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[David M]

Nice finds, Paul. The lack of sun probably helped to becalm that beautiful, fresh Marbled White you saw.

No doubt the White Letter Hairstreaks will build in numbers rather quickly over the next week or so.

[Paul Harfield]

I can not believe it is 5 months since I last posted in my diary . I have a bit of catching up to do which should keep me going through the winter months

November 2019 - Deja vu in the garden

Some may remember during winter 2018 I found a couple of Red Admirals roosting for several months amongst the imitation plastic foliage of a hanging planter in my garden. That planter is still in exactly the same location, just outside my kitchen door. I again have Red Admirals in residence .

Last Sunday I noticed there was again a Red Admiral in residence.

Today I noticed Red Admiral number 2 had arrived

[Wurzel]

After two years on the trot I think that you need to stop referring to it as an 'imitation planter' Paul and start calling it a Butterfly Hibernation Hotel

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[David M]

I can not believe it is 5 months since I last posted in my diary. I have a bit of catching up to do which should keep me going through the winter months...

I shall look forward to any updates, Paul.

Given your contributions in the past, I am sure what you have to share will be of significant interest.

[Paul Harfield]

Thanks David and Wurzel

White-Letter Hairstreak - Ova

The White- Letter Hairstreak ovum is perhaps one of the most distinctive in appearance of UK Lepidoptera. Here is some brief information on where to find them and how their appearance varies in different situations.

The White-Letter Hairstreak ovum is bright green when first laid (photo 1) becoming duller and less green with age. Ova are laid singly, but one occasionally finds groups of two or even three ova together (photo 2 & 3). They may even be stacked one on top of the other.

Photo 1 - 23.6.2018 - Ovum immediately after being laid on a terminal bud.

Photo 2 - 24.7.2018 - Two ova laid together on a terminal bud.

Photo 3 - 24.7.2018 - Three ova laid together on a terminal bud.

The White-Letter Hairstreak typically lays its ova either at the base of a terminal Elm bud (photo 4) or on the girdle scar (photo 5) at the beginning of the current years growth. The girdle scar is what is formed when last years terminal bud has grown out into the current years growth. Thus these two positions are effectively a year apart in the Life of an Elm tree. A hatched egg which at first glance appears to be on a girdle scar at the beginning of the current years growth is not an egg that has hatched early, but is in fact an egg laid in the previous year just below a terminal bud (no photo)

Photo 4 - 20.11.2019 - Ovum laid on terminal bud.

Photo 5 - 4.2.2018 - Ovum laid on girdle scar.

Eggs may occasionally be found in other positions. On a side bud (photo 6), adjacent to a side shoot (photo 7), on a leaf scar (photo 8 ).

Photo 6 - 11.8.2019 - Two ova laid on a side bud.

Photo 7 - 11.8.2019 - Ovum laid adjacent to a side shoot.

Photo 8 - 25.11.2019 - Ovum laid on last years leaf scar at the base of a side shoot also showing predation hole.

A hatched ovum is indicated by a perfectly central exit hole (photo 9). An ovum with a hole which is not perfectly central is likely to have been predated (photo 10). I recently found 17 eggs on an un-named Elm cultivar known as FL506. Of these 17 eggs, 2 were healthy, but 13 were showing a predation hole. This is quite a high percentage and not something I have seen before in such high numbers. I understand that this high percentage of predation has been reported elsewhere this year. I have no idea what would cause such predation but I imagine it would be an invertebrate of some sort. Any suggestions are welcome. Sometimes an ovum may appear as if it has been smashed and may show just have fragments remaining. This is likely to be bird predation (photo 11)

Photo 9 - 20.5.2018 - Hatched ovum on a girdle scar.

Photo 10 - 20.10.2019 - Ovum laid on terminal bud showing predation hole.

Photo 11 - 20.10.2019 - Two ova laid on terminal bud, at least one showing possible bird predation.

[Wurzel]

Fascinating stuff Paul, one day I hope to have the time to go and have a look for these - I'll have to bookmark this page so that I now what to look for

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[David M]

...The White-Letter Hairstreak typically lays its ova either at the base of a terminal Elm bud (photo 4) or on the girdle scar (photo 5) at the beginning of the current years growth..

Another excellent tutorial, Paul. I did manage to find a few more elm trees in my vicinity so when I am passing by them I will take a look for ova using your advice as a guide. Many thanks.