We've had globosa at two houses over the past 20-odd years. The first failed to flower at all over almost seven years. The second came from a cutting offered by a neighbour. It flowered well in years two and four and brought in the usual suspects like ST, RA, PL, both cabbage butterflies, Brimstone...

Well, with the insistence now of calling places, etc by the Welsh name only (eg Bannau Brycheiniog ), maybe ST's haven't realised that they are supposed to lay their eggs on danadl poethion . A good late-flowering buddleia is the cross between the ordinary purple and globosa, weyeriana . https://ww...

ChrisStamp wrote: ↑Tue Sep 03, 2024 11:30 am Buddleia globosa, most years, attracts Dark green fritillaries to my garden from their habitat a mile away!

Nice. It would be great to find either of those two species in my garden. Sadly, Small Tortoiseshell absent this year - what a terrible time it is having.

ATB
Peter

My mother's Buddleja globosa proved very popular with the Holly Blue & Red Admiral back in the last week of May this year - I counted 6 Holly Blue on it at the same time, the most Holly Blue I have seen nectaring on one plant: 2024.05.29 Holly Blue Chignal Ro.jpg and a few Red Admiral also enjo...

bugboy wrote: ↑Mon Sep 02, 2024 11:01 am I think it's on a par with davidii although it does naturally flower earlier in the year, June...ish when there's less around to use it.

Thanks Paul.

Yes, according to the article, and it flowers on last year's shoots. Pruning not to be done in spring (obviously I suppose).

Peter

There is an interesting article in Saturday's Times on Buddleia varieties to grow in the garden. One attractive variety I like is B. globosa (Orange Ball Tree) so am wondering how good it is for butterflies?

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Peter

Yesterday (21 Aug), a Long-tailed Blue was spotted in Minet Country Park, Hayes:

https://hertsmiddx-butterflies.org.uk/news.php

Peter

A Small Heath (I think!) aberration nolkeniana at Norton Green near Stevenage today. Any thoughts anyone?

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Peter

David M wrote: ↑Wed Jun 29, 2022 8:42 pm

peterc wrote: ↑Wed Jun 29, 2022 5:12 pmA couple of dark Comma specimens yesterday and today in the Knebworth Woods.

That second one's a peach, Peter.

Thanks, David. I got very lucky with that one.
Peter

A couple of dark Comma specimens yesterday and today in the Knebworth Woods.

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Peter

Not much flying around this morning in the cool conditions at Norton Green, Stevenage but I saw a nice Speckled Wood (probably ab. punctata). Looks like a Dark Bush-cricket nymph in close proximity.
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Peter

The fine weather drew a particularly large attendance for the guided Skipper walk at Fineshade Wood this morning (27th). Luckily, there were a few Chequered Skippers to be seen (though a ratio of 5:1 observers to butterflies made things a bit tricky). Mostly they were nectaring at a bit of a distan...

Hi Pete,

One was spotted in Bucknell Wood, Northamptonshire on 6 May - reported on twitter:

https://twitter.com/dave_b_james/status ... 89/photo/1

ATB

Peter

Long-tailed Blue seen in Alexandra Palace, London today

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Peter

Hi Pete,

Large Tortoiseshell also seen in Sawbridgeworth, Herts on 1 April.

https://hertsmiddx-butterflies.org.uk/sightings-new.php

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Peter

I saw a striking Meadow Brown yesterday in Hatfield Forest. Does it qualify as an ab. nuragiformis?

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Peter

Found article in the current issue of WebUser.

Hopefully, this website will receive more hits, Pete

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Peter

You are welcome to vote in the Herts & Middx branch photo competition. If you can, please do so before deadline date on Thursday 2 April.

Photos and instructions on how to vote are on https://hertsmiddx-butterflies.org.uk/p ... n-2020.php

Many thanks

Peter

Is Sturmia on the wing throughout the summer or are there peaks during the year? The very limited results on iRecord for this fly last year list 6 records in the UK (1 in May, 3 in August and 2 in September).

ATB

Peter

Thanks bugboy and MrSpOck. Yes I agree that the desiccation of nettles in the recent hot and dry summers as Neil has also indicated is a factor in the decline. This theory leads me to think that there could be other reasons for the 'lost generation'. It is understood that female Small Tortoiseshells...