Kitchen Garden Forum

I love August for the abundance of these lovely creatures....even the Large and Small White butterflies have their charms! ( as long as they give my brassicas a wide berth )

There have been lots of the beautiful Painted Lady butterflies around this week, more than I can remember for a year or two. They are so pretty and it amazes me that such a delicate creature migrates so far.
I've seen all the common species except any blues, on the allotment this week and I love watching them.

I haven't seen many moths though, either day or night flying, which seems strange. Our garden used to be alive with them at night at this time of year, feasting on the honeysuckle and lavender.

On a different topic, there have been huge swarms of flying ants too!
Cheers.

Elaine,
I posted some of our sightings on page 6 of another thread here
http://www.kitchengarden.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=7009&start=75

But we also had this moth resting on our car


No idea which sort of moth is was though. Bet PJ will know. Our problem is mosquitoes - I am covered in bites!!

I went for a walk around the reclaimed clay pits of Marston Morteyne near Bedford the other wek and there were small blue butterflies by the thousand. Are they the blue fritillary or a commoner species?

Hi glallotments. Any idea why I can't open your image? I'm dying to know what the moth is!

My husband gets around a bit as he is a long distance HGV driver. He took a photo with his mobile phone, of a beautiful moth he found on a post , while waiting to be unloaded. He didn't have a clue what it was but I did and fair drooled! It was a Lime Hawk Moth and was absolutely stunning!
Cheers.

Hi Elaine,
Not sure why you can't open the photo could you open the ones on the other thread that I pointed you to? It opens when I browse.

It could be down to the browser you use or even the security settings on you computer.

Try the direct link http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/6txR3IsIcUiQ1cinq9jjTA?feat=directlink

It was the size of the moth that drew our attention but in my book there are lots with similar markings.

glallotments wrote:Hi Elaine,
Not sure why you can't open the photo could you open the ones on the other thread that I pointed you to? It opens when I browse.

It could be down to the browser you use or even the security settings on you computer.

Try the direct link http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/6txR3IsIcUiQ1cinq9jjTA?feat=directlink

It was the size of the moth that drew our attention but in my book there are lots with similar markings.

Hi GL,

Its an Old Lady Moth. Couldn't see it on the original link. It's active in July and August. Lovely isn't it

Thanks PJ - I knew that you would know - yes it was lovely. Moths have a bad press but are only butterflies in a different outfit!

I'm not sure why the link didn't work could you see the other photos I posted on this thread
viewtopic.php?f=8&t=7009&start=75

I don't know whether it is Picasso that isn't very good for this type of thing.

I caught this perfect Painted Lady at the weekend (on camera, not in a net). The second brood are all now emerging, looking considerably better-coloured and more intact than their migratory parents. There are Hummingbird Hawkmoths aplenty around here, also (The Big Two).

glallotments wrote:Thanks PJ - I knew that you would know - yes it was lovely. Moths have a bad press but are only butterflies in a different outfit!

I'm not sure why the link didn't work could you see the other photos I posted on this thread
viewtopic.php?f=8&t=7009&start=75

I don't know whether it is Picasso that isn't very good for this type of thing.

Hi GL,

Sometimes I can view them, sometimes not Something odd there somewhere.

FelixLeiter wrote:I caught this perfect Painted Lady at the weekend (on camera, not in a net). The second brood are all now emerging, looking considerably better-coloured and more intact than their migratory parents. There are Hummingbird Hawkmoths aplenty around here, also (The Big Two).

Hi Felix,

There's masses of Painted Lady's about now isn't there. It's so nice to see them. We've had quite a few Small Tortoiseshells lately as well.

At the risk of repeating myself from another thread:

The butterfly conservation are asking for sightings of Painted Ladies to be logged http://www.butterfly-conservation.org/sightings_home/1095/migrant_watch.html

Hi glallotments. Thanks, got the picture on the link! It's a lovely moth. Old Lady, so called due to the markings on the wings supposedly resembling an old crone....I can't always see it myself.

On your post there is an X and Image but when I click on these nothing happens. Thanks for the explanations too!
Cheers.

Strange! Anyone know what I am doing wrong?

I can see the witch silhouette - fascinating!! I know who sent it to us now!