Nature Notes

Denis O’Connor

Wharfedale Naturalists Society

wharfedale-nats.org.uk

IN our garden, while the weeks of relentless hot weather scorched the grass and lowered the pond levels, it was good news for butterflies. I have recorded thirteen species in the garden so far with the star of the show a comma which has defended the same small territory at the edge of the woods as one did last year, this one presumably the offspring of last year’s. It is pictured on the fence which is its favourite perch at the centre of its territory, with wings closed showing the characteristic white comma on the underwing that gives it its name.

Commas, like brimstones, peacocks and small tortoiseshells hibernate as adults so are among the earliest to appear in the spring before mating, laying eggs and dying. The next generation then emerges as adults later in the summer.

The first butterfly of the year, also a comma, in the first week of April was followed by brimstones and a few peacocks over the next few weeks. These then vanished until recently when the next generation appeared with up to five peacocks on the buddleia in late July. These were joined by two red admirals on the 26th, the day that a hot blast of air pushed up from the south, perhaps carrying these butterflies with it for the majority of our red admirals are migrants from the continent, with few surviving the winter.

I am keeping an eye open for the other spectacular migrant which might be carried northwards, the painted lady, the numbers of which vary greatly from year to year.

Single small tortoiseshells have appeared on only two days but populations of this butterfly have fluctuated in recent years.

Tiny holly blues appeared along the wood edge early on in spring and again more recently, this time investigating the ivy festooning the cherry tree. They lay their eggs on holly early in the year before switching to ivy for a second brood.

Of similar size to a small blue and settling with wings open like a butterfly was a day-flying moth on our patio recently, orange-brown with white eye-spots on the wings. This was a male vapourer, one of a small number of moths where the female is virtually wingless and therefore flightless. After hatching the females remain on their cocoons, giving off pheromones that are picked up by the sensitive feathered antennae of the males. They then lay their eggs on the cocoon or on adjoining leaves, a bizarre but effective breeding strategy.