Quite possibly a big grub actually, in fact that’s how he described it when he saw it and rather how it looked on video call. I just hoped it was a caterpillar because you and others seem pretty clued up on them, and I had no luck identifying it on internetIs it even a caterpillar?
Lots of insects have larvae that take a similar form.
(In other words I don't know off the top of my head)
Butterflies and moths
- Thread starter campanula
- Start date
gentlegreen
I hummus, therefore I am ...
Jersey Tiger moth in Bristol.
I caught a flash of brighter colours when it flew.
I caught a flash of brighter colours when it flew.
Artaxerxes
Look out, he's got a gnu!
There was one on the front door the other day before I went to work, lovely red flash as it flew off
StoneRoad
heckling from the back!
oh, and my first white plume moth
B&M - White Plume Moth par StoneRoad2013, on ipernity
Poor thing had lost a bit of the port wings to a bird.
However, it fell off - badly - for quite a distance before I lost sight of it against the plants.
B&M - White Plume Moth par StoneRoad2013, on ipernity
Poor thing had lost a bit of the port wings to a bird.
However, it fell off - badly - for quite a distance before I lost sight of it against the plants.
geminisnake
a complex mass of conflicting ideas
I got the first record of a white plume moth for my area(county) a few weeks ago, I'm sure I've seen them before but this time my husband was around and it's him that takes photos
heinous seamus
Perfect in an empty room
First time I've saw a skipper. Not sure what kind it is though.
Epona
Sonic: 1 Nov 2006 - 8 Jan 2022
Either a small skipper or an Essex skipper, there isn't enough detail visible of the tips of the antennae to determine which one of those! Approximate location might give a clue as small skippers have wider distribution in the UK
There are also large skippers, but their wings are more mottled with dark brown, and therefore an easier ID.
(I had a discussion about skipper identification with an entomologist really quite recently - he said even people who can tell the difference up close sometimes record sightings of these as Smessex Skipper if they haven't been able to get a good look at the tips and underside of the antennae
There are also some differences on the underside of the wings but they don't often sit in the all the wings up position which doesn't help much in terms of ID)
heinous seamus
Perfect in an empty room
Either a small skipper or an Essex skipper, there isn't enough detail visible of the tips of the antennae to determine which one of those! Approximate location might give a clue as small skippers have wider distribution in the UK
There are also large skippers, but their wings are more mottled with dark brown, and therefore an easier ID.
(I had a discussion about skipper identification with an entomologist really quite recently - he said even people who can tell the difference up close sometimes record sightings of these as Smessex Skipper if they haven't been able to get a good look at the tips and underside of the antennae
Cheers. Most likely a small skipper by the looks of it, as there is apparently only a single colony of Essex skippers in Scotland.
Epona
Sonic: 1 Nov 2006 - 8 Jan 2022
Oh in that case yes I agree 99.9% likely small skipper on the basis of location.
chainsawjob
Kipping in the dunes
I thought this was a large skipper I saw a couple of weeks back, but maybe it's a small?
chainsawjob
Kipping in the dunes
Small blue or holly blue?
And another small blue?
And another small blue?
Epona
Sonic: 1 Nov 2006 - 8 Jan 2022
Here's a good site - it could be large because there is some mottling on the wings although in that lighting it might be coming across more as lighter spots?
Meet the Skippers - A Photographic Identification Guide to Skipper Butterflies — Kiri
Ssshh…Don't tell the Essex Skippers, we're in Norfolk! These charming, vivid orange little butterflies have extended their range recently and seem perfectly happy living two counties further North than their namesake county. At this time of year they can readily be seen "skipping" amongst
www.kiri.uk
Epona
Sonic: 1 Nov 2006 - 8 Jan 2022
Bottom one is a common blue.
Holly blues have blueish/whitish undersides to their wings without any complex markings - maybe just a few small black pencil-tip size dots - and definitely no orange or big dark spots.
I think the top one is a common blue also as there is a very clearly defined white border to the wings, whereas holly blues often have some black streaks in that white border. That is a bit more tricky without seeing the underside of the wings though.
Also where they are seen can help - the holly blue tends to prefer urban gardens, where the common blue is often more forest based and seen more around trees and shrubs than garden flowers.
StoneRoad
heckling from the back!
Probably, depends on the weather.
Butterflies in past couple of years have been conspicuous by their absence.
Epona
Sonic: 1 Nov 2006 - 8 Jan 2022
Absence, although disappointing, is still extremely valuable information.
Sometimes have to remind myself of this when doing various monitoring surveys.
chainsawjob
Kipping in the dunes
StoneRoad
heckling from the back!
True.
I know the varieties I "normally" get around here, and most of the rarities that have turned up occasionally ...
{moths are a different matter !}
Epona
Sonic: 1 Nov 2006 - 8 Jan 2022
Oh god moths are a whole other ballgame, there are some blindingly obvious ones I can identify by sight but there are loads and loads that look vaguely similar, then you get into micro-moths and that's an experts' game of its own.
I did see a humming-bird hawk moth earlier this evening which made me very happy.
Artaxerxes
Look out, he's got a gnu!
Only seen a hawk moth once (for sure) and it was on the ground or a wall as we walked down the road.
It was a treat to see it so close, lovely thing.
It was a treat to see it so close, lovely thing.
ska invita
back on the other side
i has a massive black moth about the size of a tennis ball in my room the other day
was nice to see such a big moth, only seem to get tiny ones around these here parts nowadays
was nice to see such a big moth, only seem to get tiny ones around these here parts nowadays
chainsawjob
Kipping in the dunes
prunus
Tick tock.
Pickman's model
Starry Wisdom
i've seen those - never knew their name, do now
Callie
Pivoting
You can get lots of different 'tiger' moths but I think Jersey Tigers are the ones you're most likely to spot in London/South East. They have a very summer based flying period (late june-july...maybe August) and they are quite noticeable
I have a soft spot for garden tigers as I saw one as a kid but haven't seen one again since
gentlegreen
I hummus, therefore I am ...
I used to get a lot of garden tigers before I tidied my garden up and removed the greenhouse and my folly building.
Now it's mostly cabbage whites trying to destroy my kale
View attachment WIN_20230718_14_25_12_Pro.mp4
I may extend my bike ride later and go to the nearest meadow / hedgerow .. apart from anything else I need to get my first blackberries.
Now it's mostly cabbage whites trying to destroy my kale
View attachment WIN_20230718_14_25_12_Pro.mp4
I may extend my bike ride later and go to the nearest meadow / hedgerow .. apart from anything else I need to get my first blackberries.
Artaxerxes
Look out, he's got a gnu!
Still a couple of weeks away from blackberries but the first small and lumpy ones are turning black now
Similar threads
