November 2009 Sightings

[Vince Massimo]

Hi all,

Whilst checking if my shed roof was still attached to the walls, following the morning gales, I found this pupa. It looks like a Speckled Wood. It is in a surprisingly sheltered spot and not very well camouflaged (which was lucky for me ). Although it is tucked under a rafter and there is a strong breeze blowing through the gap in the eaves, I think that the location may be quick to heat up in the Spring, because the roof is clear plastic. I am therefore hopeful of having an early emergence. As this is the first I have seen of this species, I assume that the pupa will go through some sort of colour change just prior to hatching.

Cheers,

Vince

[Pete Eeles]

Hi Vince - next find (and very unusual!).

Yes - looks like a Speckled Wood to me too and it will turn brown just before the adult emerges.

Cheers,

- Pete

[Padfield]

That's a great find - and it will be fascinating to see its eventual colour change.

Guy

[Vince Massimo]

Thanks guy(s), I am just realising that this is a very unusual pupation site for this species and what a rare opportunity I have to monitor its development. Looks like I will be spending a lot of time in the shed from the middle of March onwards . Having said that, I will be checking it every day if we get a warm spell in the next week, just in case something unusual happens. In 2007 I saw a fresh male in Sussex on 12th November with the final sighting being on 22nd November.

Cheers,

Vince

[Mark Senior]

Ouse Estuary NR lunch time today , lovely sunny and quite warm - still able to see 5 species in my half hour visit .

1 each Red Admiral , Speckled Wood and Painted Lady , 2 Small Whites and 7 Clouded Yellows including 1 helice female .

[Perseus]

Hello,

2 November 2009
When the sun emerged from from behind the frequent clouds a Peacock Butterfly emerged from hibernation by the Ivy on the edge of the Pixie Path, looking slightly tatty. Four Common Blue Butterflies were seen at the northern end of the lower slopes of Mill Hill; both these records were the first for the month of November. There was also a probable Large White in Shoreham town which would also be a first for the month. Also a possible Speckled Wood.



On Mill Hill, two Clouded Yellows courted and then mated and this was also the first time that this has been seen locally.


Adur Butterfly Flight Times
http://www.glaucus.org.uk/Butterflies1X2007.htm


Adur Butterfly & Large Moth List
http://www.glaucus.org.uk/Butterfly-list2009.html

Cheers

Andy Horton
glaucus@hotmail.com
Adur Valley Nature Notes
http://www.glaucus.org.uk/Adur2009.html
http://www.glaucus.org.uk/Adur2008.html
Adur Valley Nature Notes: November 2009
http://www.glaucus.org.uk/Nov2009.html

[Perseus]

Addenda:

The Clouded Yellow Butterflies usually appear with their wings closed, but it has been reported that the wings actually open and close faster than the human eye can observe, and in the photograph above, I surmise pre-mating sequence of about a second, that the wings open and close at a slower rate.


Is this correct? Do Clouded Yellows actually open and close their wings so fast that we cannot see them? Or is this a fallacy ?

Not sure myself.

Andy Horton
Shoreham

[Dave McCormick]

A single red admiral flying along the road about 3 miles from my house, only red admirals about that I seeme to see anymore are mainly seen around the coast here

[Susie]

I'm watching a red admiral and a comma feeding on vebena bonariensis through the window. No painted ladies as yet.

Jack, VB seeds will be posted out to you today, I have been waiting for them to dry as didn't want them to get mildew.

[Vince Massimo]

Saw a Painted Lady basking on the driveway here in Caterham at midday today. It may be the same one that I saw roosting in my neighbours conifer tree a few days ago.

Cheers,

Vince

[geniculata]

yesterday 3 rather smart looking painted lady were still present nectaring on the verbena in one garden in the forest at shirley holms and today found 1 speckled wood in another garden at broadmead, newforest.

gary.

[Gruditch]

Also on the gardening theme Gary, I moved some windfall apples to a sunny paddock a few weeks back, despite the lake of sun, was rewarded with 3 Red Admirals today.


Regards Gruditch

[Perseus]

Hello,

4 November 2009
Another white butterfly flew near St. Michael's Church, Southwick, but again it was too far away to determine which out of three possible species (it wasn't large enough for a female Brimstone). Later there was just the one Clouded Yellow was seen at the northern end of the lower slopes of Mill Hill, visiting Devil's Bit Scabious in the early afternoon, before the black clouds produced a torrential downpour.

Adur Butterfly & Large Moth List
http://www.glaucus.org.uk/Butterfly-list2009.html

Cheers

Andy Horton
glaucus@hotmail.com
Adur Valley Nature Notes
http://www.glaucus.org.uk/Adur2009.html
http://www.glaucus.org.uk/Adur2008.html
Adur Valley Nature Notes: November 2009
http://www.glaucus.org.uk/Nov2009.html

[Jack Harrison]

Perseus re Clouded Yellow:

I surmise pre-mating sequence of about a second, that the wings open and close at a slower rate.

Brimstone opens wings when courting but I cannot recall whether it’s the male or female (I think male but not sure)

Jack

[geniculata]

always a good move to put your apples in the sun to attract red admirals at this time of year gary but to be fortunate enough to have a" lake" of it well........

gary

[Perseus]

Perseus re Clouded Yellow:

I surmise pre-mating sequence of about a second, that the wings open and close at a slower rate.

Brimstone opens wings when courting but I cannot recall whether it’s the male or female (I think male but not sure)

Jack

Clouded Yellows never seem to rest with their wings open. In fact they flick them open so quickly you can't actually see it. I put the new camera's ability to shoot 3 frames per second in continuous bursts of up to 27 to the test to see if I could capture the wings open and was surprised to find I'd managed it on one of the first frames.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/93372558@N00/1623261944/

Dave Appleton

[Zonda]

Well,,, what do we all think about this. Clouded yellows, are faster than the human eye???

[Gruditch]

despite the lake of sun

Oh poo, that should be lack.

Regards Gruditch

[m_galathea]

Red Admirals and a Speckled Wood yesterday on a walk from Arundel to Amberley via Barlavington (tiring!):
RA x1 Binsted Wood
RA x2 Avisford
SW x1 Eartham Wood
RA x1 Eartham Wood

Also in Binsted Wood I found a very small egg, rounded, possibly a little flattened and white. It was located on the stipule of a Sallow.

Alexander

[Padfield]

Perseus re Clouded Yellow:

I surmise pre-mating sequence of about a second, that the wings open and close at a slower rate.

Brimstone opens wings when courting but I cannot recall whether it’s the male or female (I think male but not sure)

Jack

Clouded Yellows never seem to rest with their wings open. In fact they flick them open so quickly you can't actually see it. I put the new camera's ability to shoot 3 frames per second in continuous bursts of up to 27 to the test to see if I could capture the wings open and was surprised to find I'd managed it on one of the first frames.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/93372558@N00/1623261944/

Dave Appleton

Pre-mating, female clouded yellows (as well as Berger's and pale clouded) may hold their wings open for some considerable time and males will attend them with wings half-open:


(female)


(male in front)



These pics are all part of a sequence I took with a slow compact camera over about a minute.

Grayling species do the same and it is the only way to get pictures of uppersides:



Guy

EDIT - looking at that last grayling picture (H. genava) I actually wonder if she wasn't rather rejecting him, judging by her abdomen, which shows she is no virgin. That picture was one of a series too.