Hi, not a butterfly I know though I'm sure you knowledgable people will now. My daughter spotted this on the path - I think it was trying to burrow into the soil. Hickling Broad, Norfolk.

Thanks Pete - was the large white markings on the leading edge of forewing and trailing rear wing were very pronounced.
I also thought female due to the size of the abdomen - my wife didn't appreciate that comment!

Hi, a lovely trip to Stockbridge Down on Sunday. Came across this frit and I thought DGF though the pics you often see don't seem to look quite like this.
Forgive the photo - was an iPhone at range - it wouldn't let me get too close.

So far this year it's Emperor 4 Mark 0 - one even landed on the car whilst I was walking the dog.... Anyhow, with it being extra warm this evening 26 deg. as I drove up the track - I thought just maybe. Anyhow, it wasn't to be - Emperor 5 Mark 0 Trip wasn't wasted though as there were a great number...

Hi - managed to get to Bentley Wood yesterday. WOW - butterflies of all sorts and in large numbers. Best of all for me was, after a number of failed trips, a first Purple Emperor - and many thanks to those folks in the car park who pointed it out and let me have a squint through their telescopes. I ...

Hi - there I was cleaning out the stick insects when there's She Who Must Be Obeyed hollerin down the stairs. Seems there's a butterfly in our son's bedroom - a small tortoiseshell no less. I wasn't sure what to do but carefully caught it in a glass and put it in the firewood pile in the car port. T...

...fab - can tick it off on my shiny new iPhone app then!

Cheers, Mark.

Thanks Guy - I measured from body to wing tip in a straight line - 36mm.

Thanks again, Mark.

Hi, am hoping someone out there can confirm (or otherwise) the ident of this butterfly please? Late August we were down in the Dordogne and had a real treat - many butterflies I've never seen before including two swallowtails. However, this one we found dead - small children are very good at finding...

Thanks Both.

We've brought the pupae in from the garage (both DHHM and Emperor) - still waiting on the forst DHHM though

Will try and get some photos to post.

Really appreciate the help. thanks, Mark.

Hi, managed to meet some friends and their children at Bentley Wood on Wednesday. Many Speckled Woods about along with OTs and Brimstones. Also one suspected PBF at range - so can't be sure - also a couple of peacocks and a single GVW. Pleased to see a Holly Blue in the garden today on two occasions...

Thanks folks - pleased to hear the adults don't feed. Jack, my little boy, wondered why one moth was eating one of the others. Left it to Mum to explain what was happening. Two females now laying eggs on the cage roof. Huge excitement as we look forward to our cattos arriving! :D If anyone is able t...

Hi, my little boy was given some Saturnia pavonia pupae for his birthday. We now have two moths.... The question is - what do we feed them on and what can we put in their cage for them to egg lay on please? Also, I have some Death's Head paupae - what will I give these to eat and lay on please? Many...

Hi - lucky old me - out again at lunchtime :D A short 30 min walk yielded.... 4 brimstones - 2 male 2 female - markedly fewer than two days ago in spite of the superb weather 1 peacock 1 red admiral 4 comma 1 small tort 12+ orange tip (lost count) - 8+ male 4 female (approx split) Also one large whi...

Hi, managed to get out again for the first time in a while. A short 30 min walk yielded.... 14 brimstones - 10 male 4 female 1 holly blue 1 peacock 5 orange tip - 4 male 1 female All the best, Mark. Season Species Brimstone - March 14th Comma - March 24th Holly Blue - April 6th Orange Tip - March 23...

...I've seen two OT now - best of all, the second was in our garden yesterday.

Cheers, Mark.

Hi - short update from today - only what I was able to see whilst working in the garden. - 1 male Orange |Tip - 1 Comma - 1 Red Admiral Small count but lovely to see. I also met with a nurseryman friend yesterday. Reckons his stock of Alder Buckthorn come complete with Brimstone colony! Cheers, Mark.

Hi - I still have my set from boyhood - and added a second at a boot sale last year - you can have it if you ask very nicely! There are lots of sets on e-bay for just a pound or so I also remember once seeing a large tort but that is 30 or so years ago. I live near the Isle of Wight so may just have...

...a bit later out today which may be behind my low count! 1 brimstones - male 2 comma 2 peacock 1 small white Plus a UFO that I suspect was a peacock All the best, Mark. Season Species Brimstone - March 14th Comma - March 24th Orange Tip - March 23rd Peacock - March 23rd Red Admiral - March 23rd Sm...

Hi, managed to get out on the same route as yesterday - today's count! 8 brimstones (1 female) 2 small tort 4 comma 1 red admiral Plus a UFO that I suspect was a peacock All the best, Mark. Season Species Brimstone - March 14th Comma - March 24th Orange Tip - March 23rd Peacock - March 23rd Red Admi...