dispar

05 January 2015
© Vince Massimo and Peter Eeles
Citation: Massimo, V. and Eeles, P. (2015). Notes and Views, Issue 2 - October to December 2014 [Online]. Available from http://www.dispar.org/reference.php?id=93 [Accessed December 11, 2024].

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Notes and Views, Issue 2 - October to December 2014

Vince Massimo and Peter Eeles

Abstract: This edition of Notes and Views provides a summary of interesting items posted on UK Butterflies and other media between 1st October and 31st December 2014.

Newly-emerged Small White (Pieris rapae) in December

27 December 2014 (Source)

A freshly emerged Small White (P. rapae) was seen in a North Somerset garden on 24th December by UKB member "Matsukaze". It is thought to have possibly pupated in the house. These types of unseasonal outdoor sightings usually result from a pupa located in a house or greenhouse, where the temperature is artificially high.

Small White (library photo)
Image © Neil Freem

Large White (Pieris brassicae) larva in December

06 December 2014 (Source)

A Large White (P. brassicae) larva was found by Kevin Ling, feeding on the Nasturtiums in his garden.

Large White larva (library photo)
Image © William Langdon

Small White (Pieris rapae) larva in December

03 December 2014 (Source)

A Small White (P. rapae) larva was found by Andy Brown in his Hampshire garden.

Small White larva
Image © Andy Brown

December sighting of Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus)

03 December 2014 (Source)

A late sighting of a Clouded Yellow (C. croceus) at Seaton, Cornwall, by L. Truscott was reported on Twitter.

Clouded Yellow (library photo)
Image © Neil Hulme

Late sighting of Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui)

30 November 2014 (Source)

A late sighting of a Painted Lady (V. cardui) was reported by David Moore in South Wales.

Painted Lady (library photo)
Image © Peter Eeles

Late sightings of Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria)

30 November 2014

Sightings of Speckled Wood continued to be reported into October and November.

30th October. The warmest UK Halloween day on record (23.6C) resulted in many sightings including an unusual record of a Speckled Wood (P. aegeria) mating pair in South Wales by David Moore.
9th November. A sighting was recorded by Vince Massimo in Crawley, Sussex. A sighting was also recorded by Gareth Jenkins at Goldcliff, Newport Wetlands Reserve, South Wales.
18th November. A sighting was reported on Twitter by Paul Wheeler at Wharleight Point in Devon.


Speckled Wood mating pair Image © David Moore	Speckled Wood Image © Vince Massimo

Third brood Holly Blue (Celastrina argiolus)

00 November 2014

A number of sightings of third brood Holly Blue (C. argiolus) were recorded in October and November:

5th October. A sighting of a male was recorded by Dave Miller.
18th October. A single sighting was recorded by "Hoggers".
20th October. A single sighting was recorded by Neil Hulme in Worthing, Sussex.
27th October. A single sighting of a fresh male was recorded by Guy Padfield in his Woodbridge garden in East Suffolk.
28th October. Sightings of both a male and female were recorded by Dave Miller in Middlesex.
30th October. A single sighting was recorded by Neil Hulme in Worthing, Sussex, as well as another single sighting of a female recorded by Dave Miller in Middlesex.
9th November. A sighting of a male was recorded by Dave Miller near Heathrow. On the same day another male was photographed by Andrew Cooper in Dorset, as reported on Twitter.
15th November. A sighting of a fresh male was recorded by Mike Gibbons at West Christchurch, Dorset.
29th November. A sighting was recorded by Peter Hunt at Wheelers Bay on the Isle of Wight.


Holly Blue Image © Dave Miller	Holly Blue Image © Dave Miller

Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus) and Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta) ovipositing

01 November 2014 (Source)

Egg-laying Clouded Yellow (C. croceus) and Red Admiral (V. atalanta) were observed in Hampshire on 1st November by Paul Harfield.

Red Admiral
Image © Paul Harfield

12 species flying on 1st November

01 November 2014 (Source)

1st November produced a list of 11 different species on the wing throughout the country, as reported by Richard Fox on Twitter. This figure was revised up to 12 species by Richard in the Butterfly Conservation blog.

Late sightings of Chalk Hill Blue (Polyommatus coridon)

00 October 2014 (Source)

A number of extremely late Chalk Hill Blue (P. coridon) sightings were recorded including one at Devil's Dyke, Newmarket, Cambridgeshire on 2nd October and again on 25th October. The potential for this to be a second brood is discussed in this thread.

Monarch (Danaus plexippus) sightings

00 October 2014 (Source)

There were several "Monarch (D. plexippus) sightings reported in the first week of October from the Scilly Isles, Cornwall and Devon. All sightings were of single individuals and a summary follows:

1st October. Three sightings from Isles of Scilly on St. Mary's, St. Agnes and Gugh.
2nd October. A single sighting from Cornwall at Mussel Point, Zennor. It was sighted "at 1.50pm then flew West".
3rd October. Two sightings from the Isles of Scilly on Tresco and St Mary's.
4th October. A single sighting from Cornwall at Housel Bay on the Lizard Peninsula in the afternoon.
5th October. Two sightings from Cornwall at Porthgwarra (in the morning) and Porthcurno (just after 2.30pm).
9th October. A single sighting from Cornwall at Marazion.
11th October. A single sighting from Devon flying north east over Start Point. Also two sightings from the Isles of Scilly on Tresco and at the Garrison on St Mary's.
12th October. Two sightings from the Isles of Scilly on St Mary's and St Martin's.

Second brood White Admiral (Limenitis camilla)

17 October 2014 (Source)

A second brood White Admiral (L. camilla) was recorded from Framlingham, Suffolk.

Third brood Small Blue (Cupido minimus)

02 October 2014 (Source)

A fresh Small Blue (C. minimus) was seen by Martin Warren at Magdalen Hill Down in Hampshire.