This spring has seen good conditions for Orange Tip butterflies (Anthocharis cardamines) here on along the river, and Holly Blues (Celastrina argiolus) are doing well too.
On 23rd May (see previous post for the bird species record) , males (with orange-tipped wings) were seen flying over river bank vegetation, brambles, nettles and cow-parsley and females - similar to males but without the bright orange wing-tips were ranging the riverside grasses and bank vegetation in search of Cuckooflower plants and Garlic Mustard plants with flower buds on which they will lay their eggs. They are very restless butterflies and seldom perch to bask in the sun.
Cuckoo flower - one of the foodplants of their caterpillars has spread along the river this year and Garlic Mustard, another food plant, is also spreading, so the new generation of Orange Tips should
do well this year.
Garlic mustard in flower - buds are used by Orange tips to lay their eggs
Holly Blue butterflies are hedgerow butterflies and at this time of the year the females are searching high and low for choice Holly flower buds on which to lay their eggs. Unlike the single generation Orange tips, the Holly Blues have two generations, and can be seen from March until October, the autumn generation seeking out Ivy flower buds on which to lay eggs. There's plenty of both Holly and Ivy plants along the riverside and Holly Blues are a common sight.
On the wild field an early Common Blue was seen where in summer a good diversity of wild flowers will appear, and along the river today a few Brimstone butterflies together with Large White butterflies, both strong flyers.
The two species of early damselflies, Beautiful Demoiselle and Banded Demoiselle were seen, both males and females, most freshly emerged from the river in warm undisturbed regions where reeds and grasses are growing.
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