Northern Damselfly and other Scottish Treats

Back in June of this year, we spent a week in Scotland and I had timed our stay to coincide with the flight period of the Northern Damselfly (Coenagrion hastulatum). This is arguably our most endangered species of damselfly in Britain and is confined to just a few sites in and around Abernethy Forest in the Scottish Highlands.

We managed to make use of 45 minutes of sunshine before the weather closed in for the rest of the day. Just a few males were seen.

Northern Damselfly (Coenagrion hastulatum) (males)

The male in the next two photographs was carrying an infestation of mites on the underside of its thorax.

Several species of British butterflies occurring in Scotland have subspecies status. Taxonomy is a very complicated science and I don't pretend to be any sort of expert in this field. In some species, the status is fairly clear-cut but in others there is some disagreement as to whether such status is merited. Suffice to say that Taxonomists are constantly re-evaluating the names of species and subspecies.

For descriptions and current information on this subject, go to the species pages at www.ukbutterflies.co.uk 

Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria ssp. oblita) (male)

South Shian, Argyllshire.

Green-veined White (Pieris napi ssp. thomsoni) (mating pair, female on right)

Glen Loy, Inverness-shire.

Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary (Boloria selene)

(The Scottish populations of selene were formerly categorised as ssp. insularum but are no longer regarded as being a separate subspecies to the rest of the British populations)  

Glen Loy, Inverness-shire.

males.

females.

Chequered Skipper (Carterocephalus palaemon) (male)

Glen Loy, Inverness-shire.

Argent & Sable (Rheumaptera hastata)

Glen Loy, Inverness-shire.

Clouded Buff (Diacrisia sannio)

 (male aberration, where the normal mustard yellow colour of the forewings has been replaced by pale grey and the pink highlights have been replaced by brown)

Glen Loy, Inverness-shire.

Black Guillemot (Cepphus grylle)

Oban, Argyllshire.

Hooded Crow (Corvus corone cornix) (juvenile)

Northern Marsh Orchid (Dactylorhiza purpurella)

Autumn on Pevensey Levels

There is definitely an end-of-season feel in the air as I walk around Pevensey Levels at this time of year. The maize crop has been harvested, the hedges have been cut and the meadows mown.

 Butterfly numbers have fallen away and although I saw my first Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus) of the year (and probably the last) in the last week of September, I have not seen any third brood Wall (Lasiommata megera) this year. 

However, the water ditches are providing plenty of Odonata activity.

The population of Willow Emerald Damselflies (Chalcolestes viridis) that I found in 2018 has grown this year and I have been observing them on a regular basis. Most of the males that I have seen have been holding territories on oak foliage hanging low over the water ditches. I have also seen three pairs in tandem on three different days, all of which were seen flying into the oak foliage. I saw one pair (through binoculars) in ovipositing posture but I cannot be sure that any eggs were laid as the event was brief. The males are now starting to show signs of ageing as they turn from iridescent green to a dull bronze colour.

Migrant Hawkers (Aeshna mixta) are still plentiful and can regularly be found basking together in the autumn sunshine.

Willow Emerald Damselfly (Chalcolestes viridis) (males)

Migrant Hawker (Aeshna mixta) (basking males)

Migrant Hawker (A. mixta) (ovipositing female)

September Highlights

Between the blustery downpours of late, I have been making use of any quiet weather interludes. Late summer has now turned into autumn and at this time of year I am a regular visitor to my local National Trust gardens to check out any sheltered floral corners for nectaring insects.

Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas) (female) (ab. extensa) 

The moth-trap can attract some interesting species during the autumn and a Pale Eggar (Trichiura crataegi) made a first ever appearance to my garden last week

Pale Eggar (Trichiura crataegi) (male)

Autumnal Rustic (Eugnorisma glareosa)

A couple of weeks ago, a friend told me of an interesting caterpillar feeding on purple toadflax in her Eastbourne garden. I photographed it the next day resting on a lavender head and we found another three larvae on other toadflax plants. Nationally, the Toadflax Brocade (Calophasia lunula) is a Red Data Book species but Eastbourne seems to be one of its strongholds.

Toadflax Brocade (Calophasia lunula) (larva)

Whilst the breeding season for most species is coming to an end, autumn marks the start of the mating season for the Purse-web Spider (Atypus affinis) when males can be found above ground searching for female burrows. This species is a distant relative of the Tarantulas, born out by those huge fangs and tail spinnerets. Thankfully, it is only the size of a thumb-nail. 

A few days ago, I was walking with friends along the cliff tops near Seaford in 40mph gusts and heavy showers when I saw this male being blown about across the short grass.

Purse-web Spider (Atypus affinis) (male)

Late Summer on Pevensey Levels

Although the evenings are drawing in and an autumnal chill can be felt as the sun goes down, there is still plenty to be seen out in the field.

 The expected emergence of a British brood of Long-tailed Blue (Lampides boeticus) in southern England is likely to be on the wing from the last week of September.

 On Pevensey Levels, a third brood of Wall (Lasiommata megera) should be taking flight soon and I am still hopeful of seeing my first Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus) of the season sometime during October.

 At the moment though it is Dragonflies that rule the water ditches and reed beds.

Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas) (female, form caeruleopunctata)

A mating pair of Robberflies (probably Machimus atricapillus) with Hoverfly prey (Helophilus pendulus)

Golden-ringed Dragonfly (Cordulegaster boltonii) (males)

Brown Hawker (Aeshna grandis) (male)

Brown Hawker (A. grandis) (female)

Migrant Hawker (Aeshna mixta) (males)

Willow Emerald Damselfly (Chalcolestes viridis) (males)

Late Summer in a Wealden Wood

As we enter the last week of August, all of our resident butterfly species are either on the wing or are over with for another season. In good years, some species will produce third broods in September and October and the current influx of Long-tailed Blues (Lampides boeticus) from the continent is sure to provide some late-season excitement.  

For me, the sight of Brimstones (Gonepteryx rhamni) busy nectaring at thistle heads in readiness for hibernation signals that Autumn is not far away.

Brimstone (Gonepteryx rhamni) (male)

Ruddy Darter (Sympetrum sanguineum) (males)

Ruddy Darter (S. sanguineum) (immature male)

Ruddy Darter (S. sanguineum) (female)

Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria) (female)

Large White (Pieris brassicae) (female)

Common Blue Damselfly (Enallagma cyathigerum) (male)

White-legged Damselfly (Platycnemis pennipes) (female)