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Post by nomad on Mar 26, 2014 12:06:21 GMT -8
Not very spring like in the U.K recently, it was cold today working high up in the Cotswolds, with frequent showers that contained hailstones the size of peas.  I believe many butterflies will have returned to hibernate during this cold spell. |
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Post by bobw on Mar 26, 2014 12:28:58 GMT -8
Spring is here in the U. K. at last  I think you mean WAS! |
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Post by nomad on Mar 29, 2014 23:18:45 GMT -8
In Slovakia first P. machaon was seen yesterday. 14.3. Issoria lathonia was reported, 13.3. Pontia edusa, 9.3. Colias crocea!!, 8.3. Colias alfacariensis!! those Colias reports are probably new records.. A nice spring selection of butterflies from your country. The Colias records are interesting. The first P. machaon here will not appear in its fenland home before the end of May. Your report shows how much colder Britain is at its northern latitude. Its still mostly the winter hibernators that are on the wing. It was like winter here last week and summer this weekend. It goes to show how fickle the U.K's weather really is. |
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Post by nomad on Mar 30, 2014 0:46:23 GMT -8
We should also spare a thought for many of our American and Canadian friends who are still snowed in, by one of the hardest winters they have experienced, not many spring butterflies there. |
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Post by nomad on Mar 30, 2014 21:05:54 GMT -8
Due to the warm weekend, my first resident species here in the U. K. was a Pieris napi and a Celastrina argiolus at the top of a holly tree. |
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Post by nomihoudai on Mar 30, 2014 23:03:16 GMT -8
In Southern Germany everything is a month ahead too. I also saw a Pararge aegeria and many Anthocharis cardamines males this weekend.
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Post by miguel on Mar 31, 2014 10:37:03 GMT -8
For me is a surprise because I always thought that Graellsia isabelae begin their flight periode in the end of April but friday my father saw one male flying in a small town in Sierra de Segura(Jaen,Spain)
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Post by nomihoudai on Apr 6, 2014 9:05:56 GMT -8
Today I took a walk around the town that I live in in Southern Germany. The spring season has begun and my favorite spring butterfly Anthocahris cardamines is on its wing. The females are not out yet, it may take them another week or two to hatch. In this little field I could see nearly every species flying at the moment:
Celastrina argiolus
Araschnia levana
Pararge aegeria
Anthocharis caradamines
Gonepteryx rhamni
Leptidea juvernica/sinapsis
Pieris brassicae
Pieris napi
Pieris rapae  Anthocharis cardamines male.  Pieris napi |
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Post by nomad on Apr 6, 2014 9:27:47 GMT -8
That's a very nice selection of spring butterflies in sunny Germany Claude. I think I would have to agree that A. cardamines is also my favourite spring species, but I have still yet to see one in wet Britain. I wish we had the little Araschnia levana with its interesting seasonal variation. Leptidea sinapsis is a rare species in the U.K and will not been seen in a few of its remaining woodland haunts till May. |
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Post by lepidofrance on Apr 6, 2014 9:44:55 GMT -8
In Southern Germany everything is a month ahead too. I also saw a Pararge aegeria and many Anthocharis cardamines males this weekend. Same in France according all reports ! Very warm weather for the season in February, March and April beginning. Yesterday in Paris, it was alike Summer ! No sun to-day but 20°C in Paris where I saw flying Inachis io.   |
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Post by homard on Apr 13, 2014 4:51:38 GMT -8
We should also spare a thought for many of our American and Canadian friends who are still snowed in, by one of the hardest winters they have experienced, not many spring butterflies there. Same things are here in SE Russia! We've got a very warm in March but in the end we'd covered by a thick snow! Still it's very chill and cloudy. Have not seen a single overwintered Nymphalid so far! |
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Post by wollastoni on Apr 13, 2014 9:47:46 GMT -8
Iphiclides podalirius today in Portovenere (Liguria)
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Post by nomad on Apr 15, 2014 11:39:07 GMT -8
Anthocharis caradamines of both sexes are now flying in quantity in our U.K spring meadows along with Pieris rapae, napi and the hibernators Here are some of the images that I took yesterday.  Orange-tip male feeding at Cardamines pratensis, one of the larvae foodplants.  Pieris napi feeding at Lamium album.  Pieris rapae mating pair on Gorse. |
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Post by o0osteve on Apr 15, 2014 13:34:09 GMT -8
I have seen ten species of Butterfly this year but what i find amazing is the comeback of Aglais urticae, I haven't seen them for years exept in Yorkshire where they seemed to hang on in good numbers.
Here in Berkshire i haven`t seen them for years i saw about five individuals in my garden last year but this spring they are everywhere and in good numbers.
We just need local authorities and farmers to leave hedgerows and grass verges alone as they are insects highways which may help isolated populations from dying out.
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Post by o0osteve on Apr 15, 2014 14:05:18 GMT -8
very poor for a cardamines last year due to the winter weather lasting up until may in Yorkshire, I am predicting a lean year for this lovely butterfly up here. Where abouts from Yorkshire you from I was born and bred there but moved down to Berkshire seven years ago. One of my favourite places is Brockadale its an beautiful place for butterflies. |
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I believe many butterflies will have returned to hibernate during this cold spell.
