{"id":270,"date":"2009-08-02T12:40:50","date_gmt":"2009-08-02T17:40:50","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/hartslock.org.uk\/blog\/?p=270"},"modified":"2009-08-02T12:42:36","modified_gmt":"2009-08-02T17:42:36","slug":"silver-washed-fritillary-282009","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hartslock.org.uk\/blog\/silver-washed-fritillary-282009\/","title":{"rendered":"Silver-washed Fritillary – 2\/8\/2009"},"content":{"rendered":"

The weather in July has been really awful for insect-watching but I decided to visit the site on a mild, breezy and fairly sunny afternoon. At this time of year I like to stick to the first 2 fields because they tend to have the most nectar flowers and so attract a wider variety of insects.<\/p>\n

There were the usual clouds of Painted Lady that we have got used to this summer, plus the usual browns and whites, with a few Peacocks and a lone Small Tortoishell. Common Blue and Chalkhill Blue were also seen on the Marjoram. But the star of the day was a single Silver-washed Fritillary, which soared out of Lower Hartslock Wood, settled for a while on some Knapweeds and then flew back into the wood after being disturbed by some passers by. We normally get Dark-Green Fritillary but I am pretty sure that this is a new species for the reserve!<\/p>\n

Other insects seen: Tachina fera<\/em>, Phasia hemiptera<\/em> (male), Xanthogramma pedissequum<\/em>, Chrystotoxum bicinctum<\/em>, lots of Tiphia femorata <\/em>on the unbels, Andrena hattorfiana <\/em>on Scabious, lots of ‘ordinary’ tachinids like Exorista (rustica-group<\/em>). Also a gorgeous, green metallic sawfly called Abia sericea<\/em>, which was observed slowly feeding on a Wild Parsnip flower.<\/p>\n

As I have said, the Marjoram was in full flower, along with plenty of Scabious & Knapweeds, Wild Carrot & Wild Parsnip, Clustered Bellflower, and a very nice patch of Dodder in full flower.<\/p>\n