Image-of-the-Day by Subject

Image-of-the-Day by Subject

Butterflies Page 9

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 02 Jul 2025 at 17:57 Image of day on 15 Aug 2025

We frequently enjoy watching pairs of many species of butterflies spiralling around each other in a courtship dance. But getting a photo is another matter.
Here is about half a second of a pair of Comma Butterflies here accurately positioned.

Ref: 20250815_d72_20250702_1757_142-146 comma butterfly pair courting in flight @ 8fps 1-5 of 5 accurate montage)(r+mb id@1024).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

Image Taken on 11 Sep 2023 at 07:15 Image of day on 02 Nov 2023

While touring the cameras to exchange photo-cards we came across this Comma Butterfly perched on the camera that 'watches' the Round Mound. On this cold morning the insect is torpid, and we managed to open the camera door it is perched on, exchange the photo card, and close up again without obviously disturbing the creature. It was gone later in the warmer day.

Ref: 20231102_d71_20230911_0715_034 comma butterfly perched on bu2 trail cam overnight(r+mb id@768).jpg

Image Taken on 26 Mar 2025 at 15:35 Image of day on 02 May 2025

This Comma Butterfly is perched on one of last years Thistle heads. Another over-wintered insect in remarkably good condition.

Ref: 20250502_df3_20250326_1535_220 comma butterfly perched on desiccated thistle head(r+mb id@576).jpg

Image Taken on 08 Jul 2018 at 14:13 Image of day on 29 Aug 2018

Also a Comma Butterfly, here with the orange wing surface hidden, but showing the white mark that gives the Comma Butterfly it's name.

Ref: 20180829_d72_20180708_1413_023 comma butterfly perched on leaf(r+mb id@576).jpg

Image Taken on 14 Apr 2015 at 15:00 Image of day on 30 May 2015

An almost perfect Comma butterfly that has also over-wintered and is in lovely condition. We normally don't notice them until they arrive to feast on the rotting windfall apples in Autumn. This one is perched on a stinging nettle leaf, with a blackberry stem running over the leaf.

Ref: 20150530_df3_20150414_1500_185 comma butterfly perched on nettle leaf (crop)(r+mb id@768).jpg

Image Taken on 14 Apr 2022 at 12:54 Image of day on 17 May 2022

Butterflies tend to look for somewhere already warm to bask. This means they make for the ugliest human surfaces that they can find!

Ref: 20220517_d72_20220414_1254_038 comma butterfly perched on orange plastic barrier at blocked gate(r+mb id@576).jpg

Image Taken on 12 Jul 2024 at 16:40 Image of day on 19 Aug 2024

An immaculate (brand new!) Comma Butterfly.
We might be able to persuade you that the insect is perched on a piece of shiny marble, but the reality is a pile of polythene covered bricks :-(

Ref: 20240819_r70_20240712_1640_094 comma butterfly pristine perched on plastic sheet(r+mb id@768).jpg

Image Taken on 21 Jul 2024 at 15:28 Image of day on 31 Aug 2024

This is a Comma Butterfly - the white 'comma' appears on the other side of the wings. Our early years here only saw this butterfly in the autumn, feeding on rotting windfall apples. Delightfully we now spot that unique Scalloped wing edge at various times throughout the warmer months.

Ref: 20240831_r70_20240721_1528_043 comma butterfly pristine perched over duck pond(r+mb id@768).jpg

Image Taken on 03 Sep 2025 at 16:22 Image of day on 26 Oct 2025

A Good year for Comma butterflies.

Ref: 20251026_r70_20250903_1622_002 comma butterfly resting on leaf(r+mb id@576).jpg

Image Taken on 13 Sep 2014 at 12:35 Image of day on 24 Nov 2014

A Comma butterfly showing the dark bottom of the wing with the white 'comma', and a glimpse of the vivid orange top surface.

Ref: 20141124_df2_20140913_1235_574 comma butterfly showing both top and bottom of wings (crop)(r+mb id@768).jpg

Image Taken on 15 Sep 2018 at 12:22 Image of day on 07 Nov 2018

The same Comma Butterfly, this one highlighting the gorgeous orange colour.

Ref: 20181107_df3_20180915_1222_013 comma butterfly showing top and underwing(r+mb id@576).jpg

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