Spring Butterflies Emerge

 Lepidopterists are always eager to see their first butterflies of the year and the very early species to appear are those that have hibernated as adults. However, by late March the true harbingers of Spring start to emerge from their chrysalises.

Orange-tip (Anthocharis cardamines) (male)

Small White (Pieris rapae) (female)

Large White (Pieris brassicae) (male)

Green Hairstreak (Callophrys rubi)

Holly Blue (Celastrina argiolus) (female)

Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria) (male)

Phasia hemiptera (mating)

This is a parasitic tachinid fly and as its specific name suggests, it preys on bugs, mainly Green and Red-legged Shieldbugs. This species is sexually dimorphic and the male has rather attractive wings with metallic blue flashes.

Some Moths during March

 The changeable weather in March allowed for a few nights which were suitable for moth trapping. Moth numbers in my garden have been low but the number of different species is slowly increasing, with the promise of better things to come in April.

Brindled Beauty (Lycia hirtaria) (male)

Oak Beauty (Biston strataria) (male)

Double-striped Pug (Gymnoscelis rufifasciata)

Bridled Pug (Eupithecia abbreviata)

Early Tooth-striped (Trichopteryx carpinata)

Satellite (Eupsilia transversa)

Early Grey (Xylocampa areola)

Clouded Drab (Orthosia incerta)

Along the Woodland Edge in Early Spring

 The weather during March has been changeable and there have been some prolonged warm and sunny spells to bring out plenty of hibernating butterflies from their long sleep. Common Toads have also been on the move, making their way to and from their breeding pools. 

Here are some images taken during the month.

Peacock (Aglais io)

Comma (Polygonia c-album)

Common Toad (Bufo bufo)

Bog Beacon (Mitrula paludosa)

Mating Brimstones

A few weeks ago, I was wondering why I had never seen mating Brimstones (Gonepteryx rhamni). This is a common and widespread species in England and I started to ponder as to how I might witness such an event.

By the time I started watching Brimstones in previous years, usually during April and May, any courtship behaviour by males was invariably rejected by the females.

It seemed likely that most females are mated early in the season, soon after they wake from hibernation and this year, I set out to keep a close eye on Brimstone activity.

February 15th was a warm and sunny spring-like day and in a sheltered corner of a local wood, it wasn't long before I was seeing my first Brimstones of the year. I saw at least 10 males rapidly quartering the rides and beds of dead bracken. Over the next few weeks I saw more males but no females.

 It became clear to me that females either remain hidden and wait to be found by a male, or they emerge from hibernation much later than the males.

I saw my first female Brimstone on 14th. March. She was flying slowly and erratically over the undergrowth and my plan was to follow her for as long as possible. However, within a minute, a passing male homed in on her and after a very brief courtship they were mating.

Brimstone (Gonepteryx rhamni) (mating)

Some Butterflies and Moths during February

 Unsurprisingly, February was mostly wet and breezy, with only a few days bearing sunny spells.

 However, in the middle of the month there were a couple of days that offered some real spring-like sunshine that brought out some butterflies from hibernation. 

Overnight conditions were also good enough to put the moth-trap out.

Brimstone (Gonepteryx rhamni) (male)  

Peacock (Aglais io)

Oak Beauty (Biston strataria) (male)

Pale Brindled Beauty (Phigalia pilosaria) (male)

Small Quaker (Orthosia cruda)

Common Quaker (Orthosia cerasi)

 

Insect Moments in Europe

 This post is by way of an addendum to the previous post and shows some insect moments that I have enjoyed in Europe during the last couple of decades. 

Libelloides coccajus (male) (Ascalaphid sp.)

(29.5.2010, The Cevennes, France)

Stag Beetle (Lucanus cervus)

This species of beetle is very localised in SE England and I have only ever seen two females. It is however a common and widespread species in France.

(male, 4.7.2013, Gironde, France)

(male & female, 9.7.2013, Charente-Maritime, France)

Hoplia caerulea (Chafer sp.)

(5.7.2013, Gironde, France)

Oberea oculata (Longhorn sp.)

(16.8.2015, Haute-Savoie, France)

Western Clubtail (Gomphus pulchellus) (male)

(10.7.2013, Charente-Maritime, France)

Large Pincertail (Onychogomphus uncatus) (male)

(8.7.2013, Gironde, France)

Yellow Clubtail (Gomphus simillimus) (male)

(7.7.2013, Gironde, France)

Zygaena osterodensis (Burnet sp.)

(2.6.2010, The Cevennes, France)

Convolvulus Hawkmoth (Agrius convolvuli)

This species is a regular migrant to Britain in varying numbers. It is very common and widespread in France. I found this one roosting on a granite kerbstone in Chamonix.

(20.8.2015, Haute-Savoie, France)

Goat Moth (Cossus cossus) (larva found wandering across road)

This species is very localised and uncommon in the UK and I have never come across it. It is common and widespread in France and this huge larva was one of several wandering across a rural lane, amongst a few squashed carcasses. 

(22.9.2009, Gironde, France)

Bright Wave (Idaea ochrata)

This species only occurs on a very few sites in Kent, England and I have never seen it. It appears to be widespread in France.

(4.7.2013, Charente-Maritime, France)