Hampshire and Isle of Wight Butterfly and Moth Society
Hampshire and Isle of Wight Butterfly and Moth Society
Micheldever Wood. We arrived at Micheldever Wood not long after 8.30 a.m. to find full cloud cover and a couple of rain showers. We persisted nevertheless: the sun eventually came out as the heat rose, and we were ultimately rewarded on our way back when a Purple Emperor glided serenely past to land briefly on the path before gliding off again, giving no opportunity for photos. There were respectable numbers of Silver-washed Fritillary around, but only a couple of White Admiral and ditto Purple Hairstreak. Other species in varying numbers included Large Skipper, Brimstone, Large White, Comma, Red Admiral, Marbled White, Meadow Brown and, most numerous of all, Ringlet. [Posted by Rupert & Sharron Broadway]
Butterfly Wonderland at Alice Holt. There was an incredible profusion of Silver-washed Fritillary in Abbotts Wood this morning. Having seen only one in West Wood yesterday, within 50 yards of leaving the car park I’d already counted a dozen, and thereafter they were frequently seen in twos and threes. There were very good numbers of White Admiral too. The woodland rides were alive with super-energised butterflies. An added bonus was finding my first Hampshire Small Tortoiseshell of the year – a butterfly that seemed comparatively common in the Yorkshire Wolds when I visited in May but has become elusive in South Hants. I recorded 16 species in all between 9.30am and 1.15pm, which made it all the more surprising that amid such butterfly abundance, the Purple Emperor was so shy and retiring. I sat at the favoured junction where I’ve seen them previously (11.15am to 12.15pm) and had just three treetop sightings, each of just a few seconds (in the company of Mark T.) No sign of them in the top car park either, where last year we were royally treated to a fabulous emperor show. [Posted by Kevin Freeborn]
Emperor. I had the good fortune to witness a Purple Emperor indoors at a friend's house in Axmansford this morning, while we were sorting through last night's moth catch. It was flitting about on the dining room window sill, we managed to steer it out and it flew off to perch in the nearby pine tree. [Posted by Andy Bolton]
Ringlets in West Wood. How underrated is the beauty of the Ringlet? Its velvety dark chocolate through to caramel ground colouring is such a beautiful foil for the leopard-like eyespots, seen at their best on the underside. They were out in large numbers in West Wood this afternoon. I was hoping I might see White Admiral, having seen them at Whiteley Pastures last weekend but, alas, no – although I did meet a transect walker who had seen one. I had five sightings of Purple Emperor – most likely to be four individuals, I think, with two males in a treetop game of tag. All the action was 20m above the ground and happening at pace so, sadly, no photos on this occasion. Other species noted were: Silver-washed Fritillary x1, Comma x3, Red Admiral x4, Meadow Brown, Brimstone, Green-veined White, Large and Small Skipper. [Posted by Kevin Freeborn]
Magdalen Hill Down. The down was an absolute picture, with carpets of wildflowers and a profusion of Marbled White. Other summer species such as Meadow Brown and Large and Small Skipper were flying alongside some spring species such as Grizzled Skipper and Green Hairstreak. I can’t remember the last time I saw Grizzled and Large and Small Skippers flying at the same time. There were lots of Common Blue, several Small Blue, including a mating pair, Brimstone, Small Heath, Red Admiral, Comma and Small Copper – thirteen species in all. [Posted by Kevin Freeborn]
Small Tortoiseshell larvae. Just attaching the image of 4th and 5th instar Small Tortoiseshell larvae missing from my last post. [Posted by Clive Wood]
Peacock and Small Tortoiseshell larvae. Good to see that more of the Itchen Stoke Peacock larvae have progressed to their 5th instar although still lots at the 3rd instar. Meantime tracked down the solitary Small Tortoiseshell colony to find what I think are 4th and 5th instars sharing the same leaf. Happy to be corrected. [Posted by Clive Wood]
Update on the Peacock larvae at Itchen Stoke. Part of the site in Itchen Stoke was cut by a tractor yesterday but I’m pleased to report that the landowner was as good as their word and avoided all the large clumps of nettle occupied by the Peacock larvae. To add to the good news, six further webs were found in new areas adding another 300 to 450 larvae to the running total. A mix of 3rd and 4th instar. Fingers crossed for some warmer weather to aid pupation. [Posted by Clive Wood]
Catch Up. Having just returned from seeing stunning Swallowtails and hundreds of Painted Ladies in Norfolk I could not wait to visit Magdalen Hill Down NR. This, my favourite reserve had changed immensely in a week with many more flowers and the grasses even higher across the hillside. The weather was dreadful with strong wind and rain so I saw really surprised to actually spot 12 species including; Meadow Brown (My #34 for 2026), Marbled White (My #35 for 2026), Small Copper, Small Heath, Small Blue, Brown Argus, Common Blue, Adonis Blue, Green Hairstreak, Grizzled Skipper and Large Skipper. A day later I was delighted to spot my first distant White-letter Hairstreak at the top of an Elm tree at Peartree Green in Southampton bring my 2026 UK species total to 36, four more than in same period the previous year. [Posted by Sheila Anne Williams]
Peacock larvae in abundance. Based on an estimated count of 50-75 larvae per web, and c25 webs on a single site near Itchen Stoke, I have just seen c1250 to 2000 Peacock larvae this morning. Most were at the 4th instar with a small proportion already beginning to disperse. Some were at their 3rd instar. The site is due to be cut soon but fortunately the Chair of the local Parish Council has kindly liaised with the landowner to delay the cut and avoid several high density nettle patches. Hopefully the larvae will have pupated over the next 7 to 10 days (based on UK Butterflies/Frohawk) and before cutting takes place. We will keep an eye on the site but meantime fingers are firmly crossed. [Posted by Clive Wood]
Found in PO4 9 area. Found in bathroom in PO4 9 area of portsmouth uk, possibly a moth see photo on 1st June 2026 at 15:26.
[Yes - this is a Box moth - Ed]. [Posted by Eileen Shepard]
