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Painted Lady Invasion (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter mothman
- Start date
Here, an amazing year for butterflies ...with the notable exception of Painted Ladies! Seen only two so far this year, seems they went west!
Adey Baker
Member
The recent poor weather has reduced the numbers of all species here but a few weeks ago Painted Ladies were one of the commonest species around. I suspect they've all gone back southwards again in search of the sun!
Capercaillie71
Well-known member
Four in my garden last weekend - never had more than two before.
Totally outnumbered by about 25 peacocks though - also the highest ever total (peacocks were very rare here until about 5 years ago)
Totally outnumbered by about 25 peacocks though - also the highest ever total (peacocks were very rare here until about 5 years ago)
Nerine
Well-known member
Painted Ladies in my garden down here are outnumbering all other butterflies - Red Admirals, Whites, Small Tortoiseshell and more. The buddleia is covered with them and they seem to be bigger than ever and in tip top condition. I've not seen so many all at one time in years!
Nerine
Nerine
mothman said:
White*Kite
Forever delayed
A couple of weeks ago there were tons of them here too, they were covering every Buddleia bush on my patch! In the past week or so I haven't seen much though, bar the odd Speckled Wood, Comma, Red Admiral, Clouded Yellow and Peacock. The weather hasn't been great!
Adey Baker
Member
Nerine said:
Ah, so that's where they've all gone!
harry eales
Ancient Entomologist
It's not been a bad year at all for Painted Ladies, with good number showing up in many parts of the U/K, but the numbers seen this year pale into insignificance compared with 1996 when quite literally millions were seen throughout the whole of Britain.
Harry
Harry
A few Painted Ladies here in Aberdeen but numbers have been dwarfed by the huge numbers of Red Admirals that seem to have come in this week. Every Buddleia bush is covered with them.
Phil Carter
Well-known member
mothman said:
It wouldn't take much to outnumber Small Tortoiseshell in this neck of the woods. I haven't seen a single one in months!! I'm glad to hear there are still some out there.
Phil
CornishExile
rydhsys rag Kernow lemmyn!
A really poor showing for butterflies altogether here in Shetland this summer, or at least in my neck of the woods. A couple of Red Admirals in the early summer, but no Painted Ladies for me until yesterday night, when I found a very worn, small one roosting inside my new glasshouse.
I agree with Harry, it'll take a lot to beat 1996. I remember walking from the car park to the first hide at Elmley RSPB (c.1 1/2 miles?) and trying to count the numbers on the thistles on the sides of the track alone. Estimated c.20,000. I've never before nor after seen anything like it.
Jon
I agree with Harry, it'll take a lot to beat 1996. I remember walking from the car park to the first hide at Elmley RSPB (c.1 1/2 miles?) and trying to count the numbers on the thistles on the sides of the track alone. Estimated c.20,000. I've never before nor after seen anything like it.
Jon
harry eales
Ancient Entomologist
It was nice and sunny, yesterday so I took a look at one of my survey sites on private land. Peacocks and Painted Ladies in hundreds, Wall Browns by the score, Small coppers by the dozen. Large, Small & Green-veined Whites a plenty and a scattering of Commas and Small Tortoiseshells. The Red Admirals seem to have moved on in the last few days but one other migrant butterfly was noted, and it made my day, a single Clouded Yellow.
Common and Southern Hawkers and Common and Ruddy Darters ovipositing but only one species of Damselfly, the Common Emerald was seen.
Harry
Common and Southern Hawkers and Common and Ruddy Darters ovipositing but only one species of Damselfly, the Common Emerald was seen.
Harry
