Butterflies 2011

Cardynal

Speckled Wood from Lady's Island.

Durnish

Last weekend I went to Sheskinmore dunes to take pics of any Small Blues I could find. I know one sheltered path in the old dunes where they like to lie about in any sunshine available. Imagine my dismay when I hauled myself up into the hollow only to find that the marram grass was burnt from the local wildfires and was now covered in blown sand from last week's storms. The warm path was a disaster zone. Even the moss and lichen underneath was scorched.

We walked on in silence.

trebor28

Mothman,
found this/these on a blackthorn bush. the caterpillar is about 2 inches long!

Mothman

trebor28 wrote: »

Mothman,
found this/these on a blackthorn bush. the caterpillar is about 2 inches long!

Small Eggar. The larvae are gregarious living in and amongst the larval tent.

Would you pm me location with grid ref if possible?
Outside of the Burren region, they are quite scarce

trebor28

Mothman wrote: »

Small Eggar. The larvae are gregarious living in and amongst the larval tent.

Would you pm me location with grid ref if possible?
Outside of the Burren region, they are quite scarce

i didnt see that many in the web though.

the guy in the photo was inside and lucky for me decided to come out and say hello.

mgwhelan

not too sure if this is a butterfly or a moth.

Mothman

mgwhelan wrote: »

not too sure if this is a butterfly or a moth.

A moth, one of our daytime species though does fly at night.
Latticed Heath, often in the company of Common Heath, another day flyer.

mgwhelan

Mothman wrote: »

A moth, one of our daytime species though does fly at night.
Latticed Heath, often in the company of Common Heath, another day flyer.

It looks like a butterfly what makes it a moth the fact that it flies at night as well.

Mothman

There are plenty of moths that only fly during day...many more species than there are butterflies.

There are some basic differences but there are exceptions!
All butterflies have a knob at end of antennae...some people say they are clubbed. The moth above does not have this. The exception is the Burnet moth family which are day fliers. The most common is Six-spot Burnet

There is one difference that I think is consistent across all moths and butterflies, but is not visible to naked eye. This is a hook like structure that joins the hind and forewings in moths. Called a fenulum...I think. Butterflies do not have this.

mgwhelan

Ringlet i think



Common blue

littlebug

Lots of butterflies out and about today.

mgwhelan

Is this a common or little blue butterfly.

littlebug

mgwhelan wrote: »

Is the common or little blue butterfly.

Common blue. The small blue is more brown on the upperwings.

mgwhelan

more blue :pac:

littlebug

mgwhelan wrote: »

more blue :pac:

Ha! Brain working faster than fingers!

The differences are well illustrated on the Butterfly Ireland site.

The small blue is much more brown on the upperside than the common blue

thebishop

Medow brown.(Maniola jurtina--iernes)

thebishop

Clouded yellow.(Colias croceus) This was from a few years ago.Anyone seen any this year yet?

V Bull

Not sure what this guy is..

littlebug

V Bull wrote: »

Not sure what this guy is..

It's a moth, Six-Spot Burnet. Nice pic.

E39MSport

FYI
BBC4 featured something last night on UK moths and butterflies.

V Bull

Thanks Littlebug..

Some more Butterflies..

Meadow Brown I think..


Another Red Admiral..


Might be a pair of Hedge Browns..

thebishop

Silver-washed fritillary.

V Bull

Red Admiral with closed wings..


Small Copper..


Faded & tired looking Small Copper..


Meadow Brown..(may be)


Green Veined White..(may be)

artieanna

gosh I didn't realise we had so many different types of butterflies here in Ireland....

F.R.

Peacock on Wild Mint

V Bull

Common Blue..

By vbull at 2011-08-25

angeldaisy

can anyone tell me if this is a moth or butterfly and what type it is. I'm assuming its a moth as it appears to be 'asleep'? in my porch!

trebor28

angeldaisy wrote: »

can anyone tell me if this is a moth or butterfly and what type it is. I'm assuming its a moth as it appears to be 'asleep'? in my porch!

thats the Magpie moth
http://ukmoths.org.uk/show.php?bf=1884

angeldaisy

trebor28 wrote: »

thats the Magpie moth
http://ukmoths.org.uk/show.php?bf=1884

thank very much for that - think I know now who's been at my blackcurrents:D

Mothman

angeldaisy wrote: »

thank very much for that - think I know now who's been at my blackcurrents:D

if the blackcurrants were totally denuded of leaves then this may have been sawfly larvae.