Image-of-the-Day by Subject

Image-of-the-Day by Subject

Butterflies Page 8

Image Taken on 10 Jul 2014 at 16:36 Image of day on 14 Sep 2014

A pristine Comma butterfly showing white 'comma' on the bottom of the wing and the bright orange top of wing.

Ref: 20140914_df2_20140710_1636_030 comma butterfly on hop sedge frond showing both sides of wing (crop)(r+mb id@768).jpg

Image Taken on 12 Jul 2013 at 15:45 Image of day on 05 Sep 2013

Out first sighting of a Comma butterfly this year, atypically perched over a pond on the Hop Sedge

Ref: 20130905_df1_20130712_1545_123 comma butterfly on hop sedge leaf (adjusted crop)(r+mb id@768).jpg

Image Taken on 20 Sep 2019 at 12:34 Image of day on 12 Nov 2019

This view through the underside of the wing just shows the 'comma' of the Butterfly showing through from the 'top' side. This one is on an Ivy flower.

Ref: 20191112_df3_20190920_1234_121 comma butterfly on ivy flower viewed from below but top lit(r+mb id@768).jpg

Image of day on 05 Aug 2005

The top view of this comma butterfly shows the display colours. The wonderful scalloped edges are part of its disguise - see tomorrow.

Ref: 20050805_p20_1020821 comma butterfly on large-leaved lime 2005jul28_17-52-24(r+mb id@576).jpg

Image of day on 06 Aug 2005

The underwing of this comma butterfly shows the camouflage view that with both colour and wing edges mimics a dead leaf.

Ref: 20050806_p20_1020842 comma butterfly on large-leaved lime 2005jul28_17-54-28(r+mb id@576).jpg

Image Taken on 15 Jul 2012 at 12:42 Image of day on 25 Aug 2012

Our first Comma butterfly this year. Until recent years we only saw these in the Autumn feasting on the juice of squashed windfall apples.

Ref: 20120825_df1_20120715_1242_049 comma butterfly on leaf (crop)(r+mb id@576).jpg

Image Taken on 11 Jul 2023 at 16:21 Image of day on 02 Sep 2023

Comma Butterfly, named for the white mark on the bottom of the wings that you only see when the wings are closed, can be seen all over the sunny areas.

Ref: 20230902_d72_20230711_1621_036 comma butterfly on leaf on duck pond island(r+mb id@576).jpg

Image Taken on 21 Jun 2022 at 16:26 Image of day on 08 Aug 2022

A similar view of a Comma Butterfly. The 'comma' is the white shape appearing only on the underneath of the wing.

Ref: 20220808_d72_20220621_1626_037 comma butterfly on leaf show uper and lower wings(r+mb id@768).jpg

Image Taken on 02 Apr 2016 at 12:28 Image of day on 07 May 2016

First seen a few days ago, on this warmish day there we a few over-wintered Comma Butterflies re-fuelling from the May blossom. They will be keen to find a mate to lays the eggs for this Autumns generation

Ref: 20160507_df3_20160402_1228_057 comma butterfly on may blossom(r+mb id@768).jpg

Image Taken on 20 Sep 2019 at 12:30 Image of day on 12 Nov 2019

Comma Butterflies seem to have been about since Spring. These will overwinter as Adults in some protected spot (like a shed!) to appear next April to lay the eggs for the new 2020 generation. This one is on a Mint flower.

Ref: 20191112_df3_20190920_1230_117 comma butterfly on mint flower(r+mb id@768).jpg

Image Taken on 20 Sep 2019 at 14:33 Image of day on 12 Nov 2019

Back on a Mint flowers, the underside of this Comma Butterfly emphasises the wonderful scalloped edge and the white 'comma' mark.

Ref: 20191112_df3_20190920_1433_153 comma butterfly on mint flower(r+mb id@768).jpg

Image Taken on 25 Mar 2016 at 12:20 Image of day on 28 Apr 2016

Here the same Comma Butterfly has moved on to a daffodil flower for a sunbathe. At low air temperatures the sun is needed to bring them up to 'operating temperature'. Unfortunately they can't feed on Daffodils, but there are plenty of Primroses, Snowdrops and May flowers for them to feed on.

Ref: 20160428_df3_20160325_1220_192 comma butterfly on outside of daffodil flower(r+mb id@768).jpg

Image Taken on 15 Jul 2009 at 18:13 Image of day on 18 Aug 2009

A little special for the Woodland Trust phenology enthusiasts - a Comma Butterfly on a fruiting Rowan - both 'recorded' species.

Ref: 20090818_db1_20090715_1813_048 comma butterfly on rowan leaf near ripening rowan berries (web crop)(r+mb id@576).jpg

Image Taken on 11 Oct 2016 at 10:51 Image of day on 26 Nov 2016

A good year for Comma Butterflies this year at this site if not more generally.

Ref: 20161126_df3_20161011_1051_010 comma butterfly on sweet chestnut leaf(r+mb id@1024).jpg

Image Taken on 12 Jul 2023 at 17:30 Image of day on 02 Sep 2023

Ref: 20230902_df3_20230712_1730_052 comma butterfly on teasel stem(r+mb id@768).jpg

Image Taken on 03 Apr 2009 at 16:55 Image of day on 27 Apr 2009

A Comma butterfly (the characteristic comma is on the Comma Butterfly underwing (click to view).) basking in the sunshine after spending the winter in hibernation. This is our first recording of one in Spring (and after a poor 2008 for butterflies in general) although its quite normal.

Ref: 20090427_db1_20090403_1655_021 comma butterfly on twig after hibernation(r+mb id@576).jpg

Image Taken on 09 Sep 2012 at 12:42 Image of day on 20 Oct 2012

A Comma Butterfly feeding on a Yellow Buddleia. This shows the lower surface of the wing with the 'comma' marking, rather than the orange upper surface.

Ref: 20121020_df1_20120909_1242_646 comma butterfly on yellow buddleia(r+mb id@576).jpg

Image Taken on 22 Sep 2021 at 15:50 Image of day on 30 Oct 2021

We catch this immaculate Comma Butterfly seeing just the completely different upper wings.

Ref: 20211030_d72_20210922_1550_030 comma butterfly perched on bindweed leaf(r+mb id@768).jpg

Image Taken on 04 Sep 2023 at 16:06 Image of day on 29 Oct 2023

We used only to see Comma Butterflies in the autumn feeding on rotting windfall apples. Now we see them intermittently through the year as they produce a mid-year brood before the autumn brood which over-winters to breed in the Spring. This one has their wings open a little, so you get a good view of the underwings including the white marking that gives the insect their name, plus a strip of the orange along the top of the wings. The scalloped edge of the wings is an amazing camouflage.

Ref: 20231029_df3_20230904_1606_021 comma butterfly perched on blackberry leaf - wings slightly open showing underwing comma marking(r+mb id@768).jpg

Image Taken on 25 Mar 2016 at 12:18 Image of day on 28 Apr 2016

What we think is the first Comma butterfly we have seen this year. It is perched on a broken stem of a teasel and you can see the characteristic white mark on the bottom of the wing that gives the species it's name.

Ref: 20160428_df3_20160325_1218_185 comma butterfly perched on broken teasel stem(r+mb id@768).jpg

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