Ringlet ab .cuneatea. Photo: Mark Pike
Lots of aberrations are being reported this year. This one from Mark was seen at Alners Gorse,on 15/07/19 and is a Ringlet, ab. cuneatea. As you can see the rings are elongated rather than round.
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Black Arches moth, Motcombe
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Black Arches. Photo: Mark Pike
Mark always like to show us the faces of moths in close up. This is a Black Arches from his Motcombe garden moth trap on 15/07/19.
Silver-washed Fritillaries. Photo: Mark Pike
Mark witnessed this scene at Alners Gorse on 16/07/19 and tells us:
Male Silver Washed Fritillaries queue to gain the attentions of a valesina female, of which incidentally none were lucky boys!
Purple Hairstreak ab. depuncta. Photo: Mark Pike
Mark is an aberration butterfly hunter😊 This one is the second one he has found this week.
This one is a Purple Hairstreak, missing the black spot on the bottom of the hindwing next to the orange spots.
He spotted it at Alner’s Gorse on 16./07/19
Silver-washed Fritillary. Photo: Mark Pike
Mark’s photo of this Silver-washed Fritillary, taken at Alner’s Gorse on 5/07/19, shows just how stunning the underside can look when caught at the right angle and in the best light. Quite lovely Mark!
Peacock. Photo: Mark Pike
Red Admiral. Photo: Mark Pike
This Peacock and Red Admiral were photographed by Mark at Garston Wood on 12/07/19. and he says he thinks the Red admiral was possibly newly emerged as it appeared very drowsy.
Maybe it just enjoyed the attention from Mark as he captured the amazing beauty of its underwing pattern. A very colour co-ordinated butterfly!
Ringlets. Photo: Mark Pike
Mark sent us this photo which he took in Motcombe Meadows on 3/07/19 because as he says, it is a useful photo to show the upper and under- wing markings of the Ringlet butterfly.
This species can be seen on the wing from about the third week of June until early August.
Small Elephant and Elephant Hawkmoths. Photo: Mark Pike
Mark sent us this photo to show the difference between Small Elephant and Elephant Hawkmoths,both found in his Motcombe moth trap on 5/07/19.
The butterflies of the night, although some beauties can be seen flying in the daytime too.
Who said moths are boring?
Essex Skipper. Photo: Mark Pike
Essex Skipper. Photo: Mark Pike
Essex Skipper and Fly. Photo: Mark Pike
Mark sent us these beautiful photos of Essex Skipper which he managed to locate in Motcombe Meadows on 3/07/19.
This species can be difficult to identify in the field unless you can see it settled and get a good look at the antennae. As you see, they look they have been dipped in ink.
If you look closely at the third photo you can see Mark has captured a tiny fly that alighted on the tip of one antennae.
Scarce Silver-lines. Photo: Mark Pike
Mark ran his moth trap in his Motcombe garden on 29/06/19 and attracted this beautiful Scarce Silver-lines.
This moth comes readily to light and can be found late June /July.