae feed on aphids, and a Common green bottle fly (Lucilia sericata) on a Potentilla plant.

Capturing the Common green bottle fly was accidental but it worked out really well. In the sun its glistening metallic colouring is highlighted against the yellow Potentilla flowers. Their maggots feed on dead tissue so their appearance is used to accurately determine time of death. Adult Common green bottle flies on the other hand are useful pollinators, as the last photo proves. Fascinating how different stages of this fly species exists alongside both death and life.

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An Enchanting Week

Posted on by BITM

My interest in plants extends to herbal medicine and floral folklore. Often found in gardens, such plants are easily accessible.

I find poisonous plants fascinating too. I would like to visit the Chelsea Physics garden as well as the Alnwick Poison Garden in Northumberland. Over the past week, a few wild flowers that I have noticed blooming would probably be found in these gardens, these are;

– White bryony (Bryonia dioica) scrambling over Dogwood (Cornus). White Bryony has poisonous berries and the plant has a very strong unpleasant purgative affect. A few deaths linked to this plant have been recorded.

– Woody Nightshade (Solanum dulcamara).

Also called Bittersweet the plant would make someone incredibly ill; the berries if eaten would cause vomiting and convulsions. There have been a few deaths linked to this plant. It is from the same family as Deadly nightshade (Atropa belladonna, See Woodland Trust).

I saw other wildflowers blooming too such as the intriguingly named Enchanter’s nightshade (Circaea lutetiana). Confusingly this flower isn’t from the nightshade family at all but is actually a Willowherb. One folkloric belief was that this plant would give protection against Elvish spells.

I also saw Field bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis) along the verges.

I continued to see many birds and insects throughout the week. After many days since the last time, I was happy to see the juvenile Blue tits (Cyanistes caeruleus) back in the Rowan tree (Sorbus). Also on Monday I had a Juvenile Robin (Erithacus rubecula) follow me around. Clearly the instincts for locating food near gardeners starts early.

The first moth I saw last week was an adult female Bee moth (Aphomia sociella). These moths are so called because they lay eggs in bee and wasp nests and also bee hives. Their larvae eat the comb, causing damage and are therefore a pest for beekeepers.

Other moths I saw were two Rosy tabby (Endotricha flammealis) moths

and a Dark arches (Apamea monoglypha) moth.

On Wednesday I was working near a fantastic old Sweet chestnut (Castanea sativa) tree. Countless Honey bees (Apis mellifera) and Marmalade hoverflies (Episyrphus balteatus) were busy flying to and fro pollinating the flowers.

As the summer continues more and more butterflies become visible. I have seen lots more Meadow brown (Maniola jurtina), Small tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae) and Large white butterflies (Pieris brassicae). One of them seen here on some lavender (Lavandula).

Also on Wednesday I observed two butterflies that I have never seen before, a Marbled white (Melanargia galathea) on Verbena bonariensis

and a Small skipper butterfly (Thymelicus sylvestris), also seen on the Verbena bonariensis.

Later on the same day I also saw ten Azure damselflies (Coenagrion puella) around the pond.

On Friday morning, as I was going to work, I had to usher a Common green lacewing (Chrysoperla carnea) outside so it could find some aphids to munch on.

Then lastly on Friday I saw a Harlequin ladybird (Harmonia axyridis) on Brunnera macrophylla ‘Jack Frost’.