Summer Butterflies in a Wealden Wood

 Every year, butterfly abundance and emergence dates vary according to weather conditions. This year, in my local woods, most summer species have emerged early and in excellent numbers, with the possible exception of the Ringlet which seems to have had a rather average year.

By the middle of June, I had seen my earliest ever White Admiral (on the 14th). My first Silver-washed Fritillary of the year appeared on 13th June (my earliest date for this species was on 10th June, over a decade ago).

The Purple Hairstreak was also early to emerge and by the time I caught up with this species during the last week of June, there were a mixture of fresh and frayed examples about.

Silver-washed Fritillary (Argynnis paphia)

(male)

(female)

(mating)

(female, form valezina)

This beautiful pale form, which looks silvery-green, is occasionally referred to as valezina-alba.

White Admiral (Limenitis camilla)

Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui)

Peacock (Aglais io)

Comma (Polygonia c-album)

Purple Hairstreak (Favonius quercus)

(males)

(females)

Small Skipper (Thymelicus sylvestris) (male)

Large Skipper (Ochlodes sylvanus) (male)

Ringlet (Aphantopus hyperantus) (male)

Meadow Brown (Maniola jurtina)

(female)

(mating)

Gatekeeper (Pyronia tithonus)

(male)

(female)

Some Moths during June

Overnight weather conditions during June were good for moth trapping and there were some pleasant surprises as two or three species made their first appearances for several years.

Whilst the Elephant Hawkmoth commonly appears at my light trap every year, its close cousin, the Small Elephant Hawkmoth made only its second appearance in twenty years. 

Likewise, the beautiful Large Emerald has been absent for fifteen years, as has the Varied Coronet.

Elephant Hawkmoth (Deilephila elpenor)

Small Elephant Hawkmoth (Deilephila porcellus)

Pebble Hook-tip (Drepana falcataria falcataria)

Common Lutestring (Ochropacha duplaris)

Large Emerald (Geometra papilionaria)

Swallow-tailed Moth (Ourapteryx sambucaria)

Peppered Moth (Biston betularia) (male)

Mottled Beauty (Alcis repandata repandata)

Clouded Silver (Lomographa temerata)

Clouded Border (Lomaspilis marginata)

Found in daytime whilst out walking.

Foxglove Pug (Eupithecia pulchellata pulchellata)

V-Pug (Chloroclystis v-ata)

Double-striped Pug (Gymnoscelis rufifasciata)

Vapourer (Orgyia antiqua) (larva basking on bracken)

Found in daytime whilst out walking.

Heart and Club (Agrotis clavis)

Large Yellow Underwing (Noctua pronuba)

Varied Coronet (Hadena compta)

Sycamore (Acronicta aceris)

Dark Arches (Apamea monoglypha)

Beautiful Hook-tip (Laspeyria flexula)

Snout (Hypena proboscidalis)