"For now we are young let us lay in the sun and count every beautiful thing we can see" Neutral Milk Hotel.

Sunday, 24 August 2014

Ringstead butterflies and gall

Still quite a variety of butterflies at Ringstead Downs today although some of them are beginning to look a bit old and worn. Brown Argus and Common Blue were quite prevalent but no sign of Chalk-hill Blue now.  Two Clouded Yellows and a Painted Lady were active along with Whites - Green-veined, Small and Large. Speckled Woods were flying near East and West ends. A few Meadow Browns were lingering on together with one old Small Copper.
There were a couple of Sweet-briars with the Robin's pin-cushion gall on them. This is caused by the larvae of a small wasp Diplolepsis rosae.
Autumn is definitely upon us as many fruits are ripening and there are numerous fungi appearing (I didn't try to identify any today!)

Large White

Robin's Pin-cushion gall caused by larvae of Diplolepsis rosae wasp
 

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