Small Tortoiseshell decline

[rlchew]

I have seen a lot of butterflies this year.

19 different species at my local patch (Wat Tyler CP in Essex) .... this includes Small Tortoiseshell but only a single record.

Richard

[harasseddad]

Those are caterpillars of the large white butterfly - and yes they've been parasitised. The yellow cacoons are those of the parasite.

[barquar]

Very interesting i have the same problem with 2 off a batch 23 caterpillars
that have gone under a bird feeder there are yellow eggs just like in your photo. Is it to late to put the caterpillars else where when i looked this morning they were moving around a bit?. the caterpillars were feeding on a couple off rape seed plants that must have been set from bird seed.
Barquar

[Jez]

I've seen 1 this year and was over the moon as I've not seen one since I was a kid!

[harasseddad]

Originally Posted by barquar

Is it to late to put the caterpillars else where when i looked this morning they were moving around a bit?. Barquar

Too late I fear. In a lovely bit of evolution, when the flies (which share the same genes as they came from the same parents) are ready to emerge, one of the larvae sacrifices itself and instead of emerging it moves into the brain of the caterpiller host. Once there it controls the caterpiller directly, making it move around to defend the fly cacoons against any enemies. The caterpiller is effectively dead, its body riddled with holes where the flies emerged and with a larvae in its brain - but it won't stop moving until the flies hatch - it's effectively a zombie.

[Devvi]

I watched one turn into a chrysalis and it emerged a few days to a week later as a small tortoiseshell and i felt so honored to have one right next to my front door.. it was so beautiful to watch.

[barquar]

Originally Posted by harasseddad

Too late I fear. In a lovely bit of evolution, when the flies (which share the same genes as they came from the same parents) are ready to emerge, one of the larvae sacrifices itself and instead of emerging it moves into the brain of the caterpiller host. Once there it controls the caterpiller directly, making it move around to defend the fly cacoons against any enemies. The caterpiller is effectively dead, its body riddled with holes where the flies emerged and with a larvae in its brain - but it won't stop moving until the flies hatch - it's effectively a zombie.

Thanks for the info on the parasites Harassdad.
barquar

[Dogghound]

Loads of very fresh adults up here today. They seem to really do well around here. Ever since ive been interested in wildlife I dont think ive had a bad year yet.

[pammosley]

I saw my 1st of this year yesterday, lovely

[skinidin]

Usually they are very numerous here (NW Skye) but have yet to see one, which is worrying as the habitat has not changed at all.

However, I saw one the weekend before last in the carpark at Glastonbury festival, Pilton, Somerset .

Perhaps it went for the bands