Hampshire and Isle of Wight Butterfly and Moth Society
Hampshire and Isle of Wight Butterfly and Moth Society
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]
