Hello Everyone,

With this week being Week 14 of the transect season, we have now just passed the half way point for our local butterfly surveys for 2023 – a quick look at the year so far reveals that some Spring species fared well whereas others did not do well at all. The Holly Blue was fairly widespread across the County having first appeared on the 4th of April 2023 in Long Eaton (Joan Breakwell) and the final first brood specimen was seen on the 22nd of June 2023 at Whaley Bridge (Alan & Angie Seymour). The poor weather in early May ensured that the flight period of the Dingy Skipper was somewhat short this year and consequently numbers were never really great but at least the species was fairly widespread with records being received from a few new locations in Derbyshire as well. Again the Green Hairstreak’s flight period was interrupted by poor weather in April and May 2023 and numbers were well short of the usual totals seen, even in the dales. Pleasingly although the Wall Brown had to endure a poor start in early May 2023, the

overall situation for the first brood was better than the first brood total in 2022 with an increase of around 33% (250 against 190)  – what is also interesting is the fact that there appears to be a movement into the Peak Fringe areas away from its main sites in the heart of the Peak District.

With the Peacocks and Small Tortoiseshells having a poor start to 2023 the overall situation in Lowland Derbyshire is poor with a decrease in overall butterfly numbers of around 15% at most sites, whereas on the higher ground of the Peak District there has been a slight increase overall in butterfly totals on transects (around 10%). This could be explained by the fact that the severe heat of the summer of 2023 was less pronounced on the high ground so consequently more butterflies (and their caterpillars) survived the intense heat.

As with most situations, the now big increase in Meadow Brown sightings in the County and the gradual increase in both Ringlet and Small Skipper numbers will help balance out the differences in butterfly numbers compared to 2022. However, like Pat and I , most of you will be studying the numbers of butterflies on your buddleia plants in the garden during the next couple of months as this will then indicate just how bad the situation got in 2022 when comparing with totals seen this year.

Pleasingly the Comma appears to be doing well with widespread reports of both Hutchinsoni and Normal versions with the highest count of 23 coming on the 1st of July 2023 from Goseley Cutting, Woodville (Kate Allies). And in Lowland Derbyshire second brood specimens of the Common Blues have started to appear with sightings at Markham Vale North (Sid Morris) and at Weleda Shipley

(Dan McCarthy and Harpreet Deol) both on the 4th of July 2023 and also second brood sightings of the Migrating Brown Argus on the 3rd of July 2023 at Toyota UK, Burnaston (Ady Cox) and on the 5th of July 2023 at Drakelow NR (Tom Cockburn) However the summer hairstreaks have yet to become common with sightings of singletons of the Purple Hairstreak coming from  Kedleston Park (Ken Orpe) and at Markham Vale North (Sid Morris) with up to 20 seen on oaks around Toyota UK Meadows in Burnaston (Kelvin Lawrence) . Similarly, just a couple of sightings of the White Letter Hairstreak from only Wyver Lane, Belper (Dave Evans) and in Chee Dale (John & Anne Coupland). At least the Gatekeeper has now appeared throughout the County, including the Buxton area, although the highest count to date has been only 20 which were seen on the 4th of July 2023 at Pleasley Pit (Willy Lane). Just 1 sighting of the Painted Lady this week when a singleton was seen on the 3rd of July 2023 in the Ednaston garden of Maggie Percival.

The main news this week concerns moths locally with further sightings of the Scarlet Tiger noted in the County at Eyes Meadow, Duffield (Michelle Kershaw – Wright), Drakelow NR (Rose Williams) and in Ironville (Pete Clark). Also another Rannoch Looper has been seen locally with Dave Evans seeing one in his garden trap in Belper on the 24th of June 2023. The migrant Humming Bird Hawk moth is still appearing in Derbyshire with recent sightings from Two Dales, Darley Dale (Stuart Slack), Breadsall Hilltop (Peter Johnson) and in the Staveley garden of Sid Morris on the 5th of July 2023.

However, the worrying news is that caterpillars of the Oak Processionary moth have been seen in the Long Eaton area of the County recently – there were a couple of sightings of the moth in the area during 2021 and 2022 but now the caterpillar has appeared on some oaks in the Town. The caterpillars feed on the leaves of oak and can cause defoliation in extreme cases – it is important that humans and pets do not come into contact with the caterpillars as the fine hairs on them can cause rashes and other ailments. You have been warned!  Any sightings should be reported to Tree Alert at opm@forestrycommission.gov.uk

The good news is that the Open Day at Hoe Grange Quarry was a success on Sunday the 2nd of July 2023 despite the weather being cloudy with only brief sunny intervals – it still enabled the 275 visitors, some from Australia and the Philippines, to enjoy the floral display along with 11 species of butterflies on the wing including the first Gatekeeper of the year seen on the site. Longcliffe Quarries put on a great effort with transport to and from the site, drinks and food together with the usual free ice cream van! New species of insects were found in the main pond in the big hole thanks to pond dipping by members of the DWT and some visitors, and the sales table run by members of the East Midlands Branch of Butterfly Conservation was very busy as well – so many thanks to everyone involved in making the day such a great success.