Butterfly....

[Clive.]

Hello,

I have just seen a tiny butterfly...it was resting briefly on our shed door.

It was bright orange with black/dark brown spots and black/dark brown border to the top set of wings....and to give an indication of size..it was smaller than a Holly Blue.

Have not seen one like this before in this neck of the woods....
Would it be a Small Copper do you think..????

Clive.

[Sue]

Sounds like a small copper Clive. I found this piccie on a butterfly conservation site. I've occasionally seen these but there are not too many around.

[fen not fen]

Here in North Lincs we've got loads of them, they're wonderful little things. Does anyone know what the caterpillars feed on or why they have suddenly appeared in such numbers this year?

[Clive.]

Hello,
I suspect it must have been a Small Copper...but I don't recall seeing the dark on the lower wings on the one I saw here...

Later in the day though we went down to our meadow fields, further towards the coast...and straight away spotted another....it was definitely as in the photo.

They must be having a good year..

It's not one I have come across before..and you can't miss them as the first one I saw was amazingly bright orange.

All the best,
Clive.

[jopsy]

thats beautiful
not seen them near me!

[DahlisMarie]

That is a lovely photo, Sue. Would you mind if I borrowed it for artistic purposes???

[jopsy]

dahlis are you going to paint it?

[Sue]

I got the photo off a website DalisMarie, so if I can borrow it, I'm sure you can.

According to my girls book of bugs, the caterpillers feed on sheep sorrel or Rumex acetosella which is a widespread British native plant. Fraid I'm none the wiser for that as it's not a plant I'm familar with

Sue

[DahlisMarie]

dahlis are you going to paint it?

Yes, Jopsy I'm doing a painting project at the present that is using butterflies and this photo is just the right position & pattern to copy.