Image-of-the-Day by Subject

Image-of-the-Day by Subject

Butterflies Page 7

Image Taken on 05 Jul 2009 at 14:52 Image of day on 08 Aug 2009

The Comma butterfly used to be a Spring and Autumn only sighting here but this year we are seeing them regularly. The 'comma' is the white shape on the brown underwing.

Ref: 20090808_da1_20090705_1452_124+1518_197 ft1 comma butterfly in flight with clover flowers (montage)(r+mb id@576).jpg

Image Taken on 16 Sep 2010 at 15:05 Image of day on 05 Nov 2010

The mint bed outside the back door has been allowed to flower and some of the butterflies like to feed on it now many other flowers are turning to seed. First the crenelated Comma butterfly, named for the white spot when the wings are closed.

Ref: 20101105_da1_20100916_1505_050+1556_153_ft1 comma butterfly in flight with mint flower-head (montage)(r+mb id@576).jpg

Image Taken on 10 Oct 2010 at 15:40 Image of day on 05 Dec 2010

And now the top view with our resilient yellow buddleia still making new flowers as you can see at the top of the floret.

Ref: 20101205_da1_20101010_1540_433+1611_009_ft1 comma butterfly in flight with yellow buddleia (montage)(r+mb id@768).jpg

Image Taken on 12 Jul 2023 at 17:31 Image of day on 02 Sep 2023

Here we rather like the contrast of the scalloped edges of both Butterfly and plant leaf.

Ref: 20230902_df3_20230712_1731_054 comma butterfly on almost hidden nettle leaves(r+mb id@768).jpg

Image Taken on 21 Sep 2006 at 15:33 Image of day on 03 Oct 2006

Fallen apples provide a supply of sweet juice to fuel the butterflies. This is a comma butterfly showing the upper wing and scalloped wing edges.

Ref: 20061003_d10_20060921_1533_050 comma butterfly on apple (web crop)(r+mb id@576).jpg

Image Taken on 10 Oct 2012 at 16:39 Image of day on 13 Nov 2012

The foxes are picking up all the small crop of windfall apples long before they become soft enough for the Comma Butterflies to drink from. So we are only seeing them in hedges this atypical year.

Ref: 20121113_df1_20121010_1639_285 comma butterfly on autumn leaf (crop)(r+mb id@768).jpg

Image Taken on 01 Oct 2008 at 12:31 Image of day on 18 Oct 2008

In a sheltered little bramble thicket a number of Comma butterflies were sunning themselves.

Ref: 20081018_p34_20081001_1231_134 comma butterfly on blackberries (web crop)(r+mb id@576).jpg

Image of day on 01 Sep 2005

The comma butterfly is named after a small white marking on the underwing (see tomorrow) but is most easily recognised by its scalloped wing edge (image from 2004).

Ref: 20050901_c740_049240011 comma butterfly on blackberries 2004sep24_12-57-06(r+mb id@576).jpg

Image of day on 20 Sep 2005

Blackberry picking enhanced is by sighting of various autumn butterflies of which this comma is one. Trouble is the fingers are so sticky you can't use the camera!

Ref: 20050920_c740_049240013 comma butterfly on blackberries 2004sep24_12-57-54(r+mb id@576).jpg

Image of day on 02 Sep 2005

The comma butterfly (see yestday) showing the white mark on the underwing after which it is named (image from 2004).

Ref: 20050902_c740_049240017 comma butterfly on blackberries 2004sep24_13-00-12(r+mb id@576).jpg

Image Taken on 18 Sep 2021 at 13:28 Image of day on 30 Oct 2021

We used to see Comma Butterflies only in the Autumn, but this year saw them in Spring and Summer as well. This Autumn visitor is perched on a Blackberry fruit with wings closed, giving a good view of the corrugated wing edge and white 'comma'.

Ref: 20211030_d72_20210918_1328_220 comma butterfly on blackberry fruit(r+mb id@576).jpg

Image Taken on 19 Sep 2024 at 15:52 Image of day on 27 Oct 2024

At the end of the season several butterfly species feed on the juice leaking from overripe Blackberry fruits

Ref: 20241027_d72_20240919_1552_019 comma butterfly on blackberry fruits(r+mb id@576).jpg

Image Taken on 07 Oct 2010 at 11:04 Image of day on 05 Dec 2010

In early October food and sunshine still bring a few butterflies out to feed - here a Comma butterfly on ripe blackberries where it can suck up the sugary juice. The bit of spider web between head and left wing suggest a recent unpleasant encounter with a spider's web.

Ref: 20101205_df1_20101007_1104_344 comma butterfly on blackberry fruits (crop)(r+mb id@768).jpg

Image Taken on 30 Sep 2007 at 12:41 Image of day on 29 Oct 2007

Another source of energy for butterflies is damaged fruit berries. Normally spotted on apple windfalls (very few this year) this Comma butterfly is finding the fruit-juice welcome.

Ref: 20071029_d01_20070930_1241_009 comma butterfly on blackberry fruits (web crop)(r+mb id@576).jpg

Image Taken on 07 Jul 2018 at 17:36 Image of day on 29 Aug 2018

A Handsome Comma Butterfly perched on a Blackberry leaf on which it is throwing a lovely shadow.

Ref: 20180829_d72_20180707_1736_021 comma butterfly on blackberry leaf(r+mb id@768).jpg

Image Taken on 08 Apr 2023 at 12:47 Image of day on 17 May 2023

First sighting this year of a Comma Butterfly, out from Hibernation to start a new generation this year. This individual is in remarkably good condition after spending 6 months 'asleep'.

Ref: 20230517_df3_20230408_1247_169 comma butterfly on blackthorn blossom (1st of 2023)(r+mb id@768).jpg

Image Taken on 31 Mar 2025 at 15:36 Image of day on 12 May 2025

The sheet of Corrugated Iron by the side of the path across the meadow gets really quite hot if the sun is out even on cool days. Butterflies love to warm themselves on it, as well as many other insects.

Ref: 20250512_df3_20250331_1536_108 comma butterfly on corrugated iron(r+mb id@576).jpg

Image Taken on 17 Apr 2022 at 15:22 Image of day on 17 May 2022

Here a Comma Butterfly (comma marks on the dark bottom of the wings hidden here) making an attractive contrast with the fresh green leaves.

Ref: 20220517_df3_20220417_1522_067 comma butterfly on hedge(r+mb id@768).jpg

Image Taken on 08 Jul 2014 at 16:12 Image of day on 14 Sep 2014

A pristine Comma Butterfly ('comma' is on the other side of the wing) perched on a frond of Hop Sedge around the Duck shaped pond.

Ref: 20140914_df2_20140708_1612_139 comma butterfly on hop sedge(r+mb id@768).jpg

Image Taken on 24 Jun 2018 at 16:05 Image of day on 09 Aug 2018

This is a Comma Butterfly (the white 'comma' giving it is name just visible on the lower surface of the right wing). This was on Hop Sedge where we now see them most years in the spring/summer. We used to only see them on windfall apples in the orchard in the Autumn.

Ref: 20180809_df3_20180624_1605_025 comma butterfly on hop sedge at duck-shaped pond(r+mb id@768).jpg

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