Ecology

More than just 'Cabbage Whites' and Red Admirals in Felpham. Focusing on the life cycle of the Long-tailed Blue, now a regular summer visitor to this parish.

[Ecology @flpmbutterflies]

@iribiyu Thank you for your reply. I have learnt so much about ウラナミシジミ by following posts of this species every day.

[Ecology @flpmbutterflies]

@iribiyu Taking a close look at the plant, there appear to be a number of eggs visible on the flowers and leaves. The plant looks like what we know as Tufted Vetch ‘Vicia cracca’

[Ecology @flpmbutterflies]

@TrisNorton I am interested to know what substrate the male is puddling on? Your sighting adds to my collection of international posts featuring this activity which appear to take place on weathered concrete or dried riverbeds. If calcium is key, does it explain fewer sightings on acid soil?

[Ecology @flpmbutterflies]

@oga2414 Please may I ask, which bean plant you are showing us. Thank you.

[Ecology @flpmbutterflies]

This is an extremely good find by Gary. Lupin is a Fabaceae I would like to grow myself. There is a good chance it is a LTB egg. More Lupins need to be grown in our gardens! I had a Holly Blue lay eggs on Colutea this summer which I captive reared in hope they were LTB. Alas not.

[Mike Gibbons @cloudedyellows]

Gary Holderness has just found what looks like a Long-tailed Blue egg on Tree Lupin at Southbourne. In the same area as the Long-tailed Blue butterflies were seen. He did not have a macro lens. Wonder if this can be confirmed. Are Lupins sometimes used? @ukbutterflies

[Ecology @flpmbutterflies]

@SupriadibnPaijo Is the plant called Crotalaria cunninghamii?

[Ecology @flpmbutterflies]

@Alsalmi_Madina Please may I ask what the Arabic words are for the Pea Butterfly and Blue Butterfly?
Also, what are the main larval foodplants for this species? And how frequently do you see this butterfly. Thank you.

[Ecology @flpmbutterflies]

@yonshiro3 Please may I ask what the Latin name for the plant is? Thank you.

[Ecology @flpmbutterflies]

Proof of concept/UK first, Lespedeza Thunbergii a larval foodplant of Long-tailed Blue in Sussex. Observation of egg laying in September on plants from @hayloftplants with captive rearing of larvae on Lespedeza flowers through to pupation culminated with emergence of adult today.

[Ecology @flpmbutterflies]

@mucuna_nkj Is this bean Crotalaria beddomeana?

[Ecology @flpmbutterflies]

@Hillborn13 An important insight, thank you. My interest stems from this post from Japan. Enthusiasts of this rare migrant butterfly to our Sussex shores might like to try Erythrina for themselves if their garden provides a mild microclimate. @BCSussex https://t.co/pwL5LtZefn

[Genita_K @Genita_K]

アメリカデイゴの花を訪れたウラナミシジミ。南の島に来た感がある。産卵するだけではなく、蜜も吸うことができる絶好の場所らしく、多数が飛んでいた。

[Ecology @flpmbutterflies]

@Genita_K Note to self. Latin name Erythrina crista-galli.

[Ecology @flpmbutterflies]

@Purupurea_h_u What is the name of the plant she is on, please?

[Ecology @flpmbutterflies]

@hiyodori22 Please advise me of the Latin name of the plant, thank you.

[Ecology @flpmbutterflies]

@mogsan173 5 individuals is amazing. Please tell me what the Latin name is for the plant.

[Ecology @flpmbutterflies]

Is this your "must have" garden plant of the decade? My Lespedeza Thunbergii plants from @hayloftplants
hosting a female Long-tailed Blue this week. With the first Sussex brood moving north this year, Lespedeza might be the plant to draw the species into your garden in future.

[Ecology @flpmbutterflies]

@willsocr @maxando @BCDevon @BC_Dorset @Cornwall_BC @swcoastpath And on an alternative to Broad-leaved Everlasting Pea too, a great find. Question is, did she lay some eggs? Still some final racemes of Wisteria flowers appearing and worth keeping an eye on.

[Ecology @flpmbutterflies]

@R_esculenta Please advise me if the plant she is on is Apios americana. Thank you.

[Ecology @flpmbutterflies]

@ppg2512 Yes to female, egg laying on Gorse!