Wildlife mid 2009

[mark smyth]

You're correct, Anthony. How did it get the same name?

[Gerdk]

RR, Love your butterfly shots - remind me of happy days in the south!

Gerd

[Ragged Robin]

Glad they gave you happy memories Gerd 

[Armin]

Robin,
nice shots from Erebia euryale Large Ringlet / Bergmohrenfalter.
A pity this species is not available around my area (Spessart/Odenwald mountains).

[Armin]

Not one I've seen Armin. Spotted Sulphur (Emmelia trabealis)  was found in eastern counties (Breck district of Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire) in the 19^th century (The Moths of the British Isles Richard South, 1907). Bernard Skinner (The Colour Identification Guide to Moths of the British Isles, 1984) confirms this, adding that it may have been resident only in Kent, around Darenth, Dover and Folkestone. It has not been seen in Britain since 1960.

Anthony, thanks for the detailed information.

[Stephenb]

This is Yponomeuta evonymella or the Bird Cherry Ermine. Bird Cherry (Prunus padus) is a common tree in this area and this moth’s caterpillars have the last 3 years almost completely defoliated most of the bird cherries in this area. (spinning a larval tent - second picture). It’s astonishing that the trees withstand this treatment year after year, putting out new leaves later in the summer. The moths are now very common in my garden, particularly on a small leaved lime – wandering about on the leaves feeding on something microscopic. Anyone know what they would be eating?

[Anthony Darby]

You're correct, Anthony. How did it get the same name?

They are related and the flowers are similar.

[mark smyth]

Stephen could the moths be drinking honeydew?

Some mini 2cm caterpillars have been eating my Dianthus seeds inside the ovary. There is no obvious way in so the moth must be laying her eggs on the ovary and the hatched caterpillar eats a tiny hole to get in

[Ragged Robin]

After a massive thunderstorm last night a Tortoiseshell has found the perfect sunbathing spot on a sunny centre spreading its wings like petals

[Anthony Darby]

Stephen could the moths be drinking honeydew?

Some mini 2cm caterpillars have been eating my Dianthus seeds inside the ovary. There is no obvious way in so the moth must be laying her eggs on the ovary and the hatched caterpillar eats a tiny hole to get in

Wonder what species does that? Will try to find out.

[Paul T]

Anthony and Mark,

A couple of years ago I have my Clematis afoliata flower for the first time ever.  About 6 or 9 flowers, solitary in "leaf" axils (it actually has no leaves, but does have tiny petioles where the leaves should be), and every single one of them had a little thin green caterpillar inside that had eaten out all the stamens and style etc.  I didn't even get to see one perfect flower.  It hasn't flowered since then either, and I have no idea what the difference was that year that lead to flowers.    I was NOT happy with those caterpillars, let me tell you. 

[Stephenb]

Stephen could the moths be drinking honeydew?

I wondered that, but hadn't seen any aphids/ants. However, today I noticed that the tree is now in flower - perhaps honeydew was falling from flowers higher up onto the leaves. Now the moths are both on the leaves and the flowers (see below). There are now several species of moth and flies crawling about the leaves.
 

[Ragged Robin]

Great photos of the Moths Steven - maybe the honeydew is somewhat like Mead? 

[Roma]

Robin,
your butterfly has certainly chosen a good background to show off its colours. I had a wander yesterday round the fields near where I saw the caterpillars and saw several Small Tortoiseshell butterflies on creeping thistle flowers but they were a bit flighty and it was windy so did not get many pictures.  I found three possible Painted Lady caterpillars on spear thistle and masses of blackfly on the creeping thistle.

[Anthony Darby]

Spot on Roma.

Stephen, Lime trees (Tilia spp.) are notorious for dropping nectar from their flowers. Never park your car under one!