My spring and summer walks on Pevensey Levels this year were more often than not blighted by cool and blustery weather. By late September however, I was able to enjoy some walks in warm sunshine and still conditions.
Such weather conditions provide a better opportunity to find Fen Raft Spiders (Dolomedes plantarius) basking out in the open.
There are also other things of interest to be found along the field edges and ditch margins
Fen Raft Spider (Dolomedes plantarius) (female with egg sac)
Peacock (Aglais io) (larvae on common nettle)
The Peacock is normally a single brooded butterfly. Its larvae are usually found in May and June but in recent years, a second brood has become an increasingly regular occurrence.
I found this colony of larvae on 21st. September.
By 25th. September the final instar larvae had dispersed and should produce an emergence of adults during the latter half of October.
Reed Dagger (Simyra albovenosa) (larva on reed)
The Reed Dagger is a nationally scarce moth found in wetland habitats in the south-east of England.
This larva was spotted by my daughter as we walked along the ditch margins on 20th. September and it is nice to know that this species is breeding on Pevensey Levels.
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