Late Summer along the Woodland Edge

 With the arrival of August and September, there is a hint in the weather that Autumn is not far away. In my local wealden woods, single brooded summer butterfly species have finished and have been replaced by those species that have two or three broods in a year.

However, nature provides an important nectar source for these late season insects. At this time of year a blueish haze borders many woodland rides as the flowers of Devil's-bit Scabious (Succisa pratensis) burst into colour. 

Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta) 

Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui)

Comma (Polygonia c-album)

Peacock (Aglais io)

Green-veined White (Pieris napi)

Small Heath (Coenonympha pamphilus)

Small Heath (C.pamphilus) (ab. antiparvipuncta)

Holly Blue (Celastrina argiolus) (female)

White Admiral (Limenitis camilla) 

In Britain, camilla is predominantly a single-brooded species, flying from late June to early August. In good years, a partial second brood can occur which has become more regular in recent years. I happened upon this second brood male on 15th September.

Volucella inanis (Hoverfly sp.) (male and female)

Volucella zonaria (Hornet Hoverfly) (female)

Speckled Bush-cricket (Leptophyes punctatissima) (female)

Southern Oak Bush-cricket (Meconema meridionale) (female)

Spiked Shieldbug (Picromerus bidens) (mating)

Some Moths during August

 The variety of species coming to the moth trap continues to be good and here are some images of some of the moths that were attracted to the garden during August. 

Poplar Hawkmoth (Laothoe populi)

Pine Hawkmoth (Hyloicus pinastri)

Jersey Tiger (Euplagia quadripunctaria) (form lutescens)

Clay (Mythimna ferrago)

Delicate (Mythimna vitellina)

Copper Underwing (Amphipyra pyramidea)

Riband Wave (Idaea aversata) (form remutata)

Clay Triple-lines (Cyclophora linearia)

Maiden's Blush (Cyclophora punctaria)

Scorched Carpet (Ligdia adustata)

Tree-lichen Beauty (Cryphia algae)

Minor Shoulder-knot (Brachylomia viminalis)

Dusky Sallow (Eremobia ochroleuca)

The following two Mesapamea species are each very variable in their markings and colouring. They are virtually inseparable and require close examination of genitalia to be certain of identification.

I tend to employ the rather dubious 'best guess' method.

Common Rustic (Mesapamea secalis) (probably)

Lesser Common Rustic (Mesapamea didyma) (probably)