I'm in the North West UK and just saw my first butterfly of the year - a big red admiral on my garage door. It fanned its wings in the sun and fluttered away.
That's the earliest I've ever seen one.
That's the earliest I've ever seen one.
The darndest thing
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What do butterflies do during the Winter normally ?
We've still got big moths about, and the bats were out before Christmas too.
M
We've still got big moths about, and the bats were out before Christmas too.
M
There was a Living world prog on recently and they are one of the species that can tolerate freezing body conditions hibernate.
Dreadhead
Bushcrafter through and through
widu13
Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
-2c here on the south coast last night. I've seen butterflies every month since the summer. Strangely all have been Red Admirals.
This might interest some people..
[h=2]I've found a butterfly in my house/garage - what should I do?[/h] Several species of butterfly hibernate in the UK - Brimstone, Comma, Large Tortoiseshell, Peacock and Small Tortoiseshell. In recent years, with climate change, we're also starting to see the successful overwintering of Clouded Yellow and Red Admiral. Such species tend to look for sheltered areas in which to hibernate, which is why they are sometimes seen in houses and garages. However, an unnaturally warm environment, such as a house that is centrally heated, can be quite detrimental since the butterfly will become active and use up the essential body fats that will see it through the winter. The best thing to do is to be "cruel to be kind". One option is to place the butterfly in a cold and dark environment and out of the way of predators, such as in a log pile, an outhouse, or a hollow tree. Alternatively, on the next sunny day that is sufficiently warm, release the individual outside so that it can find a more suitable location in which to hibernate itself.
Taken from this site, no connections etc....http://www.ukbutterflies.co.uk/faq.php
[h=2]I've found a butterfly in my house/garage - what should I do?[/h] Several species of butterfly hibernate in the UK - Brimstone, Comma, Large Tortoiseshell, Peacock and Small Tortoiseshell. In recent years, with climate change, we're also starting to see the successful overwintering of Clouded Yellow and Red Admiral. Such species tend to look for sheltered areas in which to hibernate, which is why they are sometimes seen in houses and garages. However, an unnaturally warm environment, such as a house that is centrally heated, can be quite detrimental since the butterfly will become active and use up the essential body fats that will see it through the winter. The best thing to do is to be "cruel to be kind". One option is to place the butterfly in a cold and dark environment and out of the way of predators, such as in a log pile, an outhouse, or a hollow tree. Alternatively, on the next sunny day that is sufficiently warm, release the individual outside so that it can find a more suitable location in which to hibernate itself.
Taken from this site, no connections etc....http://www.ukbutterflies.co.uk/faq.php
I found a small tortoiseshell on the road on Jan 6th, it had been a mild day, but the butterfly was now slowing down as it started to get colder in the evening ,I dont have a shed so i let it go in the dark cellar of a old castle through the gunloop,
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I hope the poor buggers find a place to hide. then again, I bet there's plenty of birds who could do with nice big snack this time of year. I bet a red Admiral looks like a flying cheeseburger.
Saw a wasp today. Near death, hardly moving, but a wasp, none the less. Got a daffodil at my daughter's school with yellow head. Is it me, or does a lot of stuff seem very premature this year?
