Hello Everyone, With the promise of a warm and sunny weekend, it could be the last chance for some butterfly species to increase their population numbers this year before the start of Autumn 2024 – only your sightings will prove this theory! During the last week we have seen further evidence of the steady decline in butterfly numbers after what has been a very disappointing year – we managed to have just 1 heatwave here in Derby in late July 2024 (3 consecutive days with a temperature of 26c and above). However the positive sightings from this year include the first confirmed sighting of the Essex Skipper in the Buxton area when on the 28th of August 2024, Steve & Lin Orridge photographed the butterfly at Lightwood above Buxton – it has taken the species 26 years to spread to the Town since the first sighting at Drakelow NR back in the year 1999, whereas it took about 7 years for the Purple Emperor to spread into South Derbyshire from Southern Leicestershire!
This week’s sightings have been dominated by the increase in numbers of the Speckled Wood butterfly with records in excess of 20 coming from Pleasley Pit (30 no – Willy Lane), Doe Lea (24 no – Willy Lane), Markham Pit South (22 no – April Darby) and at Markham Pit North (21 no – Sid Morris). Meanwhile the Wall Brown has been seen in reasonable numbers with 32 individuals noted at 12 locations, the highest count of 9 no coming from Harborough Rocks, Hopton on the 28th of August 2024 (Dave & Sue Evans) and 7 no noted at Lightwood above Buxton on the same day (Steve & Lin Orridge). Also on the 28th of August 2024 Sally Pereira was rewarded with a sighting of a pristine male Wall Brown at the summit of Lose Hill near Castleton (476 metres above sea level) – well worth the effort in climbing the hill (see attached photo).
Other sightings of note this last week include :-
Brimstone :- A massive 15 individuals seen on the transect in Lathkill Dale NNR on the 28th of August 2024 (Chris & Sheila Ragg).
Red Admiral :- A total of 25 individuals were noted in Deep Dale, Sheldon on the 26th of August 2024, mainly feeding on devils bit scabious (Steve & Lin Orridge)
Peacock ;- Whilst numbers have plummeted in Lowland areas of Derbyshire, reasonable numbers can still be seen in the Peak District with 19 seen in Cunningdale on the 28th of August 2024 (Carole Garner) and 57 noted in Lathkill Dale NNR on the same day
(Chris & Sheila Ragg). These were followed by 48 seen in Thornhill NR (Helen & Chris Perkins) together with 60 in Woo Dale (Ian & Joy White) all on the 29th of August 2024. Interestingly, Sid Morris saw 7 Peacocks hibernating in an underpass at Markham Vale on the 29th of August 2024 – they must know something that we don’t know!
Small Tortoiseshell :- This once common butterfly has had a torrid year with very few seen on buddleias in the summer although a new brood specimen was seen on a late flowering yellow buddleia in the Grassmoor garden of Brian Cuttell on the 29th of August 2024
Dark Green Fritillary :- Still hanging on in ones and twos in the Peak District, up to including the 28th of August 2024, when individuals were seen in both Coombs Dale (Al & John Roberts) and in Middleton by Wirksworth (Dave & Sue Evans) and finally 4 were seen on the 29th of August 2024 at Thornhill NR by Helen & Chris Perkins.
Silver Washed Fritillary :- Records received from 4 locations in the County up to and including the 28th of August 2024 when 5 no were seen in Lathkill Dale NNR ( Chris & Sheila Ragg)
Painted Lady :- A total of 18 individuals have been seen in the County recently up to and including the 29th of August 2024 with the highest count of 4 no noted at the National Stone Centre by Angela Bird.
White Letter Hairstreak :- Just one sighting this week from the Buxton garden of Ian & Joy White on the 26th of August 2024.
Holly Blue :- 12 individuals have been seen during the last week at 9 locations with 2 noted at both Derby Canal, Little Eaton (Brenda Shore) and at Stoney Wood in Wirksworth (Jane Flint) – however one unlucky individual was caught in mid fight by an Emperor dragonfly on the 28th of August 2024 as witnessed by Peter & Pat Heaton whilst walking near Matlock Golf Club.
The rest of the ‘blue’ family have had a torrid time this year with Common Blues being far from common and Small Coppers only just starting to increase slightly in numbers (12 seen in Woo Dale on the 29th of August 2024 – Ian & Joy White) – fortunately the mainly single brooded Peak District version of the Brown Argus is still on the wing with recent sightings from 5 locations including Millers Dale Quarry (Nicky Loveday), Coombs Dale (Al & John Roberts),Tansley/Cressbrookdale ((Gordon & Alison Rooke), Rose End Meadows (David Goldstraw) with 11 noted on the 28th of August 2024 in Lathkill Dale (Chris & Sheila Ragg) Meanwhile in Lowland Derbyshire the double brooded Migrating Brown Argus has been noted at a couple of locations including at Markham Pit North (Colin Morris) and interestingly on the 26th of August 2024 at Sinfin Wetlands (Jean McMahon).
I mentioned on the last Update that it is worth planting nasturtiums as a decoy for the larvae of both the Large White and the Small White to feed on – well Jonathan Page informs me that he planted a large ornamental member of the Brassica family, some Crambe Cordifolia, to entice the larvae of the above species, and he has also had some success (see the attached photo)
Finally some good news re moth recording here in Derbyshire – Tony Davison informs me that he has organised a new web page for both moth records and moth I D within the County. Have a look at the link below :-
Tony says that the web site is still under construction but at least it is a very good starting point for your moth records and queries.
