Pauline

[David M]

That's an absolute wall of blue, Pauline. I feel thoroughly ashamed to have been virtually ignoring Adonis in the Pyrenees last week, so common were they.

Your first image is yet another significantly blue female icarus. I'm actually going to try to take time out to search for the brown ones during this summer!

[Pauline]

That's fascinating Buggy. Wish I'd taken more care with the shot now. I've heard of gregarious larva but never heard of anything that pupates in a little cluster like that!

Thank you Dave. Glad to have been able to help. Looking forward to seeing your shots.

Isn't that just the way of things David? If something is relatively common it often tends to get ignored. Now I think I'm becoming obsessed!!! I had promised myself that I definitely would NOT post any more shots of blue butterflies....... but I was there again today as many of these females were waking up and catching the early rays of the sun on the bracken. Honestly, my photos don't do them justice - some absolute stunners:

...and what I think might be a Whitethroat?

[Pauline]

As the sun was still shining, earlier this evening I decided to take a walk down my lane to check on the couple of dozen Orange Tip eggs I had previously noted. I was disappointed only to find one larva:

However, I was surprised to find 15 Brimstone larva in various stages of development:

I also spotted 3 Brimstones roosting only inches from the ground under bramble leaves and very well camouflaged they were:

Not sure what these eggs are but I guess time will tell:

... and a couple of other critters including several different Ladybird larva:

Back home just in time to see my Black Arches shedding his skin again to become a third instar:

[Wurzel]

Cracking array of Blues and caterpillars Pauline Some of those females are more blue than brown You're right with the Whitethroat ID Great to see the Glannies at Wrecclesham

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[David M]

Your eye for blue is matched only by your eye for larvae, Pauline. Excellent set of images featuring the Orange Tip and Brimstone early stages, although it's sad that you could only locate one cardamines caterpillar.

[Pauline]

Cheers Wurzel - glad you enjoyed your time at Wrecclesham

Now here's the thing David - with the weather being a bit iffy I didn't want to go far so I thought I'd stroll down the lane and have a better look at those Brimstone larva. In under an hour I'd counted 62!!!!! I probably missed many and there were more bushes to check but I gave up at that point. Don't worry, I'm not going to post all 62 but here's a few more:

They appear to be a sun-loving caterpillar that seem to 'sun-bathe' in full sight whilst being completely camouflaged - even the final instars could sometimes only be found by looking at the feeding damage, surprising me when I actually located it. On the topic of feeding damage it is surprising how much a tiny cat can do! The larva is in the background in this shot - that fly was paying it far too much attention for my liking and it wasn't easy to scare!:

I was pleased to discover several more OT larva away from the area where I had located the eggs:

I think this one had just shed its skin:

There were quite a few other interesting critters in this little patch - loads and loads of Ladybird larva, many of which I suspect might be Harlequin. In fact, having just looked at a website about Ladybirds I think those eggs I posted recently might be Ladybird eggs. Here's one having his dinner I presume:

and some sort of moth which I shall look up shortly if my pc decides to speed up :

Finally, a few which only the likes of Buggy might be able to shed any light on:

[bugboy]

Hi Pauline, I went to Wrecclesham today to see what all the fuss was about, lots of fresh Glannies around still .
Best guess of your micro moth is Nematopogon sp. (possibly metaxella)
Your Ladybird larvae is I think a 7 spot, that one is definitely not a Harlequin
The two maggoty looking things are hoverfly larvae (another critter that feasts on Aphids)
The green fly is a Sawfly. A google search for green sawfly always comes up with Rhogogaster viridis, but there are similar species.
The Damselfly is an male Azure Damselfly, the black 'U' at the base of the abdomen is diagnostic with them

[David M]

Now here's the thing David - with the weather being a bit iffy I didn't want to go far so I thought I'd stroll down the lane and have a better look at those Brimstone larva. In under an hour I'd counted 62!!!!!

That's amazing, Pauline. They've had an excellent year (I saw a male yesterday even though they've been active since mid February). If I come across a patch of buckthorn I'll be sure to check myself.

[Pauline]

It certainly surprised me David as it's only a little stretch of land. I think I might try to fit in a weekly visit and count again to see how many are being predated etc. I would like to be able to find a pupa in the wild.

I knew I could rely on you for those ID's Paul - thank you Wish I'd known you were at Wrecclesham. I could've met you up there and we could have gone on to Noar Hill or elsewhere. I was up there again myself today. The weather was changeable but quite hot when I arrived and it seemed that the males were all having a feast - and then it all went quiet for a while. I spent over an hour watching one particular butterfly which I think was a female and almost certainly very fresh - but where were all the males? Having an after dinner snooze? Here's a few shots to begin with:

Now here's a view with a difference. Can anyone explain why there is a difference? Does it signify male/female or mated/unmated or age?

....and just a few more and then I have to jump in the bath!

[Pauline]

I've read that article again that David kindly sent me but I am not sure that they are hair-pencils. It was certainly a male (and the other close-up I believe was a female). There were no females around at the time and they seemed to be a permanent fixture - when I first noticed this in the Small Copper he was able to retract them. Looking at previous photos they always seem to be present but I just haven't noticed it before

[Pauline]

I am surprised that the Silver studded blues do not seem to have emerged yet at Bramshott. Looking back at my previous first sightings at this location for the last few years goes as follows:

2018 - 29/05
2017 - 30/05
2016 - 04/06
2015 - 05/06
2014 - 03/06

So a few more shots of the Common Variety whilst I wait:

Several mating pairs spotted but neither of these seemed to be in the first flush of youth:

Whilst I watched a Blue female, a blue male landed beside her but showed no interest and made no attempt to approach her:

Conversely, for 5 or 6 minutes I watched and followed as 2 males repeatedly made contact with each other. There was no territorial squabbles or spiraling into the heavens, just moving a few feet along the ground with one trying to land on the other:

and a few other random shots including this poor individual - always saddens me to see this:

[Wurzel]

Lovely set of blues Pauline Interesting that the blue female was ignored by the male can't fathom out why that would be? Some things have been later this year - we certainly don't seem to be having a standard 'June Gap''

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[David M]

With all these blue females around, perhaps the males are getting confused, Pauline?

Could it be a situation akin to valezina Silver Washed Fritillary females, which are generally overlooked by males in favour of the nominative form?

Perhaps the male Common Blues prefer brunettes?

As for your individual with the damaged wing, surely he was able to fly? I've seen butterflies in a far sorrier state than this which were able to get about relatively normally.

[Pauline]

Hi Wurzel, David - thank you for your comments. I couldn't even begin to try to interpret this strange behaviour I am witnessing. All I can do is to say what I have seen. The blue female and male clearly weren't interested in each other for whatever reason, but I have never seen such behaviour between 2 blue males before - very odd.

I have spent a lot of time recently watching the Common Blues - more than I would have done normally - as I was waiting for the emergence of the SSB which are now 10 days later than last year at this site. At last they have emerged! Well, actually all I managed to find between the heavy showers was one newly emerged female (unusual in itself as the males are usually first at this site). She still had that lovely oily immaculate glow which I was unable to capture as after a few shots my battery went dead Will I ever learn!!!! This was all I got:

[David M]

Interesting that your first SSB was a female, Pauline. Same happened to me late March with Orange Tips.

Good to know they're out, though. Such a photogenic species and I'm sure you'll be back (with suitably charged battery) to do further justice to them.

[Wurzel]

I'm wondering if the two males had recently mated and in the process picked up the scent of a female - so they were checking each other out only to realize that the other was a male. Purely conjecture this of course but I've seen similar things in Blues and also cross species before? As for the SSBs - excellent news tat they're out and excellent shots to boot

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[Pauline]

Yes, I remember that David. I'm sure I'll be back before long.

Cheers Wurzel - that's a feasible suggestion especially if you have seen it before. They kept 'interacting' for quite some time before I eventually lost them in mounds of bracken.

Well, I'm sitting here with a large Sambucca!!!!!! Yes, that is unusual for me but Trevor knows why I am drowning my sorrows - and Andrew, and Mark and all the other familiar faces it was so good to meet up with. Every season I get at least one of those days - you all know the sort. Couldn't have been more frustrating - wrong place, wrong time, seconds out, poor decisions etc etc. What on earth am I talking about I hear you saying. Well, it's those Black Hairstreaks. The only ones I could find down low - 3 different individuals - were well worn and really tatty. This was the best of the 3:

It's quite possible this one is already famous as I have seen a similar shot elsewhere!

I did manage some shots of the pupa:

I also watched some bees mating - something I have never seen. I have no idea what sort they are:

I did manage loads of other shots including aerial and distant views but quite honestly they are not worth the space they would take up. All I can say is well done to Trevor, Andrew and the others and thanks for trying to help. I am now trying to work out when and if I can manage a return visit but it is looking a bit doubtful.

On my return I found this in the garden. I am not yet sure if there is a problem but it definitely shouldn't be out in the afternoon so I'll monitor tonight.

[Wurzel]

Fair play Pauline if that was the only shot I'd got I'd be joining you with a drink (though Sambucca isn't really my thing). Not drinking in consolation but celebration as I've never seen Black Hairstreak before

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[Pauline]

Hey Wurzel, after 3 hours driving and a 4 hour search am I not allowed to indulge in a bit of self-pity for 10 mins? Just to make me feel better I am posting a few shots 'that I took earlier' - quite a bit earlier as it happens

[trevor]

Although you didn't do too well on Sunday with the Black Hairstreak.
All I can say about your earlier effort is WOW!.

Best wishes,
Trevor.