Late Winter Fungi

 During the last week of February, I was still looking for my first butterflies of the year. None were encountered. However, a lovely species of fungus chooses this time of year to provide a splash of colour in the undergrowth.

Scarlet Elf-cup (Sarcoscypha austriaca or S. coccinea)

When you encounter this stunning fungus, you would be forgiven for thinking that it will be easy to identify but it could be one of two near identical species, only separated with any confidence by microscopic examination.

Even more difficult to identify to species level are brown cup fungi. Cup shapes and shades of brown can vary within each species. 

I think this might be Peziza vesiculosa (or other Peziza sp.)

Toad Spectacle

 One of the great natural spectacles that I look forward to every spring is the return of toads to their breeding ponds. One of the best sites that I know is just a ten minute drive from home, where I can rely on watching the antics of at least a hundred toads. At this particular site, the toads arrive and depart in little over a week.

The following images were taken over a couple of days at the height of their activities.

Common Toad (Bufo bufo)

This female had probably been carrying these two males for some time and had not yet reached the millpond in which they breed. She had decided to have a rest in the middle of a footpath. The male in prime position eventually managed to eject the interloper.

These pairs of toads have successfully moved away from the general melee in order to spawn.

These males were basking in the occasional sunshine.

This turmoil of toads is where the main action takes place.  Every male is highly charged and is trying to push the other males away and burrow their way to the female in the centre. She will already have a suitor in prime position and if all goes well, they will manage to get away to spawn. Occasionally, sadly, a female can be accidentally drowned if she cannot extricate herself. I came back the following day and there was no sign of any tragedies having occurred.

Now and then you may witness a strange pairing. In the following image, a male Common Frog (Rana temporaria) is in a mating clasp with a female Common Toad (Bufu bufo). I have seen this behaviour on several occasions over the years. Frogs and Toads share similar habitat requirements but they are not closely related and cannot produce hybrid offspring. Any spawning from this pairing is destined to fail.

Great Diving Beetle (Dytiscus marginalis) (male)

The only insect activity that I saw in the millpond was of this male Great Diving Beetle (D.marginalis). He had been trying to climb up onto a constantly turning piece of twig and eventually rested side-on in the sunshine, giving a view of his yellow underside.

Some Moths during February

 The overnight weather conditions throughout January were not really good enough for moth trapping but there were two or three reasonable nights during February.

Several species of Geometridae moths, that are on the wing during the colder months of the year, have flightless females. Such is the case with the following four species that were attracted to the light during February.

Dotted Border (Agriopis marginaria) (male)

Pale Brindled Beauty (Phigalia pilosaria) (male)

Spring Usher (Agriopis leucophaearia) (male)

Cryptic wing markings provide excellent camouflage when the moth is at rest on tree bark.

March Moth (Alsophila aescularia) (male)

Fritillaries in Sussex

 Fritillaries form part of the Nymphalidae family. Of the eight resident UK species, four occur in Sussex and in addition, one rare migrant has made a couple of appearances in the county in the last fifteen years or so.

Two of the Sussex resident species are common and widespread and two others are vulnerable, only surviving where habitat management accommodates their needs.

Historically, three other species were resident within the county but have long since died out. It is unclear whether the Glanville Fritillary (Melitaea cinxia) was ever truly native to Sussex. The Heath Fritillary (Melitaea athalia) and Marsh Fritillary (Euphydryas aurinia) certainly were but athalia died out during the early 20th century and aurinia became extinct around the middle of the 20th century.

The High Brown Fritillary (Fabriciana adippe) was once a common and widespread species in England and Wales but from the middle of the 20th century it underwent a catastrophic decline. It died out in Sussex during the 1980's and is now one of our most endangered species. It is restricted to just a few sites in Cumbria, South Wales and Devon.

(Ref: "A History of the Butterflies and Moths of Sussex" by Colin Pratt.)

Dark Green Fritillary (Speyeria aglaja)

This butterfly is predominantly a downland species in Sussex but it can occasionally be found in Wealden woodland clearings.

(males)

(females)

(mating)

Silver-washed Fritillary (Argynnis paphia)

This handsome species is common and widespread in Sussex, more so in the west of the county.

It is predominantly a butterfly of woodland rides and clearings.

(males)

(female)

(mating)

(mating; form valezina female)

(bilateral gynandromorph; male on left and female right)

Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary (Boloria selene)

Once a common and widespread species in Sussex, the last colony of this pretty little fritillary died out in 2013. It was re-introduced in 2017. The species has probably become a victim of our drying climate in south-east England as well as changes in land management.

(All of the following images pre-date 2013.)

(males)

(females)

(mating)

Pearl-bordered Fritillary (Boloria euphrosyne)

As with the previous species, euphrosyne has declined over recent decades due to changes in woodland management, particularly the cessation of coppicing. It is a species that requires targeted woodland management in Sussex. 

I am most familiar with euphrosyne at Abbot's Wood in East Sussex. The native population died out there during the 1990's but the species was re-introduced in 2004 using West Sussex stock.

(males)

(females)

(mating)

(post copulation)

Queen of Spain Fritillary (Issoria lathonia)

This species is a rare migrant to UK shores and it has made a couple of notable appearances in Sussex over the last 15 years or so.

The following images were taken at a site near Chichester in 2009.

(male)