Butterfly Islands

Wednesday, 13 June 2018

Silver-studded Blue in the New Forest.

An unexpected chance to spend a couple of hours in the New Forest this afternoon resulted in a visit to Latchmore Brook close to the town of Fordingbridge.While exploring the boggy feeder streams that run into the brook for the Scarce Blue-tailed Damselfly, several male Silver-studded Blue butterflies were seen along the grassy banks.No longer seen on the Isle of Wight this butterfly can be numerous on the New Forest heathland.

Sunday, 10 June 2018

A Painted Lady Drops In.

Looking out of the patio doors this afternoon I saw the unmistakable sight of a Painted Lady flying in the garden.With its strong flight and near salmon pink colour it is an impressive butterfly and this is the first I have seen this year.It was in no hurry to move on and although it was spooked a number of times by squabbling blackbirds it sunned itself on the patio and nectared on the perennial wallflower close to the back door.

Monday, 4 June 2018

A Pair of Hairstreaks.

On my trips to the hills of Lefkada in late May and early June, I have always encountered two particular species of Hairstreak both nectaring together on roadside flowers and bramble flowers.Perhaps the most attractive of the two is the Blue-spot Hairstreak with its square shaped blue 'eye' at the base of the hind wing.In Greece and the surrounding areas it is a prolific butterfly whereas in the north of its range ie extending as far as northern France it is generally in decline.

The second species is the Ilex Hiarstreak,similar to its companion but without the blue spot.In contrast to the Blue-spot it can be widespread and common especially through south and central Europe.

Ilex HS with presumably the male on the left attempting to mate

Sunday, 3 June 2018

Not Just Another White.

The Black-veined White disappeared from the UK in the 1920's but this magnificent butterfly can still be seen on the continent,sometimes in vast numbers.It is a large butterfly,as big as the Large White and graceful in flight.During a recent trip to the Greek Islands I encountered several including a female awkardly laying a batch of eggs to the underside of this leaf.

The Adonis Blue

The Large Tortoiseshell

It seems the general view on the status of the Large Tortoiseshell in Britain is that it is now extinct as a breeding butterfly.
It is a butterfly of woodland edges and hedgerows that abound in willows,elms,and poplars.These trees are used by the adult to lay its eggs and this single brood appears in July and August.The emerging butterfly then hibernates over the winter in log piles and hollow trees until the next spring.
On the Isle of Wight sightings are more often than not made from early March to April.Have these butterflies overwintered on the Island or have they come from the continent where it is common?
Any sightings made in July/August pose the same question.Another explanation could be that captive-bred releases are responsible.Only the discovery of eggs and caterpillars will probably answer these questions.

I can now report that evidence has been found of breeding just along the coast at Portland in Dorset (June 2020) and again at the same location in the summer of 2021.

The Glanville Fritillary

This elegant butterfly is mainly confined to the crumbling undercliffs and chalk downs of the Isle of Wight.It is also found on the Channel Islands and at one or two isolated colonies on the British mainland.In Britain the Glanville Fritillary is at the extreme north-western edge of its range.On the continent it is readily found in flowery habitats.
Around the southern shores of the Isle of Wight the cliffs constantly erode causing them to slip away and provide perfect conditions for new growths of the butterflies laval host plant,Ribwort Plantain.
The eggs are laid to the underside of the leaves of this plant and normally hatch after about three weeks.The resulting caterpillars live together in communal webs spun over the plantain.In the autumn they hibernate and recommence feeding in the spring,eventually dispersing to prepare for pupation.
The adult butterfly is on the wing from May to the end of June with the female being larger than the male.They will feed on,amongst other things, Birds-foot Trefoil and Thrift.

The Wall Brown

On the Isle of Wight in particular,the Wall Brown is a butterfly of field edges,coastal cliffs and dunes,and rabbit-grazed downland.
The male is territorial and spends much of the time patrolling and basking on the ground.
The female,which lacks the males conspicuous dark sex brand across the forewings,is larger.The undersides of both sexes are beautifully cryptic when at rest.
The Wall Brown generally produces two broods a year,the first from late April until late June and the second from mid-July to mid-September.