Rarities in 2024

[Jack Harrison]

I have been enjoying Pete's excellent "Rarities" while snowbound. It's not a book you are likely to read from cover to cover, but delve into.

Two species have got me thinking. Continental Swallowtail and American Painted Lady. I may have missed reports but I hadn't seen any mention of these on ukb in 2024.

So how did the Continental Swallowtail fare - if at all - in Britain over the past year?
And after limited breeding on Scilly in 2023, any reports of American Painted Lady in 2024?

Jack

[Allan.W.]

Hello Jack, I also didn,t hear of any Continental Swallowtails reported ,but check out David(M,s) page as he photographed a superb American Painted Lady ,after a tip off from another UKB,er ,and it or possibly another(s)were also reported in the same area . Long Tailed Blues were very few and far between in 24' ,I did manage to photograph two larvae ,near Deal (Kent) .......but never found any adults.
Allan.W.

[millerd]

A Swallowtail was photographed at Ditchling Beacon on the South Downs on 17th August. The report by zigzag_wanderer is on page 4 of the August sightings thread.

I came across this very worn Long-tailed Blue on my local patch near Heathrow on 3rd September (and I believe another was spotted not far away in Richmond Park around the same time) - but I've not heard of any other adult sightings.

Even Clouded Yellows came into the "rarity" category in 2024...

Cheers,

Dave

[bugboy]

I remember seeing a few reports of Swallowtails along the south coast of Sussex (Seaford if memory serves) and I'm aware of at least 3 American Painted Lady sightings (2 in south Wales and another in the Scilly Isles which was apparently was recorded on the same day as the first Wales sighting) The APL sightings were accompanied by a notable number of migrant moths, all but putting to bed any gibberish about them being introduced in some corners of the internet.

[David M]

Unsurprisingly, migrants have been in relatively short supply this year. Even Red Admirals, Painted Ladies & Large Whites have been low in number.

Clouded Yellows and Long-Tailed Blues have been extremely infrequent, although to compensate, I know of three sightings of American Painted Lady; two being about 5 miles apart in Pembrokeshire and a third at Oxwich Bay on the Gower.

I was lucky enough to see one of the Pembrokeshire individuals on 18th August:

[petesmith]

I know of three sightings of American Painted Lady; two being about 5 miles apart in Pembrokeshire and a third at Oxwich Bay on the Gower.

I was lucky enough to see one of the Pembrokeshire individuals on 18th August:

Wow David- that must have been the highlight of your UK year surely?

[David M]

Highlight of my UK butterflying life, Pete!!

Don't think it gets any better than that in all honesty. Even a Monarch on the Gower wouldn't come close!