Sunday 9th July 2023

Species: Ringlet (1) Red Admiral (2) Peacock (2) Small White (1) Gatekeeper (10) Large White (2) Green-Veined White(2) Silver-washed Fritillary (4) Comma (10) Brimstone (2) Meadow Brown (14) Small Tortoiseshell (1) Small Skipper (2) Common Blue (1) Marbled White (6)

Silhouette of Comma Butterfly - Horsecombe Vale 09-07-2023

The 9th July was a sunny day in Bath with the temperature hovering around 20c when I arrived on the Tucking Mill viaduct at about 2.30pm.

Silver-washed Fritillary - Midford 07-09-2023

I headed to a point around 200 metres from the far end of the Midford viaduct. Here, just past where the cycle track enters the 'permissive path' section is normally a good spot to see a variety of butterflies at this time of year. Today there were a couple of Silver-washed Fritillary and a Brimstone or two. 

Slow worm - Tucking Mill 09-07-2023

The grassy embankment near the Tucking Mill Viaduct was relatively quiet, but I did check the reptile mat. There were several Slow Worms and a lot of ants!

Gatekeeper - Tucking Mill 09-07-2023

As I headed off towards Horsecombe Vale, I spotted a male Gatekeeper which are common butterflies during the summer. 

The eye-spots in the corner of forewings are prone to vary quite a bit in this species. Most have two white 'pupils' but in this example the eye-spot was forming a figure-of-eight shape, a slight departure from the normal form.

Black and Yellow Longhorn beetle - Horsecombe Vale 09-07-2023

Horsecombe Vale is proving a good place to see beetles as well as other species of insect. Today proved no exception as two, fairly common species were present in good numbers. Rutpela maculata, sometimes referred to as the Black and Yellow Longhorn beetle can often be seen here.

Green Dock Beetles (Gastrophysa viridula) - Horsecombe Vale 09-07-2023

The presence of another common species is often indicated by damage they do. I spotted a very bedraggled Dock plant at the side of the path. It was merely a skeleton of its former self. Turning over what was left of a leaf revealed several of the culprits, Green Dock Beetles (Gastrophysa viridula).

Dock plant devastated by Green Dock beetles - Horsecombe Vale 09-07-2023

These bright, iridescent green beetles measure just 5mm in length but can together cause considerable damage on the host plant.

It was in Horsecombe Vale I saw a number of Comma butterflies flying alongside the footpath. One perched briefly of an overhanging Wych Elm sapling. (Photo at top of post).

Comma (Hutchinsoni form) - Horsecombe Vale 09-07-2023

Comma butterflies were one of the most numerous species during this visit, with a total of ten seen. Many of these were the paler Hutchinsoni form. These individuals will breed this summer, producing a second brood all of which will be of the normal form. These will then hibernate the winter as adults. 

The name 'Hutchinsoni' is a tribute to the Victorian lepidopterist Emma Hutchinson, who studied the species for over 50 years and participated in attempts to reintroduce the species to areas of the country where it had declined.  


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