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Originally Posted by JoulesH  Like Jenny W we've had a great year here in Leics, the best that I can recall. Good holly blue, orange tip and brimstones in the spring, then the painted lady migration early on and lots of small coppers. Then the meadow browns, gatekeepers and ringlets in the hay meadows and plenty of skippers and whites. I've also seen more common blues than usual and my first brown argus on the farm. Masses of small tortoiseshells, commas, peacocks and speckled woods, red admirals, late painted ladies, brimstones again, but no late holly blues. I've never seen so many caterpillars in the nettles. |
Good year here too around London, but like you I've noticed a near total collapse in the second brood of Holly Blues after several strong seasons. I suspect this is due to it's parasitoid wasp, as Holly Blue numbers are known to have cyclic fluctuations with this wasp.