Matsukaze

[Matsukaze]

Light Brown Apple Moth, emerged today from larva found on osier, Pilton Green, Gower earlier in the summer.

[Matsukaze]

Twenty years ago, the Small Ranunculus moth was considered extinct in this country. Its fortunes have revived considerably - here is the larva feeding in full view by the side of the river in the centre of Bath.

[Pauline]

Well spotted! It clearly pays to remain observant at all times - mind you, I wouldn't have known what it was - or recognised the significance.

[Matsukaze]

Moths that have emerged recently, reared from larvae.

[Wurzel]

Interesting set of images there Matsukaze - especially the Brick Moth as I think you've helped me make an ID that I've had kicking around for a while, cheers

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[Matsukaze]

Moths to light in the woods.

Common Marbled Carpet

Snout - surely the Avro Vulcan of the moth world

Large Ranunculus

[David M]

Some cracking moths there, Matsukaze, especially the Pink Barred Sallow and, of course, the Snout, which does indeed resemble one of the more advanced combat aircraft in the world....perhaps we are learning from nature as we evolve!

[Matsukaze]

They are back!

[bugboy]

That image is surely the very essence of early spring

[David M]

That image is surely the very essence of early spring

Absolutely! Guy Padfield, eat your heart out!

[Matsukaze]

Moths...

Brimstone Moth

Iron Prominent

Brindled Beauty

Brindled Pug (?)

Pine Beauty

[Matsukaze]

Spring butterflies...

[Andrew555]

Some lovely moths there Matsukaze, and spring butterflies as well.

[David M]

Spring butterflies...

It's a wonderful time of year, for sure. Few insects are as adorable as Orange Tips, so we must remember that we'll lose them soon, and we must make the most of them whilst they're here.

[Matsukaze]

Blue-spot Hairstreak...

Dragonfly - Black-tailed Skimmer female?

[Pauline]

Lovely shots of a beautiful butterfly Matsukaze. Where were they taken?

[Matsukaze]

Provence - northern Var. The butterfly is fairly common there. The foodplant - some kind of buckthorn - must be very common, as the numerous Brimstones and Cleopatras also use it, but I've yet to work out how to identify it.

[ernie f]

Hi, Matzukaze - love those pics of the Blue Spot Hairstreak.

Incidentally - did you notice if they did a wing-roll? As you are probably aware - my current obsession.

[David M]

Blue Spot has to be my favourite French Hairstreak and you've captured it extremely well there, Matsukaze,

[Matsukaze]

Hi, Matzukaze - love those pics of the Blue Spot Hairstreak.

Incidentally - did you notice if they did a wing-roll? As you are probably aware - my current obsession.

Yes they did, as did both species of Ilex Hairstreak. I only saw the one Sloe Hairstreak.

In Britain we are unlucky in our hairstreaks, which rarely descend to ground-level. These four French species of hairstreak are much more co-operative, regularly nectaring on small, shrubby plants like mints and thymes, where they are surprisingly hard to see since they do not move much.