Butterflies & Moths 2020

Well done Wendy & Caroline for the traps. I took mine out to a layby near woods (on a very quiet road so only one curious passer-by. I can't go in the woods now as there is too much fire risk from the drought a) cos I don't want to start a fire & b) might get arrested for being there (LOL).

Had over 80 species the highlights being little & large, this is a Cosmopterix possibly zieglerella, at 5mm wing length,

& large was this " Lesser Puss Moth"

Anyone ever watched Hoverflies chasing Butterflies and trying to land on them?

I saw lots of them doing this today with Whites, Blues and Peacocks.

I managed this shot of one managing to land on a Common Blue before the Butterfly flew off again.

I've spotted tiny flies on butterflies before but I've not seen hoverflies chasing them just to get a piggyback

Another moth trap last night which threw up more questions than answers ... more searching to be getting on with in this heatwave!

Star was this Swallow prominent

which showed it's beauty when I got it out of box

then it kindly opened it's wings

Another good fresh find was this Shuttle-shaped Dart

who obliged with a view of underwings

From memory think this is Flame Shoulder

Common Wainscot?

Cutie of the night was this littl'un who came in on my shirt ... the button is only 10mm

Formidable glare though!

Can't remember this one's name though?

Another needing proper ID, record shot only as it nicked off

Something to do with banana, there's a light one & a darker one??

Hi Wendy, glad you're back on trapping, your Flame shoulder is the alternative design of a Large Yellow Underwing, the small flashy one is Endotricha flammealis & the last is the lighter one, Agapeta hamana.

Paul A said:

Anyone ever watched Hoverflies chasing Butterflies and trying to land on them?

I saw lots of them doing this today with Whites, Blues and Peacocks.

I managed this shot of one managing to land on a Common Blue before the Butterfly flew off again.

Really interesting Paul, I can't say I've seen it before, in fact rarely see a Common blue just sitting, generally they never stop.

Many thanks for ID's H ... likely there will be more!

Hazel C said:

Really interesting Paul, I can't say I've seen it before, in fact rarely see a Common blue just sitting, generally they never stop.

I thought I was imagining it to begin with, but they were following the Butterflies as if they were on the same track.

I had thought it was maybe a colour triggered thing, with the Hover's attracted to the colour of the Butterflies.

A few Flutter's from yesterday.

Small White - edited - thanks Hazel :-)

Green-veined White - edited - thanks Hazel :-)

Peacock

Common Blue (m)

Small Copper