green underwings of a butterfly camouflaged against the leaf it is resting on

Brimstone. Photo: Mark Pike

seven caterpillars with beige hairsand  black faces on the outside of  their web

Marsh Fritillary Caterpillars. Photo: Mark Pike

Mark commented that this female Brimstone was so well camouflaged against the leaf she settled on at Alners Gorse  when he visited the reserve on 29/07/19.

Not so were the caterpillars of the Marsh Fritillary butterfly which is found at Alners Gorse,. The mite, trombidium breei seen on one of the caterpillars is often found on butterflies and other insects but apparently does them no harm.

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