One thing that has been highlighted by the reactions I’ve seen to Patrick’s article, particularly on Twitter, is an obvious lack of effective understanding, communication and collaboration between certain inward-looking conservation bodies and those who may have a different opinion / perspective / i...

Hi Jason.

It's a Painted Lady at rest.

Kind regards. Mark

Another claimed Brimstone 'ab' ...
Certainly not as extreme as Papilio ecclipsis but a hoax nonetheless ...

Hi Goldie.

Goldie M wrote:I saw loads of Brown Argus this year but my favourite Has got to be the one I saw at Sea Salter Kent on the 18th of July.

I'm afraid that's a Common Blue.

Good hunting.

Kind regards. Mark

Hi Simon. I'm not surprised by your find as I found some 15 individuals entering hibernation on 31st July 2015. They stayed in this state for eight months and only occasionally showed signs of any movement. The theory of spreading the risk by having a 'flexible diapause in the adult stage' is one I'...

Great work, Andrew.

You're getting some super clarity of detail with your FZ1000.

Hope to see you again.

Good hunting.

Kind regards. Mark

Pete Eeles wrote:Given the amount of effort that members put into their diaries, I’ve changed the listings for personal diary entries to ONLY recognise posts by the diary owner.

An excellent idea.

Let's hope this improves the situation ...

Hi Janet.

Janet Turnbull wrote:Returning to the Hairstreak bushes, I snapped .... and a rather striking fly with very long antennae landed on my phone before crawling onto my old wrinkly hand..

This is not a fly but the rather ornate Myrid bug Miris striatus.

Good hunting.

Kind regards. Mark

Hi Tony.

Welcome to the UKB forum.

The underside shot is of a Dark Green Fritillary Argynnis aglaja. The upperside shot is of a Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary Boloria selene. For the record, where were the pictures taken?

Good hunting.

Kind regards. Mark

Hi Kipper.

Welcome to the forum.

This is the larva of The Mullein Moth, Cucullia verbasci.

https://ukmoths.org.uk/species/cucullia-verbasci/

Kind regards. Mark

Hi Charles. These are Brown-tail Moth larvae, Euproctis chrysorrhoea . The larvae are well-known for their urticating hairs, which can cause extreme irritation if in contact with human skin. They feed in communal webs on the leaves of plants such as hawthorn, blackthorn and bramble. Good hunting. Ki...

In context … Purple Emperor (Apatura iris), male, Chiddingfold Forest, Surrey (23 June 2017)_E5A0730.jpg 2017 turned out to be a very early season for many species of butterfly. My first sighting of iris this year came on Saturday, 17th June when I recorded three males and a female in Chiddingfold F...

Hi Allan. I won't comment on your female icarus as there are many named and unnamed aberrations of this species. The second, the rather striking male, cannot be named accurately without knowing what the forewings have done. Based on what is visible i.e. if the aberration just relates to the hindwing...

Please note: Just because someone is carrying and using a net does not make them a criminal, even on a nature reserve, if prior permission has been sought, justified by a valid research-based reason, and thereafter granted by the landowner or agency responsible for the site. So let us not automatica...

Hi David. You are definitely 'barking up' the right butterfly. The first image shows a female, the second a male. Both have seen much better days hence you are not seeing the colours you expect. Eyespots on the wings do vary and a number of named and unnamed aberrations occur. http://www.ukbutterfli...

Hi Neil.

I've just noticed that you haven't had a response to your query.

This looks like a 'normal' but slightly worse for wear Small Tortoiseshell to me. I can't see any features that would suggest an aberration.

Kind regards. Mark

P.J.Underwood wrote:This was seen in Oaken Wood recently and the only aberrations I can find still have a few rings. This one has none. Is this a common feature?

Hi Philip.

This is ab. arete (Muller, 1764). It is a fairly common aberration but a nice find nonetheless.

Good hunting.

Kind regards. Mark

Hi Andy. You'll be pleased to know that there's enough visible detail to confirm High Brown. The Heddon Valley is a great place - I know the route you took well - but can be very hard work as I'm sure you now know. Another option, for future reference, is the meadow at the end of the National Trust ...

Jack Harrison wrote: I know I won't have to call him "Sir" but am I expected to bow?

I recommend you just curtsy, Jack

Hi Russ. I'm sure Bugboy won't mind me saying, although not a British bird per say, they do occasionally turn up as very rare vagrants. There were 46 records in Britain up until the end of 2011, of which nine have occurred this century. I was fortunate to see one, at very close quarters, on a golf c...