Been enjoying your posts, Max - some fantastic photos and observations! Seeing your Black Hairstreaks, I thought I'd butt in with my two-penneth. I don't have loads of experience of finding the eggs, so this is based off a small and biased sample, but have looked for them in Bernwood forest from tim...

I remember one in Somerset last year, and a search for it on twitter turned up a few more from the last couple of years. Devon:https://twitter.com/clennonvalley/status/868097497113272320 Dorset: https://twitter.com/aeshnagrandis/status/903213714282831872 Kent: https://twitter.com/BurnessPb/status/10...

Some of you may already have seen this, but if not: https://twitter.com/johngifford50/statu ... 5935006723

Final instar Large Tortoiseshell larva found in Weymouth (similar general area to the sightings on Portland over the last couple of years). Potentially a significant moment!

I agree with Bugboy - this is an Epiblema sp. This is either cirsiana or cnicolana (and given the habitat, probably the former, as it feeds on Marsh Thistle). Unfortunately these two species need dissecting to be sure of the identification, so it's not possible to be certain from the photo.

Catching Up Sadly I haven't had as much time as I did to post on UK Butterflies in the last year or so, but as ever I still enjoy reading about everyone else's butterflies, and indeed looking for my own. Despite this, I thought I'd try and resuscitate my diary and do a bit of catching up (with a fe...

Congratulations Pete - very much looking forward to getting my copy and some much-needed inspiration for the winter months.

Glad you liked it Roger - I had a fantastic day and felt very honoured to speak in such esteemed company - wish I'd known you were there, I'd have introduced myself properly.

Cheers,

Will

If I remember rightly, one of the past recipients is a UKB member. A fabulous opportunity for someone with a bit of time on their hands. They certainly are :wink: ! I highly recommend the bursaries - they ask very little of you (just a side of A4 and some enthusiasm) in exchange for the opportunity...

The moths are Box-Tree Moths (Cydalima perspectalis), an Asian species that's been established in France for a little while and has built up some really impressive populations (like this - https://twitter.com/jayrayner1/status/1035629698313867269). It's considered a pest there, and has made it to th...

Read this discussion with interest, as I've been doing Adonis Blue surveys in Dorset this month, and have seen 5 mating pairs of Meadow Brown since August 14th. I don't encounter these that often even in peak season, so was quite surprised by this, and have been wondering if this was a sign of delay...

Hi William. I remember you passing through the Aosta Valley some years ago without calling in for humedasae , then I think I recall you reporting seeing them. I guess that was last year - but I can't seem to track down your pictures. You're right - it is enigmatic, like all the anomalous blues - an...

Wonderful stuff Guy - brings back happy memories from last year, an enigmatic butterfly, in a truly stunning place!

Cheers,

Will

Thanks Mike(s)! Large Coppers retain the same thrill for me too, they seem to embody a lot of what's been lost in the last couple of centuries from the UK (and remains relatively intact in places like Hungary), with an entire habitat disappearing under grade 1 carrot fields. What was particularly in...

Just catching up Neil, monumental stuff as always - I was (briefly) at Daneway on the 18th too, sorry to have missed you!

Cheers,

Will

Thanks for the kind comments everyone - it was wonderful not only to finally have the chance to see Large Coppers, but get to know them over the course of 6 weeks, they really are stunning insects. Trevor - I've seen a few Scarce Coppers in the Alps (though yet to find any eggs or larvae), equally f...

Thanks a lot for the kind comments guys, and sorry it's taken so long to respond (and I've been generally quiet on UKB), life has gotten so busy lately that I haven't had much time, but still really enjoy reading everyone's posts! I thought I'd try and catch up on sharing a few more random bits and ...

Fantastic report, Pete!

Were there any particular guide books/websites/trip reports that you found particularly useful for planning your trip? I've always thought those semi-african species look superb and wanted to do something similar.

Cheers,

Will

Thanks chaps - it really was the trip of a lifetime! Wurzel - the grass is the Sanguisorba officinalis/Great Burnet, the larval foodplant, to which Dusky Large Blues are very attached (they rest on it, roost on it, nectar on it, and lay eggs on it), the only other plant I ever saw them perch on was ...

Thanks chaps - here it is! Hungary As I mentioned on my previous post, I was one of this year's lucky recipients of the Annual Research Bursary provided by Butterfly Conservation's European Interests Group (see: http://www.bc-eig.org.uk/downloads/EIG_Annual_Research_Bursary.pdf). Put simply, this is...

Frit Larvae Life has become rather busy this year, and so I've been rather quiet on UKB - safe to say I've been enjoying everyone's superb sightings and photos (and the constantly evolving website) nonetheless. I'm now at home after a trip to the Alps and Hungary, as the lucky recipient of BC EIG's...