In reply to James:
Thanks for that info, been reading Wiki on the subject & see Peppered Moth mentioned but could be way off, see what Steve says ...
en.m.wikipedia.org/.../Geometer_moth
That's one teeny specimen JB, wonder what that will be when it grows up?
If I'd found them they would be in a pot indoors to grow, pupate & see what emerges! Such a fascinating insight into a secret world!
2013 photos & vids here
eff37 on Flickr
In reply to Cyclist:
Cyclist said: Found this in my t shirt the other day, great little mover but what is it. I did take it back outside and left him in the shrubbery)
Found this in my t shirt the other day, great little mover but what is it. I did take it back outside and left him in the shrubbery)
Looks spot on for a Brimstone Moth (Opisthograptis luteolata) to me.
Best wishes
Hazel in the Gironde estuary, France
In reply to Noisette:
Well done H, just heard back from Steve Ogden that it is Brimstone Moth ... will have to tranfer over to MM thread!
In reply to WendyBartter:
New kid on the block today .... Small White Butterfly emerged .... did I see it happen?? No not as I was in garden stripping down the runner beans!!!
Drying it's wings
Face shot
Close-up of those fascinating eyes
May get a pic of open wings tomorrow, keeping it in butterfly house overnight, with freshly picked blossoms, as Storm Aileen has arrived to batter us!!
Hazel C said:I think your pupa may be a fly (Diptera) Wendy.
You were spot on again H ... this is what came out yesterday
Candidate for BU thread methinks
Right way up ... Hairy-B*m variety! Lol
Let it go out of front door last night & it flew straight back in ... fortunately still a bit dopey & let me re-trap it as it sat on lounge wall ... is gone!!!
As is this one which emerged from a tiny pupa I'd popped in a pot some time ago
Looks a bit 'Ichy' to me!
Found this item about a parasitic fly like yours Wendy, which may be contributing to the decline in Tortoishell Butterflies as it attacks the larvae of a lot of this type of butterfly including Red Admirals.
chrisraper.org.uk/blog
Very interesting findings H, I must be even more stringent in checking foodplant leaves for my incumbents, have some interesting looking eggs found yesterday on nettle leaves & currently in a pot to see what hatches ... Have to brush the undersides of all bramble leaves to remove hordes of Whitefly larvae!
WendyBartter said: Close-up of those fascinating eyes May get a pic of open wings tomorrow, keeping it in butterfly house overnight, with freshly picked blossoms, as Storm Aileen has arrived to batter us!!
Vid of butterfly showing how it's ready to fly away ...
Looks like butterflys are a bit like chickens, batter against a fence (or basket) when the door is wide open! Daft thing ! LOL
Lovely surprise today ... beautiful Red Admiral has emerged... from this 27th Aug ...
To this on 3rd or 4th Sep
Saw this first
Which led me to discover this
Sneaked out under cover of non see-through lid
Transferred to recently vacated Butterfly House
Currently walking up & down netting flexing it's wings but can't fly yet, should be able to be set free tomorrow!