Butterflies

[Neils]

There's quite a few butterflies about round these parts but not much in the way of wasps. Also have only seen dragon flies once this year, they normally live around our pond in the garden but not this year it seems.

[Bridget]

Saw dragonflies today and other days as well. Don't remember seeing any other years. However other biting bugs have been rampant as well this year. I am covered and not just midge bites though I have not seen many clegs. Birch fly ( or black fly as they are known in Canada) have been rife and a really long season as well as I was bitten last week and they are usually over by July. I'm quite looking forward to a hard frost to kill all the blighters but with outside temp 22 degrees at 8pm this evening it does not look likely.

[madasafish]

Well now the total is:
2 peacocks
2 red admirals
3 commas
3 whites

and LOTS of bumbles who do not read the books.

[janesik]

Strange we've seen the first dragonflies (in 30 years) in our garden too. Fewer butterflies - bumblebees but none of our usual red tailed ones - fewer hover flies too but midge bites- I'm permanently itchy!

[lindsay s]

With all the talk about the decline of insects this year it turns out that the elephant in the room was the good old British weather. No mention of pesticides here.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-19337612

[Jon]

No shedding many tears for the lack of wasps though.
Honeybees have probably fared better than many other insects which feed on pollen and nectar due to their ability to lay down stores to see them through a week or two of wet weather.
I remember reading somewhere that a bumblebee nest would never have more than a spoonful of nectar in it so they are obliged to forage all the time.

[madasafish]

I have a bumblebee nest in the ground - rescued on a "swarm" call! - doing famously on our garden's pollen/nectar rich flowers. Fascinating to watch.

Under some trees so shielded form the frequent rains...

[madasafish]

Great display today 30+ peacocks butterflies..