Adonis Blue. Photo: Mark Pike
A beautiful photo of a very fresh female Adonis Blue seen by Mark Pike at Fontmell Down on 20/08/2019.
Tag Archives: Pike
Silver-spotted Skipper. Photo: Mark Pike
Silver-spotted Skipper Egg, Photo: Mark Pike
On a visit to Fontmell Down on 20/08/2019 Mark saw this beautiful Silver-spotted Skipper and with the benefit of very good eyesight also found a Silver-spotted Skipper egg.
Brown Hairstreak. Photo: Mark Pike
Gatekeeper aberration. Photo: Mark Pike
On a rather cloudy morning a visit to Alners Gorse on 08/08/2019, Mark found this superb female Brown Hairstreak which very obligingly was good enough to “display” on his fingertip. Continuing with his search despite the weather about an hour later he found this Gatekeeper aberration
Vapourer moth. Photo: Mark Pike
This is one moth that is easy to identify male from female as the female Vapourer is wingless and sedentary remaining on her cocoon. The male flies by day, in a fluttering flight,searching for the scent of a female, and is often mistaken for a Brown Hairstreak butterfly. It can be found July-Oct here in the South.
Chinese Character moth. Photo:Mark Pike
This small moth resembling a bird dropping turned up in Mark’s garden moth trap in Motcombe on 26/08/19.
This species has two generations, Apr-early June, July-early Sept. It comes to light in small numbers and can sometimes be found by day resting on vegetation.
Long-tailed Blue at Alners Gorse
Long Tailed Blu. Photo: Mark Pike 2019
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We know our Alners Gorse Butterfly Reserve is pretty special, but we didn’t expect this! Continue reading
Chalk-hill Blue. Photo: Mark Pike
Mark commented that this female Chalkhill Blue, seen at Fontmell Down on 5/08/19 was still drying its wings after emergence from the pupa. Continue reading
Chalk Carpet Moth. Photo: Mark Pike
Mark spotted this fresh Chalk Carpet Moth whose flight season is July – Aug on Fontmell Down on 5/08/19.
This species is easily disturbed from the ground by day but also comes to light ,sometimes in numbers.
Elephant Hawkmoth. Photo: Mark Pike
Poplar Hawkmoth, Photo: Mark Pike
Mark took beautiful study photos of these two hawkmoths in his Motcombe garden on 3/08/19 Continue reading
Silver-spotted Skipper. Photo: Mark Pike.
When Mark went to Fontmell Dowm on the 5/08/19 in search of Silver-spotted Skippers, he found seven of this delightful but scarce little butterfly.
This species is found on chalk grassland that contains short, sparse, turf. This warmth-loving species is typically found on south facing slopes on which its sole foodplant, Sheep’s-fescue, grows.
In Dorset Fontmell Down is the only site it has been found in recent years.