Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum
General Subjects => General Forum => Topic started by: Anthony Darby on December 06, 2011, 11:04:14 AM
-
I'll start with a pic of an atlas moth (Attacus atlas) female with a 26 cm wingspan. Pic sent by a friend. I love the 'windows' in the wings used to disrupt the outline when view through dappled light in an Asian rainforest.
-
What a superb creature and surely an outstanding photograph.
-
Must see if I can get some eggs from Butterfly Creek?
-
wow those wings are huge!
-
How utterly gorgeous.
-
Heard on the news that a pair of pandas have arrived at Edinburgh Zoo. Typical. The only thing worth visiting it for and I'm on the other side of the world! :( Heigh ho. Here's a pic of one of them en route. ;)
-
Heard on the news that a pair of pandas have arrived at Edinburgh Zoo. Typical. The only thing worth visiting it for and I'm on the other side of the world! :( Heigh ho. Here's a pic of one of them en route.
At least they didn't go cattle-class! WIth all that bamboo that one certainly looks stuffed.
cheers
fermi
-
Seem to be pandering to its needs. ::)
-
The home grown fly farm is producing hundreds of blue bottles, so today I watched one of the Naultinus elegans snatch one. Neither it nor the fly was disturbed by me opening the fly hatch to add some fruit flies. That was when I spotted its interest in the fly sitting next to it.
-
very windy here today but had lovely view of two Red Kites this morning very low over where I was working, the female Teal is still on the pond, seems happy feeding but very unusual for them to hang around, it only walks into cover so suspect it can't fly.
-
Anthony the Adelaide Zoo is a bit closer to see pandas.
-
Vivienne has cousins in South Australia. 8)
-
I put a potted manuka plant into a cylinder cage for a small stick insect. I came back a hour later to find two mantids on the inside of the cage lid. I removed them. One was a tiny springbok mantis, the other was a New Zealand mantis (Orthodera novaezealandiae) in second instar. Here it is on a protea. It's just under 1 cm long.
-
Do mantises prey on stick insects? Or vice versa? Or do stick insects eat vegetation?
The NZ one, even if all green, would probably kick the springbok one into touch! ;D (Don't want to talk about the cricket. I've cried enough this year. :'()
-
The Catalan regional Govt in Spain has licensed the capture of 60,000 finches this winter. It includes 46,800 Chaffinches, 6,500 Goldfinches, 3,600 Linnets and 3,500 Greenfinches. These are for the bird trade and probably the dinner plate
:o :o :o :o
http://www.abc.es/20111130/sociedad/abci-parlament-autoriza-captura-pajaros-201111301606.html (http://www.abc.es/20111130/sociedad/abci-parlament-autoriza-captura-pajaros-201111301606.html)
Google translation says
The Catalan parliament on Wednesday approved a decree amending the law on protection of animals to allow the capture of more than 60,000 finch exceptional and temporary before the end of the year. The rule also prohibits the use of glue-League-to catch these birds, these species uncatalogs protected list and removes the limitation of capturing females protection in order to promote breeding in captivity.
The decree has prospered with the broad support of CiU, PSC and PP, while it has been voting against-EUiA ICV, ERC, SI and C's. The Catalan government, in its decree, said that in a period of six months shall regulate the live capture, display, possession and breeding of these species, including chaffinch, greenfinch, goldfinch and linnet.
Entities environmentalists have warned the 135 Members of Parliament that the authorization to hunt birds finches, Catalonia under the Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Environment, contravenes the European and Spanish legislation on the subject. As a curiosity it is noteworthy that, in the parliamentary debate, Rep. of ICV-EUiA Hortensia Grau has left the lectern of the House Catalan wearing a blouse with a pattern of birds, while the deputy of C's Jordi Cañas has called the measure "birdlike holocaust."
-
Do mantises prey on stick insects? Or vice versa? Or do stick insects eat vegetation?
The NZ one, even if all green, would probably kick the springbok one into touch! ;D (Don't want to talk about the cricket. I've cried enough this year. :'()
Yes, the NZ mantis would have easily dispatched the smaller springbok. When they are both adult it would be a different story! Stick insects eat vegetation. I think they would move too slowly to be of interest to a mantis?
Cricket! Usual batting collapse. Usually happens to England, but now I'm in New Zealand! ??? Ross Taylor should have referred the gloved catch, but the an honest batsman would have walked! I was impressed with Ricky Ponting walking before being given LBW.
I think the linnet is the only species not introduced to New Zealand. I came across a chap 'liming' for songbirds on Zakynthos a few years ago. I hung around, so he packed up and went away.
On Friday I watched a kingfisher on one of those calm, halcyon days.
-
I've often said when my ship comes in I'll be at the airport. Well, when New Zealand's ship came in, guess where I was? :o
-
Which ship do you mean? The cricket maybe? 8) 8) 8)
-
Which ship do you mean? The cricket maybe? 8) 8) 8)
Most definitely. I watched it until 2.40, when I had to collect Lucy from Howick and then head off to Auckland airlport. Timing perfect as I wasn't in the car park long enough to need to pay! ;D Just goes to show you it's not over until...........!
-
I was certianly very pleased. I've cried enough this year. :'( Teddy would be 3 on Wednesday.
-
I'll be thinking of you on Wednesday Lesley.
-
Thanks Anthony. I'm not usually of a sentimental turn of mind but these flowers were given to me on Saturday, for Teddy and I've bedded the jar they're in down into a layer of peastraw over him. They are roses, sweet peas, Alstroemerias and some Alchemilla and the bunch smells wonderful. Put out on Saturday, it is still in good condition even through the heat and high winds we've had over recent days. Later on I'll plant something special there.
-
Twenty feet from my front door.
Twenty minutes from Times Square
-
Incredible Arnold,
great shot.
-
Goodness, Arnold, that's incredible. Such an urban situation.
Paddy
-
Venison in the freezer Arnold?
-
Still here.
-
Gosh! Is it lost or do deer frequently become bolder, wandering into housing areas during the winter?
-
Anthony:
They're seen all year in these parts. I walked down my driveway and it picked up the head had a look then went back to eating a shrub.
-
Gosh! Is it lost or do deer frequently become bolder, wandering into housing areas during the winter?
What better place to live than where the only "predator" is cars? Unfortunately, the same lack of predators exists through large areas of North America, and hence, there is a huge overpopulation of deer in many of those areas too.
-
I thought, thanks to the NRA, there were plenty of 'predators'?
Here is a female Gray's gecko (Naultinus grayi). It is from the far north of New Zealand, so its other name is northland gecko. Can't work out if the smile is due to it have just eaten a fly (without disturbing the one on its back) or because I've just introduced a male into her cage?
-
I thought, thanks to the NRA, there were plenty of 'predators'?
One might think so, but even out here in the colonies, hunting isn't allowed in cities... ;)
-
Cars can be terrible predators too.
As for over-the-road's cats (3) they make themselve at home here now that Teddy is gone. I opened the door to find one asleep on the doorstep a couple of days ago, and another lying in the cool under my shade cloth where it is stretched over special pots.
-
Three cats! No wonder the kiwi population is halving every 10 years, and not because they're moving to Oz! :o I would try the rancid sardines trick! :P
-
Three cats! No wonder the kiwi population is halving every 10 years, and not because they're moving to Oz! :o I would try the rancid sardines trick! :P
..... or a 2.2 rifle?
-
Well there are no kiwis within a hundred miles or more of here, except the human kind so these cats won't bother them. I have taken to carrying Roger's old shanghai about with me. I used to be good with it and killed a couple of cats in my younger days. I have also scooped up a quantity of you know what from my potting mix heap and in the garden and delivered it, in a shoe box with note, back to the cats' owner. No response.
Tell me about the rancid sardine trick please Anthony. ???
-
Lori:
Right, no discharging of firearms within city limits.
-
Tell me too . The problem is so bad here my husband has asked for a catapult for Christmas. I'm not sure if it's to fire things at the cats, or to actually eject the beasts with! Ah, what a delightful image....
They're not even helping with our field mouse problem. Twice in a week we had to get our local electrical repairer out to replace the hose on first our washing machine, then the dishwasher, because the wee mice had gnawed holes in them. Since then, we've been live-trapping them and filling in any holes we can find before marking and releasing them. Each time they return, we know we've another hole somewhere that needs blocking. It's been going on for two weeks now. Homer (our first capture) homed 3 times, then we thought we'd won, until Marge arrived. The following day, Homer was back with a little friend in the same trap. They were very pally and curled up together until let out. Now 2 days and no mice. Good job, because we've run out of holes.
-
Anne, I'll forward Anthony's reply which came as a private email. It is so horrid I think he was afraid to post it here. :o
-
You realize of course that if Homer and his little friend are "pally" they are ensuring there will be plenty more in a next generation. ::) I think your overall battle is lost if you are actually NAMING the mice. ;D
-
Homer was back this morning. DOH!
-
Living up to his name, and I don't mean Mr Simpson! ;D
-
This female small white butterfly (Artogeia rapae) visited my garden today. It was a rare sunny(ish) day - after yesterday, when the vicar of St. Mark's Anglican Church, Remuera regretted not including "In the bleak midwinter" in their Service of Nine Lessons and Carols. :) He feels it doesn't reflect a New Zealand Christmas. Seems I have brought Scottish Christmas weather to Auckland! ???
-
My mother, in her life of a little over 80 years, said, not long before she died that she had experienced 3 white Christmases in New Zealand. So don't assume you'll never have one Anthony. ???
-
We have better weather in Scotland in "June". ::)
-
Homer back again this morning... :-\
-
You may have to send him on a long-distance odyssey Anne - like to the great field in the sky. ::)
-
Here's a starling on my lawn today, but what is different about it and why?
-
Seems to be a bit blonde :D - and it's rather heavily spotted across the base of the wings. Is it a different species from what we have here in Europe and have exported all over the globe, or has someone been throwing paint around?
-
It's weraring a Santa Claus hat (which it has momentarily removed and hidden behing the fence)?
Or have you been trying to cover it with chcoclate?
-
me, me, me! but not saying for now
Sparrows and Blackcaps are at it now in UK
-
Does this help?
-
You HAVE been trying to cover it with chocolate, or cocoa anyway. :D
-
I suspect it has been supping Phormium nectar and the orange is pollen?
-
Spot on, if you'll forgive the pun. The ph count is very low though. :)
-
;D Correction done. Don't want to get slated.
-
Here's the monarch's progress. The chrysalis yesterday and the male butterfly that emerged today. Once his wings are dry he will fly away. Meanwhile, another female monarch is busily laying eggs on milkweeds. I think I'll cage one, because the larvae seem to be heavily predated by beasties unknown.
-
Such a magnificent thing. What are the eggs to the lower left of the butterfly, on the shadecloth?
-
The are eggs of the emperor gum (Opodiphthera eucalypti). I have a few dozen cocoons which are hatching sporadically. I now have a few dozen larvae from one batch of eggs, but I'm releasing most of the new moths, especially as the last three were big females. There's a row of big gum trees nearby, so hopefully wild males will mate with them?
-
Red kites get the Slow Mo Guys treatment.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=iv&annotation_id=annotation_414316&src_vid=a1awSV62WZc&v=AYOx-iCMZhk
-
Photos have appeared on N Irish bird blogs of sparrows and Blackcaps with Phormium pollen on their heads
-
It's very common here too with bellbirds and tuis. The flowers are shaped in such a way that the birds have to push their heads past the pollen sacs in order to reach the nectar. Then of course they take that pollen past the stigmas of the next flowers/plants. Various birds, especially the native wood pigeons eat the black seeds in due course. If it were not for that I'd get rid of the large, tatty and extremely ugly great clump in my garden tho' it would take a front end loader to dislodge it now.
I have at last seen live shining cuckoos in the garden. We seem to have at least six and I hear them every day without fail but they are very elusive to see and in the past I've only seen a dead one after it crashed into a large window at our previous place. They are about the size of a bellbird, or a slim starling and are bright olive green on their backs, creamy on the front, speckled with tan. They sound nothing like a cuckoo at all. It may have been a family of parent/s and young I saw yesterday, flying between gum trees and still calling madly.
-
I would be surprised if shining cuckoos went round as a family unit as the female lays each egg in the nest of the grey warbler and abandons it. The resulting chick evicts the warbler chicks or eggs and is reared by the adult warblers. In the autumn it will head off to the Solomon Islands to overwinter.
-
You're right of course Anthony. I didn't think of that, so maybe they just gather together for some social time, once the young are laid (excuse me). There were six here all singing the same distinctive song, if it can be called that, flying between the gum trees. I only saw them in silhouette against the sky, but no mistaking the sound.
-
I love cuckoos. 8) Heard them often, but saw them rarely, in sunny D. :-\ I do remember seeing lizard cuckoos in Jamaica. They are quite special and spectacular. I still have my copy of Bond, James Bond. I must look out for cuckoos here.
-
Spotted this cicada in the garden today.
-
Your cicada, taking the spots as eyes, looks quite coy. :)
-
Yes, Lesley, plus the two huge compound eyes.
-
The little springbok mantids have more than doubled their size since I last photographed them, and some have turned green.
-
White shorts will be the next development. ;D
-
White shorts will be the next development. ;D
I'm sure they'll be praying for them? White socks and sandals too::)
Here are some pics of my emperor gum (Opodiphthera eucalypti) caterpillars, which are second instar, with some moulting into 3rd.
-
Very handsome beasties but boy! they can get through the gum leaves! I could do with some here. I spend hours raking up the blasted things. They don't ever rot down to leaf mould.
-
I could send you some eggs if a female hatches tonight or tomorrow?
-
This might amuse http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2011/12/26/cat-kitten-loft-ladder-youtube_n_1169884.html
-
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V3GJycgu-cs[/youtube]
-
On my walks with Heidi this tree usually has a magpie in it. Today there were three.
-
I could send you some eggs if a female hatches tonight or tomorrow?
I think our winter may not agree with them Anthony. But if you were to send them, what would I need to do with them? Our gums are all E. nitens. Not sure if local DoC would be happy either!
-
On my walks with Heidi this tree usually has a magpie in it. Today there were three.
Isn't there a saying about magpies? One for something, two for something else, three for... four for....?
Sorry, not much help there. :)
A young Maori man once told me that magpies sitting on the electric wires always meant it was going to rain. I questioned this and he assured me that it had always been so, for hundred of years. didn't seem to so the ingonguity of this statement. ;D Having said that, when I DO see maggies on the wires, it very frequently is raining or is about to.
-
Anthony,
Probably yet another portent of the animal kingdom's great love and immense respect for the Dear Leader (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/northkorea/8977961/Magpies-mourn-Kim-Jong-il-in-North-Korea.html).
Or maybe not.
-
I could send you some eggs if a female hatches tonight or tomorrow?
I think our winter may not agree with them Anthony. But if you were to send them, what would I need to do with them? Our gums are all E. nitens. Not sure if local DoC would be happy either!
Will investigate the species of gum here. The moths are said to be common from Nelson northwards, but are found further south. DoC shouldn't have a problem as they don't eat native trees. I am keeping them on paper kitchen towel in either ice cream tubs or carry out boxes. No need to have any air holes as the boxes aren't air tight. I change the leaves every other day or so. I take some pics. http://lepidoptera.butterflyhouse.com.au/satu/eucaly.html
-
On my walks with Heidi this tree usually has a magpie in it. Today there were three.
Isn't there a saying about magpies? One for something, two for something else, three for... four for....?
One for sorrow; two for joy; three for a girl; four for a boy; five for silver; six for gold; seven for a secret never to be told. There are more verses, but I can't remember them. ITV had a TV programme to rival Blue Peter that was called Magpie, complete with the rhyme set to music.
-
... Eight for nuisance; Nine for pest; Ten for heaven; Hell for the rest! ;D
-
Here is a list of plants the emperor gum moth (Opodiphthera eucalypti) caterpillars are known to eat.
Betula pendula
Eucalyptus species:
Eucalyptus blakelyi
Eucalyptus botryoides
Eucalyptus bridgesiana
Eucalyptus cinerea
Eucalyptus eugenioides
Eucalyptus fastigata
Eucalyptus globulus
Eucalyptus gunnii
Eucalyptus leucoxylon
Eucalyptus macarthurii
Eucalyptus macrorhyncha
Eucalyptus maculosa
Eucalyptus maidenii
Eucalyptus melliodora
Eucalyptus nitens
Eucalyptus obliqua
Eucalyptus paniculata
Eucalyptus pauciflora
Eucalyptus regnans
Eucalyptus saligna
Eucalyptus viminalis
Geijera salicifolia
Liquidambar
Lophostemon confertus.......
Olea paniculata
Pinus radiata
Podocarpus spinulosus
Populus
Schinus molle
Tristaniopsis laurina
-
Do they tolerate cold and wet weather? I have some Populus and Birch trees I want defoliated ;)
-
We have Pinus radiata in quantity here too Anthony. I think I should give these a miss as the Pinus is a commercial crop here as it is through NZ. I can think of one NZ Forumist who would throw a fit if he thought I was introducing a known defoliator to the region. :o If it finds its way dowm here naturally I guess that's different. We have the Monarch butterfly but it is always killed off in the colder winters and take a couple or three years to work its way south again from the Nelson area.
-
If they could survive Lesley they would already be there. These moths are nowhere common enough, even in the North Island to be a problem and the list shows what they will eat, not what they are found on. They are eucalyptus eaters and although they will eat other plants on the list, it is if given no choice. I once reared Actias luna from the USA on Larix decidua thinking they were a totally different moth. Larch isn't even listed as a possible foodplant as they feed on birch, walnut and sweet gum.
-
Here's a scan from January's Sky magazine. The butterflies, I assume, represent summer in New Zealand, but there's something wrong with them................! ;)
-
The "Eastern Courier", one of our free papers, has an article about the New Zealand dotterel (Charadrius obscurus), which is becoming increasingly rare due to trampling, hedgehogs and cats. There was a link to this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=uHSHBTP8pPQ
-
Some years ago in the Cass river bed in Canterbury, I found a nest with four brown, beautifully spotted eggs, in the gravel of the bed. I was so lucky not to step on them they were so superbly camouflaged. I did a quick photo then walked away. A minute or two later a banded dotterel came by and settled on the nest. This must have been 30 years ago. I can't find the photo now to get it scanned for posting.
-
The gum moth caterpillars certainly grow fast. Here they are earlier today!
-
These are so beautiful. I'd love to find some on our own trees. ;D With so many animal/insecty things you had to leave behind Anthony, I'm glad you've been abl;e to find some interesting creatures in New Zealand. We have the South African cricket(er)s coming soon.
-
I may yet get to a cricket match? The lack of butterflies saddens me. I've only seen three species so far this summer!
Yesterday I heard some cheeping coming from the branches of a small oak tree. Close inspection yielded a nest of a silvereye (Zosterops lateralis). It is less than the size of my fist. There appeared to be three chicks in it, but the nest was really being buffeted by the wind.
-
Great photos, Anthony.
-
They certainly are. I found a nest on the ground today, blown there by the strong south west winds we've had each day this week. But it looked pretty old so hopefully no damage done. No sign of any inhabitants.
-
What kind of oak is it, Anthony? The common Q. robur?
Nice pictures by the way. I never dare go close enough to picture those small birds on their nests - I had frightened them anyway.
-
What kind of oak is it, Anthony? The common Q. robur?
Nice pictures by the way. I never dare go close enough to picture those small birds on their nests - I had frightened them anyway.
Not robur and the nest is above a busy footpath.
Correction: probably is Quercus robur.
-
Here are two pictures of the oak tree. In the first (taken from north) it is behind the two right hand wooden posts; in the second it's in the centre of the pic. Even when I'm standing directly underneath the nest the birds carry on as normal. The path is used by walkers, joggers, cyclists and the nest is close to the patch of dead leaves in the second pic, above the edge of the path, about 5' above head height.
-
Here's a scan from January's Sky magazine. The butterflies, I assume, represent summer in New Zealand, but there's something wrong with them................! ;)
Remember the butterfly? Perhaps it's not meant to represent summer in New Zealand? Looks like a monarch doesn't it? Well it's meant to as it is the monarch mimic Limenitis archippus, aka the viceroy, which is found in North America.
-
A night and a day with torrential rain, more on than off! The wee silvereye chicks are now exploring the vicinity of their nest. The last pic shows the oak and acorns, which are pedunculate.
-
Thanks, Anthony. Looks like Q. robur.
The birds are seemingly used to people then!
The birds here, even those I regularly feed, are very shy and timid. Probably caused by all the cats around here.
-
I spotted another nest, which may be a blackbird, but is unoccupied, in a scarlet oak (Quercus coccinea) nearby. This was even nearer head height.
-
Today the silvereye nest is empty. The birds have flown. Not a good day to choose, with torrential rain! They'll stay as a family group until the parents build their next nest.
-
A pair of willy wagtails have a nest about head height (you'd think they would learn to place it higher but then the winged predators could see it better) in the pear out the backyard - It is looking a little worst for wear so I hope the babies hatch, develop and fly quickly. I am forever being pestered by the parents when I need to water the pots there.
-
There was a black bird sitting on the above nest as I past earlier on Hogmanay.
-
Talking of cats by which I have been pestered since Teddy left us, I came home yesterday from my job at the market to find the little dog door we have in the front door, had been used by a cat which had explored the house. Roger was also away, with Cain. I would never have known about the cat except that there is a layer of dust in various places and in this were many many small paw prints. If I had seen it I would have been the wildlife. The cat situation is now way beyond a joke or what is tolerable. >:(
-
My sister-in-law has cats and one night all the local moggies followed one of hers through the cat flap and she woke up with a bedroom full of spitting fur balls. She had to fit a magnet operated cat flap which solved the problem.
-
I may yet get to a cricket match? The lack of butterflies saddens me. I've only seen three species so far this summer!
There are plenty of butterflies around if one knows where to look. Today I saw red admirals( Bassaris gonerilla), small coppers (Lycaena sp) and tussock butterflies(Argyrophenga ) in fair numbers. Photographing them did not prove as easy but here are my efforts.
1 Butterfly habitat at Sandymount and Sandfly Bay. There is an abundance of food plants Urtica ferox for the Admirals and Muehlenbeckia austalis for the Coppers.
2. Tussock butterfly (Argyrophenga )at rest. See the beautiful green streaks on the wings.
3,4 Small Copper(Lycaena sp)
Before Christmas I saw Percnodaimon pluto again in fair numbers on the screes of the Ida Range.
-
It seems the South Island has a better selection of species. I've seen coppers at Piha and a red admiral east of Tauranga. I have had the yellow admiral in the garden once last summer. I need to get out and about more. I have a couple of Urtica ferox plants in the hope of attracting passing vanessids.
-
But even so, we have few compared with the UK and greater Europe, even with Australia.
-
It seems the South Island has a better selection of species. I've seen coppers at Piha and a red admiral east of Tauranga. I have had the yellow admiral in the garden once last summer. I need to get out and about more. I have a couple of Urtica ferox plants in the hope of attracting passing vanessids.
Urtica ferox is that the one called ongaonga? Is it hardy? Looks terrifying from pictures :o
No butterflies here now but here is one visitor from last summer, the red admiral (Vanessa atalanta). Is your red admiral the same species?
-
The New Zealand red admiral (Bassaris gonerilla) is only found here. It is bred in the UK by enthusiasts and I bought some pupae in June 2010, which hatched in my greenhouse (see pic). The larvae will eat most nettles, e.g. Urtica dioica, but generally stick to ferox in New Zealand. I don't know if this nettle is hardy? I do know that if you roll around in a patch of them the stings could kill you. :o
-
Urtica ferox is the one called ongaonga; it is not to be trifled with. I doubt it would be hardy in Norway. We have plenty of it here on the Otago Peninsula so as a consequence we have plenty of Red Admiral butterflies. Our Red Admiral is a different genus and species from yours Bassaris gonerilla rather than Vanessa atalanta though the two species look quite similar.
I doubt that Urtica ferox will ever become a popular plant to grow as a host for Red Admirals in the same way that Swan plants is grown as a host for Monarchs.
-
When I started teaching the common stinging nettle could be found growing at the edge of our sports field against the walls, where it did no harm and usually had colonies of small tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae) caterpillars in June. This butterfly lays its eggs all in one batch, so the caterpillars are gregarious, a habit it shares with the peacock butterfly (Inachis io). Within five years the council had discovered weed killer and the nettle patches disappeared. There are still plenty of nettle patches on private farm land, but the small tortoiseshell is less common. The red admiral is migratory as is not known for hibernating (some may do), arriving from the Mediterranean in the spring. Its caterpillars are solitary, living in a tent made by folding and sewing a few nettle leaves together. Thirty years ago the peacock butterfly was not found in central Scotland. Climate change has seen it become one of the commonest butterflies on the Buddleja in August. Since then, another non-migratory nettle feeder, the comma (Polygonia c-album), has arrived in Scotland. Its caterpillars also feed on elm (Ulmus spp.)
-
Thanks both of you!
Although Urtica ferox never will be a popular bedding plant it has a kind of charm in the pictures I have seen of it ;D
I have the small tortoiseshell (it is called nettle butterfly "neslesommerfugl" in Norw), peacock butterfly (almost the same in Norw "dagpåfugløye") and also the comma (called "hvit C" white C) commonly around here in summer. Also a lot of other butterflies and moths including two rare Bee Hawk-moths (Hemaris sp).
The red admiral is here all summer and often occur even in early spring. They say it migrates but I believe some adults overwinter as we sometimes see it very early in spring.
-
There may be few butterflies in New Zealand, but they appear to be a fascinating and understudied group e.g. the life history of Erebiola butleri is still unknown and nzbutterfly.info has many gaps in its photographic record of the life histories of several butterfly species.
-
A little project for you then Anthony. :)
-
Mmmm! Most seem to be an island away?
-
Have car and family. Can travel?
-
I can just see it. Me tramping through the wilds of New Zealand while Vivienne, Heidi and the children sit in the car. I used to do this with a friend (George Thomson) in the late 70s collecting butterflies and photographs for a book on Scottish Butterflies, but we could be there and back in a day. I think once we are settled and more financially secure I may get myself a tent and venture afield? I'm going to start with local species.
-
I can just see it. Me tramping through the wilds of New Zealand while Vivienne, Heidi and the children sit in the car. I used to do this with a friend (George Thomson) in the late 70s collecting butterflies and photographs for a book on Scottish Butterflies, but we could be there and back in a day. I think once we are settled and more financially secure I may get myself a tent and venture afield? I'm going to start with local species.
Sounds as if that would be fun. Last year my husband came home with a two man tent, he said it was reduced in Asda a bargain he said only £7 . I won't say what I said.
Thinking of heading of to the Eden project tomorrow. Just fed up sitting here, hate this time of year. I am not going to mention the tent. Anybody got any ideas of somewhere else we could visit when we are way down south ( England )
Angie :)
-
Warning! Warning! Warning!
If you don't like creepy crawlies don't look any further!
A flash of orange caught my eye while in the Rock garden and on closer inspection I saw a wasp dragging a large spider off to become fodder for its young! It went over quite a bit of rough terrain and eventually went down into a crack in the earth.
cheers
fermi
-
Terrific pics. 8)
-
stunning wasp Fermi.
-
stunning wasp Fermi.
I was hoping that Anthony would put a name to it !
;D
cheers
fermi
-
stunning wasp Fermi.
I was hoping that Anthony would put a name to it !
;D
cheers
fermi
Same here ;D
-
It looks very like a tarantula hawk wasp. I saw a similar one in Croatia a few years ago. This could be Cryptocheilus bicolor, which as a big Australian spider wasp?
-
stunning wasp Fermi.
Well the spider thought so anyway. :D
What is the yellow plant if first crawled through Fermi?
-
What is the yellow plant if first crawled through Fermi?
Hi Lesley,
Relhania pungens, a shrubby South African daisy - looks great for 2 weeks followed by a month of dead brown heads and never a self sown seedling!
cheers
fermi
-
I thought it looked a bit like one of the shrubby helichrysums, except the flowers were a bit TOO daisy-like. The foliage is a little like the Australian red helichrysum that I think is now called Edwardia or something. Heli ?