Marbled Whites Mating, Photo: Peter Salmon
Peter spotted these mating Marbled Whites on 30/06/18 while at Bourne Park NR.
Such striking butterflies and great to be able to see the golden brown underside of the female in Peter’s photograph.
The butterfly is found in unimproved grassland where the grass may grow up to 0.5m tall. The largest colonies are found on downland but even small strips of grassland, such as a road verge, field margins, woodland clearings and disused railway lines can contain smaller colonies.
Posted on: 15 January, 2019
Small Copper. Photo: Dave Law
Dave had Small Coppers in his garden near Shaftesbury on 5/09/18 and tells us that on his walk up through the fields to Duncliffe Woods the third generation of this species were present in good numbers.
2018 certainly appeared to be a good year for this tiny but impressive butterfly.
Posted on: 15 January, 2019
Adonis Blue. Photo: Shona ReFoy
Shona tells us that when she walked up Hod Hill on 7/09/18 this was the only Adonis Blue butterfly she saw that day.
This is not unusual as the first emergence of this species peaks at the beginning of June, and the second emergence is in the second half of August peaking at the beginning of September.
Of course with our changing weather patterns these dates are subject to slight change.
Posted on: 15 January, 2019
Dark Green Fritillary. Photo: Alison Copland
This Dark Green Fritillary was photographed at Ballard Down by Alison on 21/06/18.
The Dark Green Fritillary is the most widespread fritillary found in the British Isles and is a pleasure to see as it flies powerfully over its grassland habitats, frequently stopping to nectar on Thistles and Knapweed. It gets its name from the green hue found on the underside of the hindwings, which are peppered with large silver spots.
Posted on: 2 January, 2019
Tortoiseshell. Photo: Alison Copland
Alison spotted this Tortoiseshell whilst at Ballard Down on 21/06/18.
This species was very scarce in Dorset last summer and it is a declining species, but it is hoped that maybe due to extremely hot temperatures some may have gone into early hibernation to escape the heat and will emerge again in spring. Fingers crossed for this iconic butterfly.
Posted on: 2 January, 2019
Silver-washed Fritillaries. Photo: Maire Murphy
Maire sent us this photo of a pair of Silver-washed Fritillaries which she spotted in Home Farm woods at Langton Matravers on 17/07/18.
The swooping flight of this large and graceful butterfly is one of the most beautiful sights to be found in woodland during high summer. A large fast flying butterfly, separated from other fritillaries by its pointed wings and silver streaks on the undersides which can be viewed as it stops to feed on flowers such as Bramble, as shown in Maire’s photo.
Females are slightly paler and larger than males as can be seen above.
A welcome remind of hot summer days!
Posted on: 2 January, 2019
Peacock. Photo: Mark Pike
Happy New Year!
Mark found this beautiful bright over-wintering Peacock in his garden on 1/01/19. He tells us it posed perfectly ,as can been seen in the lovely photos he shared with us, before flying off into the distance.
In mild weather this species along with others often come out of hibernation. Hopefully it returned to somewhere warm and safe before the very cold temperatures hit Dorset next day.
Peacock. Photo: Mark Pike
Posted on: 2 January, 2019
Silver-studded Blue. Photo: John Woodruff
Silver-studded Blue. Photo: John Woodruff
John found both male and female Silver-studded Blues at Morden Bog on 20/06/18.
Most colonies of this species are found in southern England, although there are several other notable colonies in the east of England and Wales. With the exception of a single site at Prees Heath in Shropshire, this butterfly is absent from central and northern England, Scotland, Ireland and the Isle of Man
Posted on: 30 December, 2018
Holly Blue. Photo: Mark Pike
Mark sent us this photo of a Holly Blue which he saw at Alners Gorse on 19/07/18.
This species have two generations each year and are unusual in that they lay eggs on Holly for the first generation and switch to Ivy for the second generation. (more…)
Posted on: 30 December, 2018
Dingy Skipper. Photo: Harold Gillen
Harold found one of the first Dingy Skippers recorded in Dorset in 2018 at Badbury Rings on 6/05/18.
This is our most widely-distributed skipper, despite its decline due to changes in farming practice. This butterfly’s strongholds are in central and southern England.
Posted on: 30 December, 2018
Brown Hairstreak. Photo: Mark Hardacre
Mark paid his first visit to Alners Gorse on 17/08/18 after moving to Dorset and was delighted to find this Brown Hairstreak.
This species is not always easy to find much less photograph so he must have been very happy that day.
This is the largest hairstreak found in the British Isles. It is a local species that lives in self-contained colonies that breed in the same area year after year. This species can also prove elusive, since it spends much of its time resting and basking high up in tall shrubs and trees.
Posted on: 15 December, 2018
Pale Tussock. Photo: Mark Pike
Drinker moth. Photo: Mark Pike
Mark sent us these quirky photos back on 16/07/18 after photographing them after he had run his Motcombe garden moth trap.
Hopefully they will bring forth a smile when viewed on this gallery, especially on a miserable ,wet winters day like today is as I post them. They look drunk!
Posted on: 15 December, 2018
Dingy Skipper. Photo: Stephen Brown
Stephen found this Dingy Skipper at Eggardon Hill on 17/05/18.
Despite its name, a freshly-emerged Dingy Skipper reveals a subtle pattern of browns and greys that is quite beautiful. However, this butterfly does live up to its name as scales are lost over time, resulting in a lacklustre and drab appearance.
Posted on: 15 December, 2018
Ypsolopha alpella. Photo: Paul Harris
Paul had a nice surprise when he checked his Weymouth garden moth trap back on 9/08/18. He found this rare micro moth, Ypsolopha alpella, FL. 7-9 mm, very local in Dorset and a new species for Paul’s garden records. (more…)
Posted on: 8 December, 2018
Large Skipper. Photo: George McCabe
When George was walking the Nottington path near Weymouth on 20/06/18 he came across this lovely sight. A female Large Skipper in the company of a flower beetle, Oedemera Noblis.
This is one of the largest of our “golden” skippers and, like these other skippers, the male has a distinctive sex brand on its forewings containing specialised scent scales.
Posted on: 8 December, 2018
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