Why is blue so rare in nature?
Click here for a video that explores this topicLarge skipper
On Thursday, Lisa Burge sent us this picture and a message via Facebook:
” What type of butterfly is this please? Seen in Southwick Country Park.”
Continue reading “Large skipper”Common blue
A new species for our 2019 butterfly list: a common blue (Polyommatus icarus) identified and photographed on the next page by Ian Bushell.
Turn the page hereWhere are all the butterflies?
So far this year, only seven species of butterfly have been seen in the park and in very small numbers. Ian Bushell walked an unofficial transect on Wednesday and sent this message:
Read on for Ian’s message
The complex surface of the wing of a speckled wood
(Pararge aegeria) photographed by DKG.
holly blue, large white and orange tip
Butterfly count
Ian Bushell walking round the park with our Countryside Officer, Ali Rasey, spotted a large white, a male brimstone, two male orange tips, a speckled wood, a small tortoiseshell and a holly blue. That is four more species for our spotter’s list
small tortoiseshell. speckled wood, brimstone
Butterfly list
Usually the butterfly population of the park is estimated by walking transects during the summer. This means regularly walking a set route through the park, on days of butterfly-friendly weather, and counting the number of species and individuals within a certain distance of that route.
Continue reading “Butterfly list”
small copper on ragwort by DKG
![Small copper butterfly [DKG]](https://i0.wp.com/southwickcountrypark.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/dkg_1723.jpg?w=241&h=160&ssl=1 "Small copper butterfly [DKG]")
small copper on meadow buttercup leaf
Peacock butterfly – progress report
Remember the peacock caterpillars that Ian found in the nettle beds between Simpson’s Field and the Arboretum?
Read on for an updateA closer look at insects
On Wednesday, DKG and his macro lens took a close look at some of the park’s invertebrate inhabitants.
Click on any picture to enlarge it.
Garden bumblebee on spear plume thistle
Large white butterfly on spear plume thistle
Small skipper on creeping thistle
Segestria senocata – Snake-Back Spider.
Thanks to the farmer
Our grateful thanks go to the park’s tenant farmer. He has done us proud.
Butterfly count 21.6.18
On 21st of June, Hugh, Ian and Sarah G walked a regular transect through the park in order to survey the butterfly numbers.
Meadow browns
A message from Ian B on Tuesday of last week:
“Had a walk around the park this afternoon and did a bit of a butterfly transect. The park is looking good. I saw 3 speckled woods, 7 small skippers and 43 meadow browns – the latter were in perfect condition as though they had just hatched – the majority of the meadow browns were in Village Green.”
Peacock caterpillars
Ian found and photographed this nest of peacock butterfly caterpillars on Tuesday.
Drinker moth caterpillar
This is the caterpillar of the drinker moth (Euthrix potatoria) so called because the caterpillar is believed to drink drops of dew on grass stems.
Continue reading “Drinker moth caterpillar”Small Tortoiseshell Caterpillars
From Ian B:
“I photographed this small tortoiseshell nest this morning in Simpsons Field; there is a nettle bed on the right, about half way up the hard path from the entrance.”
Southwick Country Park Nature Reserve 