Over wintered Red Admiral butterfly caterpillars and chrysalis
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On the 9th April, 15 over wintered migrant Red Admiral caterpillars were found at a coastal location on the Lizard Peninsular, Cornwall. Although unusual to find the caterpillars of a migrant species at this time of year it wasn’t entirely … Read More

Overwintering moths and butterflies survey
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Winter is a quiet time for us butterfly and moth enthusiasts with few species on the wing. But it needn’t be so. As part of a survey to improve our knowledge of over wintering butterfly and moths in Cornwall the … Read More

One of nature’s busiest times
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It’s that time of year when everything seems to be happening at once. Butterflies and moths are emerging from over wintered pupae, caterpillars are feeding voraciously, while others are pupating – and that’s just inside the garden shed! It’s not … Read More

Cornish storms
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Well, what a ‘hurricane’ season this has been for Cornwall – weeks of heavy rain, gales, flooding and mountainous seas. And then suddenly, a brief interlude and 5 Peacock butterflies (inachis io) miraculously emerge from hibernation to bask in the … Read More

Clover feeding butterfly caterpillars
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The Clouded Yellow Butterfly (Colias croceus) caterpillars being reared from collected eggs are growing rapidly and have been joined by an unexpected arrival. Clovers brought in from the garden three weeks ago to feed them happened to have a tiny … Read More

Courting male and female Clouded Yellow butterflies
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The one disappointing thing about seeing lots of Clouded Yellow Butterflies, Colias croceus, is that they rarely sit still with wings open. This is a real shame as they really are magnificent butterflies. Well, for once, a wings open moment … Read More

Clouded Yellow butterfly eggs
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In recent days the influx of Clouded Yellow butterflies from the continent has increased further. Counts in the hundreds have been had at coastal sites in south west Cornwall. The arrivals have included a number of the female form helice. … Read More

Migrant Clouded Yellow butterflies, Colias croceus
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In recent days many parts of the south coast have seen the arrival of good numbers of Clouded Yellow butterflies. This one was one of four sighted at the mouth of the Helford Estuary, in south west Cornwall. This included … Read More

Red Admiral Butterfly egg and chrysalis
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One butterfly that appears to doing well is the stunning Red Admiral Butterfly Despite comparatively low numbers seen earlier in the year the nettle tents containing the caterpillars seem to be quite common now. The Red Admiral Caterpillars are seldom … Read More

Identification of the male and female Dark Green Fritillary Butterfly
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These photographs of well marked male and female Dark Green Fritillary butterflies help show the differences between the sexes The images were taken at the weekend at Porth Joke on the north coast of Cornwall near Newquay. Several of these … Read More

Orange-tip butterfly chrysalis
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The Orange-tip butterfly, Anthocharis cardamines, caterpillars reared from collected eggs are beginning to pupate. It doesn’t seem to matter how many times I see any caterpillar undergo this extraordinary change it never ceases to amaze me. Having selected a suitable … Read More

Migrant butterflies on the Lizard, Cornwall
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The largest number of Painted Lady butterflies possibly recorded in the British Isles this year was our reward for a trip to Poldhu Cove on the Lizard at the weekend. Of the total of 13 seen during the day 8 … Read More

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