White Admirals and Purple Hairstreaks

 Over the last few months, my computer had become tediously slow and unresponsive until it finally ground to a halt. After three weeks at the computer hospital, it is now back up to speed and I can set about catching up with some posts.

My two favourite butterfly species are the White Admiral (Limenitis camilla) and Purple Hairstreak (Favonius quercus) and I eagerly await their emergence every year. If the weather conditions are right, I set off early to my local hotspots during their flight season.

White Admiral (Limenitis camilla) (males)

                                                     Purple Hairstreak (Favonius quercus) 

(female)

                                                                        (males)

Whilst the purple panels on the forewings of the female are usually visible in most light conditions, the purple sheen on the wings of the males can be difficult to capture on camera. In the first two images, this male didn't open his wings far enough for the light to hit at the right angle for a full purple show. In the third image, the sunlight was too bright for anything other than a watery shine. The fourth image was taken at full zoom but shows that wonderful purple reflection.

                                       Silver-washed Fritillary (Argynnis paphia) (female)

                                                          Comma (Polygonia c-album)

                                            Small Skipper (Thymelicus sylvestris) (female)

                                    Black-tailed Skimmer (Orthetrum cancellatum) (male)

                                      

                                          Black-tailed Skimmer (O. cancellatum) (female)

                                    Mullein Moth (Shargacucullia verbasci) (larva on figwort)

This one skillfully avoided being predated upon by a passing shieldbug

                                      Peach Blossom (Thyatira batis) (larva on bramble)

             Here are a pick of some of the moth species attracted to the light trap during early July.

Pale Prominent (Pterostoma palpina)

                                                  Rosy Footman (Miltochrista miniata)

                                               Vapourer Moth (Orgyia antiqua) (male)

                                                Leopard Moth (Zeuzera pyrina) (male)