More Views from the Terrace

Judging by the numbers of Holly Blue (Celastrina argiolus) that have been flying through the garden over the last week, they seem to be having a good year. Over the Easter weekend I noticed a Holly Blue fluttering back and forth along our holly hedge and it had the look of a female looking for suitable egg laying sites. I grabbed my camera and watched her at close quarters for 20 minutes or so.

It was indeed a female laying eggs on the holly flower buds. Females of the spring brood mainly lay their eggs on holly buds but females of the summer brood tend to lay their eggs on ivy buds. I have also occasionally seen them use alder buckthorn and spindle as a food plant.

I managed to get the following images. 

Holly Blue (Celastrina argiolus) (ovipositing female)

The ovum is a pale blue mini urchin and is laid at the base of a holly flower bud.

The Dark-edged Beefly is fairly common in our garden and I noticed this mating pair. 

Dark-edged Beefly (Bombylius major) (mating)

A greater variety of species are now starting to turn up at the moth-trap.

Brindled Beauty (Lycia hirtaria) (male)

Brindled Pug (Eupithecia abbreviata)

Brimstone Moth (Opisthograptis luteolata)

Swallow Prominent (Pheosia tremula)