|
Post by trehopr1 on Apr 29, 2015 20:41:58 GMT
Very nice to hear that you sighted your first spring butterfly today alongside all the sorted overwintering species. Was curious if you managed any collecting in warm, tropical Thailand. If so, have you any pictures to post?
|
|
|
Post by Paul K on Apr 30, 2015 1:16:45 GMT
I was collecting only three times for few days as we spend most of the time in Bangkok. Also the timing of my collecting trips was not in the best emerging periods. I am hoping to have more luck there in months of July till November ( rainy season ). Also to find a very good spot for collecting takes sometimes few days. I posted already few pictures in previous different posts but I may have to post few more when i get more organized.
Paul
|
|
|
Post by nomad on Apr 30, 2015 17:35:17 GMT
May insects. I had a walk across the North Wiltshire Downs yesterday. My first stop was the early Iron Age hill fort of Liddington. Here the Black Oil Beetles Meloe proscarabaeus are now reaching their maxmium size. They are quite large for an European beetle. What a strange looking creature they are and even in the shorter grazed grass they seem to have difficulty moving along. A few miles further on there is a remote unimproved downland valley. Here there is a downland nature reserve which is an oasis among miles of cultivated land and sheep walks. The western end of this downland is ash and oak woodland with a understory of hazel and this is not part of the reserve. Although the rain of the morning had left a sunny afternoon, it was far too windy to observe and photograph butterflies on the open downland. I explored the shelter of the wood. At the bottom of this steep woodland there is an ancient green trackway passing through the valley. Here there is a large clearing with spring wildflowers. Gonepteryx rhamni and Anthocharis cardamines males were very active in the woodland clearing and along the trackway seeking females. A. Cardamines with its vivid orange tips has to be my favourite Spring butterfly. Pieris napi were also here, along with a small colony of Callophrys rubi . C. rubi always alight and rest with their wings closed and this means you do get to see the glorious green undersides. They spin off their perch at high speed to attack rival males or other passing insects and are very difficult to photograph in flight. The signs of deserted human habitation are everywhere in this valley. In the wood, an old gamekeepers cottage built of red brick now stands empty and further down the track, substantial farm buildings built of brick and flint lie in ruins. Further up the valley are scrub covered grassy mounds, all that is left of the village of Snap. Snap was abandoned in the early 19th century when agricultural improvement meant that less labour was needed by the landowners to work their fields and tend their animals . Meloe proscarabaeus. Liddington Hill, locality for M. proscarabaeus Anthocharis cardamines. Callophrys rubi The downland nature reserve with the wood beyond.
|
|
|
Post by Paul K on Apr 30, 2015 18:27:29 GMT
Anthocharis cardamines is still one of my favoured European butterflies . I am happy to have few specimens in my collection from late 80's when I lived in Poland.
Paul
|
|
|
Post by nomad on May 1, 2015 17:42:15 GMT
I have to agree, chasing Orange-tips in golden buttercup fields when I was young, was the essence of Spring.
|
|
|
Post by Paul K on May 1, 2015 18:40:48 GMT
Same to me . I remember instead of hanging out with teenagers and do some stupid crazy things I was chasing with net a little butterfly. I am not sure what was more crazy. Paul
|
|
|
Post by Paul K on May 19, 2015 15:59:33 GMT
Within period of two weeks the weather changed from wintery cold to summer hot. In southern Ontario there is no spring time . Yesterday I took a walk in one of the Toronto's park and I found this beautiful Papilio glaucus specimen. It is common species in southern Ontario although it is protected and no collecting permitted. Attachment Deleted
|
|
|
Post by trehopr1 on Apr 16, 2016 18:53:59 GMT
Well, I can officially report that I have seen my first spring butterfly today here in Illinois. As of 1:26 pm April.16 I saw a Cabbage butterfly (Pieris rapae) within 2 blocks of my home --- on the wing. Funny coincidence is that last year I sighted my first on April 15th (at 1:25pm). Spring is now truely here !!
|
|
|
Post by trehopr1 on Apr 14, 2017 1:51:18 GMT
Today, I saw my first spring butterfly on the wing. It was a Cabbage butterfly (Pieris rapae). Sighted it while on the job at 2:48 pm. Weather was sunny and in the low 60's. These early emergence individuals don't last very long as the weather here in Northern Illinois is still very unsettled until mid-May but, it's always a pleasure seeing them.
|
|
|
Post by Ed on Apr 15, 2017 4:57:12 GMT
Last week there were almost no butterflies here in Chongquing, a week later upon my return from easter vacation. I was greeted by many butterflies such as Papilio bianor, Papilio xuthus, Papilio protenor, Papilio polytes, Graphium sarpedon, Graphium leechi, and I also encountered a butterfly totally new to me Chilasa epycides. Still have had no luck finding Anthocharis, hoping to find Acraea next month! Bellow are some pictures of yesterdays catches: Im not sure what this diurnal moth is, I assume its quite common as I have found many of them. Although I usually dont collect bettles. I ended up finding these quite plentiful and colorful, so I collected a few. Ed.
|
|