Dorset butterfly updates
Keep your eye out for the Humming-bird Hawk-moth, which looks like a tiny humming bird.
Reports of a Monarch butterfly have been coming in. Continue reading
This is such an amazing picture, that we thought we’d put it on our front page as well as in our Gallery! Continue reading
Mullein moth caterpillar. Photo: Richard and Sue Sedgley
The identification of the caterpillar can be made partly from the plant it is on: you can see the plant is somewhat hairy, and has a tall main stalk, so it is probably a verbascum – the food plant of the Mullein moth, along with buddleia and figwort. This moth is more often seen in the caterpillar stage than the adult stage, which is usually on the wing in April and May and is much less eye-catching!
Picture taken in a garden in Corfe Castle on 13/06/2017.
Female Lulworth Skipper. Photo: Mark Pike.
Mark photographed this in teh car park at Corfe Castle on 13/06/2017.
Eggs of the Marsh Fritillary. Photo: Dave Law
Dave says this was one of quite a few egg batches found on various Dorset sites, which is hopefully good news for future generations of the butterfly. The eggs will hatch into caterpillars, which hibernate over the winter, to then form chrysalises and emerge as the adult butterfly in May the following year.
Dave took the picture at Cerne Abbas on 12/06/2017
The wildlife site to the side of the Weymouth Relief Road is humming with insect life, as evidenced by this amazing photo, showing at least twelve Six-spot Burnet moths on the flower stalk of a Vipers Bugloss Plant, and Stephen Brown tells is that he counted 362 on his walk on 13 June 2017!
Six-spot Burnet moths on Vipers Bugloss. Photo: Stephen Brown
Reports are also coming in of Adonis Blues and Grizzled Skippers, both not seen here before, and the one bee orchid seen last year has increased to over 70.
It only shows that when we create (or return) the right habitat for the wildlife, they will come if they are close enough to get there. We are very grateful to Phil Sterling and Dorset County Council for having the vision to create this wonderful area when putting through the new road.
Large Skipper. Photo: Mark Pike
Mark says: “Paid a short visit to Lydlinch Common this afternoon and despite the howling wind saw 5 Large Skipper, 5 Marsh Frits (including a mating pair), and a few other bits sent to the website. However the main event for me was just standing and listening to the uniquely beautiful song of a Nightingale singing its heart out (yes, they DO sing during daylight as well!) from the nearby undergrowth all the time I was there, absolutely amazing!”
Dingy Skipper. Photo: Penny Hawes
Penny took this really crisp shot of a pair of mating Dingy Skippers at Kingbarrow Quarry on Portland on 26/05/2017.
Wall Brown. Photo: Gordon Cryer
A Wall on a wall! Captured by Gordon on 09/05/2017 at Durston Country Park.