Our butterfly walk last Saturday was a great success with many Ringlets and Marbled Whites on show. We also spotted Meadow Brown, Common Blue and Small Heath butterflies, and Six-spot Burnet and Narrow-bordered Five-spot Burnet moths. A small bung impregnated with Six-belted Clearwing moth pheromone was hung from vegetation in two places where Bird’s-foot Trefoil, the caterpillar’s food plant is plentiful, and on both occasions, male Six-belted Clearwing moths were attracted to the lure. This small day-flying moth, resembling a wasp, is seldom seen although it is relatively widespread on the hillside.

Here are a few photos of some of the species seen, as well as some new aerial photos taken on the walk by Andy Purcell.

Portway Hill (image © Andy Purcell)

Marbled White butterfly (Melanargia galanthea) (image © Mike Poulton)

Portway Hill (image © Andy Purcell)

Portway Hill (image © Andy Purcell)

Portway Hill (image © Andy Purcell)

Portway Hill (image © Andy Purcell)

Meadow Brown (Maniola jurtina) (image © Mike Poulton)

Small Heath (Coenonympha pamphilus) (image © Mike Poulton)

Portway Hill (image © Andy Purcell)

Six-spot Burnet (Zygaena filipendulae) (image © Mike Poulton)

Gorse shieldbug (Piezodorus lituratus) (image © Andy Purcell)

Butterfly walk (image © Andy Purcell)

Ringlet (Aphantopus hyperantus) (image © Mike Poulton)

Six-belted Clearwing (Bembecia ichneumoniformis) moths attracted to pheromone (image © Andy Purcell)