Drunken Admirals!
When landlords turn the drunken beeOut of the foxglove’s door,When butterflies renounce their drams,I shall but drink the more! (Poem 51: ‘I taste a liquor never brewed’ quoted from The Selected … Continue Reading Drunken Admirals!
Leave me alone! I’m laying an egg. Holly blue oviposition.
I came across this little female Holly blue (Celastrina argiolus) butterfly, depositing her eggs on bramble buds on 16th June 2019 in Galicia, Spain. It possible that she was a … Continue Reading Leave me alone! I’m laying an egg. Holly blue oviposition.
Small, brown and moving north!
Just as you think the butterfly season is coming to an end, some second generation individuals appear. I was very happy to come across these second brood Brown Argus (Aricia … Continue Reading Small, brown and moving north!
Courting brimstones: wing walking
Courtship in pierid butterflies, such as brimstones, is usually fairly brief, but can nevertheless, feature some interesting interactions. I happened across a short, unsuccessful courtship in this pair of common … Continue Reading Courting brimstones: wing walking
Carefree commas!
This month (July), we have seen the appearance of many bright orange comma butterflies; the so-called, hutchinsoni form of Polygonia c-album. These lovely orange-coloured butterflies are the first brood to … Continue Reading Carefree commas!
Tiny other lives – photographic insights into insect worlds
What I love about macro photography is that it allows you to enter the world of the insect; at least for an instance. It gives us a glimpse of lives … Continue Reading Tiny other lives – photographic insights into insect worlds
Courtship bowing in meadow browns
Meadow brown (Maniola jurtina) butterflies, must, I think, be one of the most common and widespread butterflies in Europe. I am surprised therefore, not to be able to find any … Continue Reading Courtship bowing in meadow browns
A stroll along the Rio Sor looking for butterflies
The Rio Sor or Sor Mañón is a small, tranquil river which flows between the provinces of A Coruña and Lugo, in Galicia, NW Spain.It flows north into the Bay … Continue Reading A stroll along the Rio Sor looking for butterflies
Butterflies and climate change
We have heard a lot about climate change in the last few weeks (April 2019) with protests by Extinction Rebellion activists in London and the incredible teenager, Greta Thunberg reading … Continue Reading Butterflies and climate change
How to build a butterfly!
The upper wing surfaces of butterflies are often brightly coloured and visually highly apparent (above), whilst the undersides are usually fairly dull and inconspicuous (below). Although this characterisation is a … Continue Reading How to build a butterfly!
Distractive markings on lepidopteran wings
The Comma (Polygonia c–album) is a familiar butterfly, seen throughout most of England and Wales in the summer. Most people will have looked at the white ‘comma’ mark on the … Continue Reading Distractive markings on lepidopteran wings
Painted ladies on tour – butterfly migration
One of the best known migratory butterflies, the painted lady, undertakes a yearly migration, along what is best described as a ‘continuously breeding migration path’ (Stefanescu. 2013). This annual, multi‐generational round‐trip is … Continue Reading Painted ladies on tour – butterfly migration
Sexual dimorphism: when Mr and Mrs butterfly dress differently!
Why is that in some butterflies, the sexes are identical, whereas in other species the male and female are very different? Not an easy question to answer I think. In … Continue Reading Sexual dimorphism: when Mr and Mrs butterfly dress differently!
Portrait of a skipper – to flash or not to flash!
I am no expert when it comes to macro-photography. I don’t have the patience to set up all the equipment needed to get the perfect shot. Rather, I like … Continue Reading Portrait of a skipper – to flash or not to flash!
Butterflies in their habitats
I am going to try and do something a little bit different in this blog; step back a bit and try to show butterflies in the habitats in which they … Continue Reading Butterflies in their habitats
Puddling, peeing and recycling in butterflies
Adult butterflies feed on a variety of fluids, including nectar, water, damp substrates (mud), rotting fruit, excrement and so on. The term ‘mud puddling’, or just puddling, is usually used … Continue Reading Puddling, peeing and recycling in butterflies
