Matsukaze

[Matsukaze]

Yesterday I moved my Orange-tip pupae out of the fridge where they have been since they pupated last summer, and into their emergence cage, hopefully ready for emergence in a couple of weeks. Here they are - 16 in total, a few out of shot.

[Wurzel]

Looks like a 5 Star Orange-tip hotel/Nursery Matsukaze It can only be about 4 or so weeks until they emerge now

Have a goodun and stay safe

Wurzel

[Matsukaze]

Thanks! I've not tried this before, and am hoping they make it to adulthood.

[bugboy]

This reminds me, I have two sitting in my fridge. Need to set up an emergence cage for them

[David M]

Yesterday I moved my Orange-tip pupae out of the fridge where they have been since they pupated last summer, and into their emergence cage, hopefully ready for emergence in a couple of weeks.

Nice work, Chris. Hopefully you'll get to see one or two actually emerge (and maybe post a few images on here?)

[Matsukaze]

Phyllonorycter quercifoliella, tiny beautiful golden micro-moth, emerged today from a mine in leaves collected back last November.

[Matsukaze]

Two years ago today...

[David M]

Where did you see that, Chris? Looks suspiciously like erebia cassioides.

[Matsukaze]

E. pandrose - Col de l'Iseran. We were trying to get out of the heat, a problem I wouldn't mind having today.

[David M]

Ah, pandrose....even better, Chris!!

Agree that escaping the heat by ascending to 2,500m would be an extremely welcome pastime right now.

[Matsukaze]

White elms (Ulmus laevis) that I have grown from seed this year, on their way to their new home in a Wiltshire wood today.

[Wurzel]

Sterling work Matsukaze I did a little googling of White Elms and why they're resistant to DED after I saw this post - fascinatingly they're not resistant but stop the beetle vector - a bit like us controlling Malaria by killing the Mosquitoes Hope it works out an plenty of Whitters set up home in them

Have a goodun and stay safe

Wurzel

[Matsukaze]

Today has been very exciting. The Orange-tips I have been rearing since last May have started to emerge from their cocoons and take their first flights, at first very confused but soon gaining in confidence.

[Wurzel]

Great shots Matsukaze That's definitely the way to get some close up shots of OTs

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[David M]

Great to see this success story, Chris. I hope all go on to live long enough to fulfil the needs of their adult lives.

Well done for helping them on their way.

[Matsukaze]

I like this time of year. The sun comes out and so too do the Orange-tips, always looking like they are on their way somewhere.

Holly Blues are doing well here this spring, though Green-veined Whites seem thin on the ground, not for the first time recently.

[Matsukaze]

Road trip in France now after far too long. Caught ferry early yesterday morning and before exiting Poole Harbour found that camera had ceased to function. Trying to make do with one specialised for photographing extremely small moths, which is going to test my stalking ability, plus mobile phone. Much less mowing on motorway verges in N France so lots of wildflowers. Stayed by lake near Tours last night. Previously mowed amenity grassland has now been left to meadow. Horseshoe vetch abounding there as a result with Common Blues, Small Heath and freshly emerged Mellicta fritillary. Headed south today, masses of broom out, swallowtail flying across motorway. Wall and pale/burgers clouded yellow flying at service station on ludicrously steep bank on which only an entomologist would venture. No butterflies here at Sete, beautiful town and tempted by ferries to Morocco, but will head east to Provence tomorrow.

[David M]

Travel still proving problematic even after Covid, Chris?

I'm sure you'll get by okay, and you're definitely in a better place for butterflies at the moment. Hope you catch up with Spring Ringlets again as well as heaps of other goodies.

[Matsukaze]

Something of a lycaenid fest in northern Var this week, with ridiculous numbers of Small Blue at times making walking difficult. Good to see Chequered and Baton Blues again, both in decent numbers. Green underside and first brood Mazarine nice surprises. Missed out on Iolas, possibly too early for it though have only seen it once here. Lots of Green Hairstreaks, a fair few alciphron bot these were flighty. Turbocharged PBFs more widespread than usual. Plenty of hard-core butterfly yoga trying to take photos. On to south Dordogne now, not expecting so much though apparently Large Copper flies somewhere near...

Photos to follow eventually.

[David M]

Shall look forward to the images, Chris.

Nice to know that butterfly numbers are good in southern France given that I'll be in the eastern Pyrenees in a week's time.