Butterflies on the breeze

GH, LN and BG tackled transect 13 under warm skies and a lively south-westerly wind – and the butterflies didn’t disappoint. From the first step, the air was alive with fluttering wings, thanks to swathes of Marbled Whites and Meadow Browns, with strong back-up from Ringlets and Small/Essex Skippers.
The final tally? An impressive 601 butterflies – lifting our already stellar season even higher and equalling our season-best for species variety with 18 different butterflies recorded. While still a way off the 1,207 record from the legendary ‘super season’ of 2019, the trend is promising.
The day’s showstopper was a quartet of Silver-washed Fritillaries dancing through a sun-drenched glade at the base of Coneyboro Hill. There was also a quick flash of Purple Hairstreak high in the oaks of Hill Wood Field, and our first Gatekeeper of the year.
And beyond the transect? White Admirals are making rare appearances around our area – two were seen near the elm glade in Banstead Woods, another in Lord’s Field and one even gracing a volunteer’s garden pond!

Count details:
228 Marbled White
166 Meadow Brown
  81 Ringlet
​  67 Small/Essex Skipper
 14 Dark Green Fritillary
   9 Large White
   8 Brimstone
   4 Silver-washed Fritillary
   4 Small Copper
   4 Speckled Wood
   3 Comma
   3 Common Blue
   3 Small White
   3 Small Heath
   1 Gatekeeper
   1 Holly Blue
   1 Peacock
   1 Purple Hairstreak
Count total: 601 butterflies from 18 species.
For more info on these species visit
​ butterfly-conservation.org

Butterflies of the week

Silver-washed Fritillary (Argynnis paphia) – a woodland beauty with a flash of silver.

• This is the UK’s largest resident fritillary, easily spotted by its fast, gliding flight and orange wings with black markings.
• The name comes from the silvery streaks on the underside of its hind wings, which help it blend into dappled woodland light.
• Caterpillars feed exclusively on violets, but the female lays her eggs high up on tree bark – an unusual strategy among butterflies.

Silver-washed Fritillary - LIz North

Gatekeeper (Pyronia tithonus) – the sunny hedge-watcher with a hidden trick.

• Named for its fondness for basking near gates and hedgerows, the Gatekeeper is commonly seen ‘guarding’ pathways in midsummer sunshine.
• Males sport a distinctive dark pheromone patch on their forewings – used to woo females with a subtle scent.
• Though it resembles the Meadow Brown, the Gatekeeper has two white dots in each eye spot and is often more active in large, sociable groups, especially around bramble blossoms.

Gatekeeper - LIz North

White Admiral (Limenitis camilla) – the woodland glider with a taste for honeydew.

• Despite its graceful, gliding flight through woodland clearings, the White Admiral spends much of its time sipping sticky honeydew from aphids rather than visiting flowers.
• Its caterpillars are masters of disguise – mimicking bird droppings to avoid predators while resting on honeysuckle leaves.
• Though elegant in flight, the adult's lifespan is brief – just a couple of weeks, making each encounter a fleeting summer moment.

White Admiral - LIz North

Survey by Brian G, Graham Harris and  Liz North submitted to Butterfly Conservation (UKBMS). ​Report by GK ,BG & AI.