Painted Ladies

Sean Ph'lib · Posted: Sun May 31, 2009 8:51 pm Post subject: Painted Ladies

Has anyone else noticed the influx of Painted Lady butterflies over the last few days? There are thousands (literally) of them around my neck of the woods. I usually see quite a few around here (though none over the last two years), but I've never seen anything like the numbers we're getting now.

JennyS · Posted: Mon Jun 01, 2009 12:16 am Post subject:

Yes apparently 10-50 million flew into the UK and now they have reached Ireland. I saw a few yesterday and maybe a couple hundred today ...... There are more details here:
http://www.butterfly-conservation.org/article/9/100/butterfly_migration_is_biggest_for_years.html

and if anyone is interested in recording sightings Butterfly Ireland / The Dublin Naturalists Field Club have an online submission form here:

http://www.butterflyireland.com/butterfly_records_2009_&_2008.htm

Sive · Posted: Mon Jun 01, 2009 7:46 am Post subject:

Thank you so much Sean and Jenny.....I hadn't heard about this mass migration! I had noticed a few of them here in North Wexford over the past few days, and knowing their background makes them even more interesting!

Sean Ph'lib · Posted: Tue Jun 02, 2009 12:08 am Post subject:

In my little wood / nature reserve, Painted Ladies are now abundant, but the only other butterflies so far are: Holly Blues (around the holly!); Speckled Woods (anywhere there's a bit of dappled shade); Orange Tips (these are doing well since Ladies' Smocks became plentiful in the wood); Whites - Large and Small are plentiful, and one solitary Red Admiral. Nothing else yet. We live in hopes Smile

Roger · Posted: Wed Jun 03, 2009 7:59 pm Post subject:

Well... here i was all excited that i would be the first one to tell you about the painted ladies in my garden... so much for that Confused

We have had an invasion on Friday and Saturday in our garden. All of them were just passing by, having a quick feed and moving on. But all going the same direction and i can easily say about 30 on Saturday in the few hours i was out in the garden!
i hope the below links will let you look at my pics, please let me know if not as it's my first time trying to post pics.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/39058175@N04/3593374748/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/39058175@N04/3593363406/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/39058175@N04/3592550579/

Although i am i bit disapointed about not breaking the news on the Painted Ladies i must now tell you about other exciting sights during those days!!

We also had Hummingbird Hawk Moths, we had the one i see everywhere in the internet (although i could not manage to get a photo of it Mad

)... you know the one with the white splashes on the tail like the one that comes up when you search google images? But we also had one which i cannot find anywhere!! Could this be a breakthrough?? Shocked

It was slightly smalller than the "regular" one described above and totally different patterns, kind of yellow stripes on the body... Can anyone advise if they know it or it's name?? Pics also on the below links (which hopefully works Smile

)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/39058175@N04/3592530507/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/39058175@N04/3592522373/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/39058175@N04/3592510665/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/39058175@N04/3592499437/

Sarah Evans · Posted: Wed Jun 03, 2009 8:32 pm Post subject:

If you are interested in monitoring butterflies follow this link http://irishbutterflymonitoringscheme.biodiversityireland.ie/index2.php?page_id=2&tab_id=14

Sean Ph'lib · Posted: Wed Jun 03, 2009 9:48 pm Post subject:

Roger, I won't swear to it, but I think your moth might be the Broad-bordered Bee Hawk Moth. I'm green with envy Smile

Roger · Posted: Thu Jun 04, 2009 8:36 am Post subject:

Hi Sean, thanks a mil for that... i just googled it and it does seem to be it! How exciting!!! Very Happy

Are they common enough in Ireland, would you know??

Sean Ph'lib · Posted: Thu Jun 04, 2009 9:52 am Post subject:

I'm not sure, but I believe it is rather uncommon. I've never seen one down here in Kerry - though of course that doesn't mean they're not here!

Roger · Posted: Thu Jun 04, 2009 11:00 am Post subject:

Thanks Sean, that really makes my day! i sent an e-mail to the Website that Sarah has given to see if they can confirm all this to me... i'll let you know if i get a reply...

Sorry that you have not had the pleasure to see one yet, but this one might be heading to Kerry so keep an eye for it Wink

Thanks for everything!

mothman · Rank attained: Hazel Tree Joined: 13 Dec 2006 Posts: 10

This is Narrow-bordered Bee Hawkmoth Hemaris tityus
See distribution map on MothsIreland website

It is probably a more widespread species than indicated because daytime flying moths generally are recorded less than night time species.

There are plenty of Hummingbird Hawkmoths being reported country wide and also some Striped Hawkmoths along southern and western coasts. Like the Painted Lady, these are both immigrant species.

Sean Ph'lib · Posted: Thu Jun 11, 2009 10:07 pm Post subject:

I think you're right, Mothman - it does look like Narrow-bordered and not broad-bordered as I thought. I was a bit too flathuil with my borders.

Liparis · Posted: Fri Jun 12, 2009 8:14 am Post subject:

Hi Mothman, your link doesn't seem to work, at lest, not for me. Any chance you can repost it?
Bill.

Garden fairie · Posted: Fri Jun 12, 2009 11:00 am Post subject:

I think this may be the website you are looking for. Kay
http://www.mothsireland.com/

Liparis · Posted: Fri Jun 12, 2009 3:44 pm Post subject:

Thanks, that works.
Bill.