I was suprised, and very pleased to see a female Long-tailed Blue ovipositing on everlasting pea in a friend's garden near Exeter yesterday morning. It could have been imported, but as there has been an impressive influx of moths from the continent over the last few days I think it's likely that it'...

Not sure whether this has been mentioned yet, but there have been a number of Swallowtail sightings in Dorset this year, including recent reports of egg laying and caterpillars (photos here - http://www.dorsetbutterflies.com/news/index.html). Have there been any records of gorganus breeding in the U...

maybe Chalkhills are being afflicted by disease, though I don't really understand how it can seemingly affect populations in just one county. Mystery indeed David, I'd always considered Dorset a rather good county for Chalkhill Blue I'll take a bit more notice in future of postings about the specie...

I must now decide whether to venture forth tomorrow, Silver-spotted Skipper and Brown Hairstreak beckon, strangely no one seems to have mentioned Brown Hairstreak at Alners Gorse on the sightings pages yet (unless I've missed something?) I'd also like to get some better quality photographs of Silve...

Conditions weren't ideal, but there were still a number of Lulworth Skippers on the wing along the coast path and in the gully at Durlston yesterday. While some are beginning to look a bit tatty there were plenty in good condition including the pristine male shown below - for anyone trying to track ...

Thanks for the advice Paul, unfortunately, even though I will be leaving work before 4.00, that will be in North Yorkshire, so 6.00 is pretty much the earliest I could get there - which is a shame really. Don't think I'm likely to get lucky now - any tips on searching for roosting butterflies? I've...

Hi everyone, Is it just me or does the Blue on the 29th May here look very strange - http://www.hantsiow-butterflies.org.uk/sightings.htm. I'm very happy to be told I'm wrong here, it may just be that I haven't seen a Chalkhill for so long, and the colour is certainly very close to this species, but...

I came across this picture yesterday which shows the phenomenon quite nicely - http://www.flickr.com/photos/42851970@N04/5704522634/in/pool-80519997@N00 There seem to be a lot of ab. krodeli butterflies around, I don't know anything about the causes of this aberration but I think that perhaps it may...

Hi Wurzel, I'll try and answer some of your questions! Duke of Burgundy - I don't know how it's doing in Wiltshire, but here in Dorset it seems to be doing badly. It has disappeared from Fontmell Down, and according to the Dorset BC website it is now only present on private sites in the county. I th...

I managed to briefly sneak away from the family's easter walk at Durlston and spent a magical hour down in the gully where 15 species were on the wing. I was particularly pleased to see a few extremely active male Adonis Blues, plus one Clouded Yellow. The other species were: Grizzled Skipper, Dingy...

Hi Dave,
This is a Dark Arches,
Guy

Hi Lee,
The first is the micro Cynaeda dentalis, a real beauty! It's a red data book species in the UK, restricted to southern coasts.
Guy

I'm not too good on micros, but I think this is Micropterix calthella,
Guy

This is a tricky one as it's so worn. What time of year was it taken? That may narrow it down a little,
Guy

This is a Brown Silver-lines, with some of its foodplant Bracken in the first shot!
Guy

Looks like a Lead Belle, nice shot!
Guy

I'd agree on Common Swift for the first. The pug is very worn, I'm not sure whether you'd be able to get a 100% id on it, but if I'd say it's a Brindled Pug.
Guy

Hi everyone, I'd been planning on making a trip to see the Heath Fritillaries at Lydford in the next couple of weeks, however it's now looking like I may have very few opportunities to do this, but I do have tomorrow free. So, I'm sorry this is such short notice, but has anyone heard of any being se...

Has anyone seen marsh fritillaries at Hod Hill Dorset or any where else in Dorset :?: Hi Ian, according to Butterfly Conservation's first sightings page they were first seen in Dorset on the 7th May. Unfortunately I haven't been able to visit this spring, but I have made a trip to Hod Hill to see t...

Hi Charles, Judging by the pattern on it's wing, it looks like a "Heart and Dart" (Agrotis exclamationis). If not, it must be a very closely-related species. Trev Yes, I'd say it's the closely related Dark Sword-grass - Agrotis ipsilon , an almost cosmopolitan species. Guy