17 March 2009

Brimstones and primroses

With the continuing warm weather several butterfly species are on the wing in the woods including peacocks, comma and brimstones.

On the right hand side of the picture below a fine male is nectaring on some primroses at the Old Woodyard. 

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The butterflies seem so fresh and bright it is difficult to believe that they have been hibernating since last autumn and are now destined to breed and die before spring is over.

It is only the males that are this bright, citron yellow: the females are paler and can easily be confused with some of the whites when seen in the distance.

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