August 2022

[Brian Arnold]

Marbled Whites appear to have finished for this year in our area near Swanage.
I have not counted any on our Transect at Durlston for a couple of weeks and similarly they disappeared from our garden about 2 weeks ago.

However yesterday 13th August I walked along the coast path from Seacombe to Dancing Ledge and to my surprise saw at least 8 Marbled Whites some looking very fresh. I assume that they are not having a 2nd brood, but this does seem rather late in the season to be seeing so many.

[David M]

Thursday 11th - West Williamston, Pembrokeshire:

Hedge Brown 20-30
Common Blue 10-15
Brown Hairstreak 6
Green Veined White 5
Small White 3
Large White 2
Meadow Brown 2
Small Tortoiseshell 2
Small Copper 1
Silver Washed Fritillary 1
Painted Lady 1
Comma 1
Peacock 1

[Stevieb]

Good numbers of Wall Browns this lunchtime with 13 seen and a Hummingbird hawk-moth at rest. Beacon Hill, Wiltshire

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[David M]

Fabulous, radiant Adonis, Steve. What are numbers of Clouded Yellows like round your way?

[zigzag_wanderer]

I'm not sure you needed to go quite so far in praising Steve's looks, David. I'm sure he'd have answered your question anyway

[Deborah]

Pleased and surprised to find Short-tailed Bluesin a patch of Lucerne/Clover/grass and dock close to home yesterday. Also 4 Clouded Yellows and several Hummingbird Hawk Moths.

[Stevieb]

Fabulous, radiant Adonis, Steve. What are numbers of Clouded Yellows like round your way?

David, on the 7th there were at least 5 around but I didn't see any yesterday.

[Stevieb]

I'm not sure you needed to go quite so far in praising Steve's looks, David. I'm sure he'd have answered your question anyway

[David M]

Fabulous, radiant Adonis, Steve. What are numbers of Clouded Yellows like round your way?

David, on the 7th there were at least 5 around but I didn't see any yesterday.

Thanks, Steve (or should that be 'Adonis' )

I'm hoping next month will see quite a few Clouded Yellows if the existing adults have bred and laid eggs.

[Crispin]

There have been lots of Jersy Tiger moths this year - I have possibly seen more this year than I have ever seen!
Any ideas why? What exact conditions are triggering this, is it just the heat and dryness?

Wall and Chalkhill blue appear to be doing well but not as many Adonis, Silver-spotted Skipper and Small Copper as would normally be expected.
Small Copper has had a really poor year.

The dry conditions surely will impact the next generations, especially grass feeders.

[David M]

There have been lots of Jersy Tiger moths this year - I have possibly seen more this year than I have ever seen! Any ideas why? What exact conditions are triggering this, is it just the heat and dryness?

It's possible that the run of south easterlies during the hot spell in July helped all manner of migratory insects, so domestic numbers of Jersey Tigers could well have been 'topped up' by ones from the continent.

Agree about the grass feeders. Shades of 1977 here, which was an atrocious butterfly year due to the desiccation of lhps during the heatwave of the previous year.

[Matsukaze]

Wall Brown in the garden this afternoon. I think they breed in and around some of the big quarries nearby.

[Stevieb]

This lunchtime was mostly about Painted Ladies and Wall Browns, the latter of which were particularly abundant. Beacon Hill, Wiltshire.

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[Deborah]

What a day! I saw 6 Clouded Yellows in the Lucerne/Clover/Grass field next to my house, Short-tailed Blues, Painted Ladies, plenty of Hummingbird Hawk Moths, and Large and Small Whites... and a White which turned out to be a lifetime first ever Helice Clouded Yellow. I’ll be spending the best part of today there again, hoping for more photos!

[David M]

That last STB is absolutely gorgeous, Deborah. I'm not surprised you're paying a repeat visit!

[zigzag_wanderer]

Yes, you're seeing some great stuff Deborah. To my eyes there can't be too much difference in tail size between a STB and a LTB...

Although not as many as Stevie (that legendary hill of his keeps delivering !), I did spot one Painted Lady at work yesterday. In pretty good nick too.

Am seeing quite a lot of what I assume are 2nd or 3rd brood common moths. Straw Dots have been around for the last few weeks and I've noticed more carpet moths very recently. The most common right now though seem to be Dusky Pearl and Mother of Pearl.

Oh....and it's baby vole season !

This week's quiz is any help with the larvae ID. The first was a beautiful blue/grey base colour with yellow hairs, the latter a bit like a shorter Fox Moth larva.

[zigzag_wanderer]

Sorry, I think it's Rush Veneer I'm seeing a lot of right now rather than Dusky Pearls !

Definitely seeing a lot of Mother Of Pearl as well though.

[David M]

Love those voles, ZZW. You're so lucky to get that close to them.

[Jack Harrison]

Scotch Argus hanging on 20th August.But are very tired now.
This locality just five miles from my home seems to be typical habitat here in north Scotland.

Bracken, Heather and Devil's Bit Scabious (for necatgaring) are invariably present. 
It also would seem that localities are in the drier areas, ie well drained.

Jack

[Allan.W.]

At a small local nature reserve ,i thought i,d try to find and photograph a pretty scarce bee that was found last year by the owner
The Red Bartsia Blunthorn bee .............I tried for them last season ,but blowed if i could find any ! But i had better luck today and found several .
I found them very difficult to photograph ,partly due to the nature of the shape of the Red Bartsia flower head ,and the bees generally hang below the flower head out of site ..............this is one of the better shots .

Although the site is an absolute mass of flowering Common Fleabane and Devils bit scabious ,butterflies were in fairly short supply all i managed was a handful of Large White ,Meadow Brown and 5 worn male Common Blues .This small site is generally a good bet for Clouded Yellow ,and as i was leaving
I noticed what appeared to be a female Large White ,but on close approach ,i could see that it was in fact a large "Helice " Clouded Yellow ,it was very approachable ,and i was able to get a few shots .....................the open winged shot was a fluke ,shame its not in good focus !

Last but not least ,a while back i watched a female Comma Egg laying along the back dyke of the Royal military canal (Kent) and decided to take one egg to rear and watch at home,its now nearly fully grown ,and a very striking beastie !

Allan.W.