Pictures from Art Frames

Green wings are a rarity amongst our native British butterflies. If it has green underwings, then it is a green hairstreak (callophrys rubi) . The adults are extremely well camouflaged when resting and fairly anonymous, small brown and quite moth-like when flying. This is a butterfly that you usually spot as it lands. But keep your eyes on it as it can quickly disappear amongst any bright green young leaves. The butterfly always folds it's wings tightly even when taking the sun. It then leans over and angles itself to the sun to soak up the heat. This pose can be seen in the above photo (a rather worn female with tears in her wings probably caused by thorn bush damage). It is a very territorial insect, perching on vantage points to see off strangers in short bursts of energetic flight. In the photo below you can almost feel the aggression in the pose.

One of nature's aristocrats, the Duke of Burgundy  (Hamearis lucina) is an increasingly rare butterfly here in the UK. A little research is needed to find a thriving colony. These photographs, from a site in the Chilterns, show the type of habitat that they prefer - scrubby chalk downland. Nearby are hundreds of cowslip (primula verdis) plants, one of the foodplants for their caterpillars, still in flower. Newly emerged, these perfect specimens were two of more than twenty to be found enjoying the May sunshine. Although they were basking, the butterflies were still fairly active making short, quick flights, often when disturbed by other butterflies sharing their sunny spot. These included some grizzled and dingy skippers. Once unsettled they flew high up into the air only to return shortly to the same area. Patience and good observation is required as they are quite small and you could easily dismiss them in flight as more dingy skippers. These pictures were taken on an Olympus E...