Leaves on the deciduous trees are starting to turn, mornings are quite cool with heavy dew, and the first Robin Red Breast in his winter colours was sighted today!
Where’d than butterfly go …
Yesterday was a good day to rip up some blackberry. So off I went with long green leather gloves, long sleeve shirt and hat, with the pick, long handled pruners and secateurs in my garden trolley. No sooner had I stopped the trolley when two unusual butterflies tumbled through the air and landed on the buddleia in front of me. Never having seen this species before I stared, entranced, when a large black butterfly with blue flashes of iridescence spiraled around to also land in the buddleia. And me with no camera!!!
Ok, back to the house, collect camera and go stalking butterflies!
The blackberry did get cut back and mostly pulled out, and it did give me a valid reason to be down by “the Park” *and* get some work done at the same time. What blackberry is left is a good reason to re-visit “the Park” next weekend. This time I won’t forget the camera.
The unfamiliar butterflies turned out to be a pair of Glasswings and male Common Eggfly.
Glasswing Butterlfy
These dainty butterflies are about half the size of the Dainty or Dingy Swallowtail. The upper wing is almost transparent, with only the back markings and a light dusting of white.
They have constantly returned to the buddleia to feed during the last two days, and may have been visiting it far longer.
This was the first of their species I have seen outside books and web sites. Another exciting discovery, at least for me.
Postscript: later in the season I saw a few Glasswing Butterflies frequenting the banana passionfruit. Apparently they can use this as a larvae food plant. Hopefully that means more Glasswings in the future!
