Butterflies 2020 - May 9th 2020


Orange Tip - Tucking Mill 09-05-2020

At the time of writing it is June and the butterfly season is coming to a head. My trips to the Tucking Mill section of the cycle-path have been few and far between owing to the Coronavirus outbreak and resulting lockdowns. Because of this, for the rest of the season, I have decided to concentrate my efforts on surveying for known species on the cycle path and the surrounding area for the rest of the year.

May 9th 2020
Species: Dingy Skipper, Grizzled Skipper, Brown Argus, Common Blue, Speckled Wood, Orange Tip.

My first visit to the area was on the 9th May. The weather was fine and sunny with the temperature reaching 22c. I was pleasantly surprised to find both Grizzled and Dingy Skippers flying in the field alongside the path. 

Grizzled Skipper - Tucking Mill 09-05-2020

This sunny, dry, gently sloping hillside seems to provide a good habitat for these two species. However, I have yet to discover which food-plant the Grizzled Skippers are using. I can not find any Wild Strawberry (Fragaria vesca) growing in this location so tracking down it's foodplant is very much on my 'to-do' list.

May is late for Brimstone butterflies, but I did expect to see a few still on the wing. I cycled a short way along the path to examine a lone Buckthorn bush that is usually furnished with Brimstone eggs and larvae at this time of year. I could only find one egg... disappointing.

Brimstone Egg - Midford 09-05-2020


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