Scarcity of Butterflies

4 August 2005

Scarcity of Butterflies

Although warm (21.9 ºC), it was slightly overcast in the late morning on
Lancing (Sussex) Ring and meadows (including McIntyre's field), but even
making allowances for the weather, the butterfly numbers were disappointing
and much less than previous years. In about an hour, there were not many
more than a hundred butterflies of the following species (listed in order
first seen): Speckled Wood Butterflies (12+), Common Blues (12+), Meadow
Browns (60+), a possible Holly Blue, Gatekeepers (20+), Large Whites (12+),
Red Admirals (4), Small Whites (3+), Chalkhill Blues (4+) Brown Argus (1),
Marbled White (1) and Small (or Essex) Skipper (1). A dozen or so 6-spot
Burnet Moths were noted.

These restored meadows are not an area for Chalkhill Blues, but usually
thousands of Common Blues are to be discovered. A Wall Brown would be usual
as well, but these may have been missed. Marbled Whites are near their end.

Nature Notes for Lancing Ring
http://www.glaucus.org.uk/LancRin2005.htm

Adur Butterfly & Large Moth List (Microsoft Internet Explorer recommended
for this page.)
http://www.glaucus.org.uk/Butterfly-list2005.html


Adur Valley (West Sussex) Nature Notes
http://www.glaucus.org.uk/Adur2005.html
Adur Valley Nature Notes: August 2005
http://www.glaucus.org.uk/Aug2005.html
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Winged Conehead

A short walk through the butterfly Meadow late on Wednesday evening as the sun began to set. The butterflies were all at rest, a few could be disturbed by walking off the path and into the flowery meadow. In poor light the easiest to make out were a couple of Common Blues. Meadow Brown were also prompted to fly for a brief time but soon settled back into the grass and flowers. Every footstep caused a panic among the many Grasshoppers and Crickets as they sprang clear of danger.
Some like this Long Winged Conehead could be caught and would even rest on the hand while a photograph was taken.