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[amateur51]

I was coming in to ask you but thought I'd give it a punt on Google. Ex-act! Bingo! Etcetera. I once saw a Brimstone butterfly, years ago, but hadn't heard of a Brimstone moth.

Don't think I'll bother to report in this year, there have been so few. I did think I saw a small pale blue one a couple of days ago, but I don't "do" blue ones, so doubt I could have identified it - probably Common of that Ilk.

Not telling them on the veggie thread, ams but the bean plots have already been cleaned up for flowers next year

Good for you, french frank!

Support your local farmers I say

[greenilex]

Yes, but some of us have unfulfilled urges to be a local farmer, which is kinda tricky in the city centre.
Also beans taste amazing straight off the plant/legume/vine or whatever.

[HighlandDougie]

While I suspect that the Maritime Alps is cheating, not a wonderful year so far for butterflies, possibly because the weather has been so unsettled. What would usually be brown is still a lush green because of all the rain from the daily thunderstorms. Swallowtails, painted ladies, the odd comma, mountain fritillaries, clouded yellows, brimstones et al have all been present this year but fewer white admirals (a personal favourite). Happily, plenty of honey bees on the lavender and some very large black ones (darth vader killer bees) on the remains of the wisteria - bee-keeping and selling honey is an important local micro-industry. A thunder-free day today so maybe the weather is finally going to improve.

[Serial_Apologist]

There seem to be butterflies everywhere right now - apart from in our garden!

The most numerous appear to be smallish orange-winged Peacocks, which I have not observed before.

I also got a good look at a moth which I reported a while ago on this thread (I think), without giving a very good description. The moth in question is quite large, about the size of a Yellow underwing, jet black, with pale cream "veins" arranged diagonally pointing down and inwards to a bottom, horizontal one, each vein being approximately a millimetre wide.

Slightly off-topic, I also observed to my enormous delight 3 scarlet soldier beetles, two of them coupling, on a tangle of thistles. They used to be commonplace in the countryside when I was a nipper - we erroneously called them "bloodsuckers"; this was the first time I have seen any at all in about 20 years - I had assumed them to be extinct.

[french frank]

I did report everything I'd seen to date and said I'd seen NOTHING AT ALL in my 15-minuteses. I checked the results and no one else near here seems to have seen much, though someone had reported a Common Blue (bother! I didn't mention that).

[Anna]

The most numerous appear to be smallish orange-winged Peacocks, which I have not observed before.

Have you discovered a new species S_A? Do you think it was a Gatekeeper - I'm overrun with them at the moment, they have an 'eye' but not large like a Peacock.

[Richard Tarleton]

Have you discovered a new species S_A? Do you think it was a Gatekeeper - I'm overrun with them at the moment, they have an 'eye' but not large like a Peacock.

I was wondering that very thing, but didn't like to say

[french frank]

Me too

[Serial_Apologist]

Have you discovered a new species S_A? Do you think it was a Gatekeeper - I'm overrun with them at the moment, they have an 'eye' but not large like a Peacock.

I'm not sure, Anna. They clamp their wings together quickly on alighting then take off, much more lively than most butterflies - but there were a lot of them. I don't like grabbing butterflies because even if handled carefully one can easily damage the delicate wing structure and rub off the "pigment". I might go back tomorrow for another look.

[Richard Tarleton]

I'm not sure, Anna. They clamp their wings together quickly on alighting then take off, much more lively than most butterflies

The underwing pattern also diagnostic, S_A (eg peacocks blackish, gatekeepers have the "eye" like meadow browns).

No don't grab them on any account, you will rub the scales off. Experts () use a net, with a deft flick of the wrist, which detains them long enough for a look but doesn't harm them.

What book are you using for i/d? If the Observer Book, it should go on the fire along with your Observer Book of Birds. There are lots of good ones about these days and I hesitate to nominate one but you need one that also shows underwings clearly. Some have paintings, others photos....

[Anna]

S_A, I've found a short 2 minute BBC Bill Oddie video showing Gatekeepers, (so if it's not one of those you can eliminate it from other 'eyed' ones.) http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/life/Gat...erfly#p007yxtr
As I said, at the moment I've got loads of them, going outside this morning I counted around 15 but I now find that this time of year is when the new adults hatch out and they feed on bramble flowers (of which I have loads!) and also they like Ragwort, which I've left growing as I don't have any passing ponies but I'll cut it before it seeds. I also have an area of meadow grasses which has been uncut this year which are beneficial for the lavae.

Apart from them I've mostly seen Ringlets, Tortoiseshells, Peacocks, Coppers but so far no Commas. I think, compared to last year, certainly less generally but perhaps they've just been late in starting due to wet Spring? Also, funny thing, suddenly lots more bees than there have been lately.

[Serial_Apologist]

Thanks v much, Richard and Anna.

It could well be the Gatekeeper - the "eye" was visible on the inside of the wings. I'll see if I can find anything on that moth I mentioned earlier.

[french frank]

Also, funny thing, suddenly lots more bees than there have been lately.

Yup Looking better.

[Serial_Apologist]

a moth which I reported a while ago on this thread (I think), without giving a very good description. The moth in question is quite large, about the size of a Yellow underwing, jet black, with pale cream "veins" arranged diagonally pointing down and inwards to a bottom, horizontal one, each vein being approximately a millimetre wide.

AT LAST, I've managed to identify the stunning-looking moth in question; it is called the Jersey Tiger, and is absolutely everywhere around here right now:

http://butterfly-conservation.org/51-1312/jersey-tiger.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Euplagia_quadripunctaria

[Anna]

AT LAST, I've managed to identify the stunning-looking moth in question; it is called the Jersey Tiger, and is absolutely everywhere around here right now:

Wow!! That's amazing, it looks like an African tribal shield, you are lucky.
I do hope you're going to report sightings to the Butterfly Count (there's a box for other species) because I see on their page:
Although not one of the 'target' species for big butterfly count, many of you kindly let us know about your sightings of this spectacular moth which flies by day and at night. Jersey Tigers have traditionally been confined to south Devon and the Channel Islands, but in recent years they've expanded their range in the West Country and also become established on the Sussex coast and the Isle of Wight. There had also been a few sightings in Forest Hill, south London, much to the surprise of experts. However, big butterfly counters recorded a substantial increase in London in 2010. Jersey Tigers were reported much more widely in the south London suburbs, from Thornton Heath right up to Kennington, just a few streets away from The Oval cricket ground and a stone’s throw from the River; the moth is clearly spreading its wings and establishing itself further afield.
I suspect they've established a colony right by you!