MAMMALS, REPTILES & AMPHIBIAN GC Survey

Peacock Butterfly-Inachis io


Size: Wingspan approximately 60mms.

Distribution: Found throughout the UK. Less common in Scotland.

Months seen: March to October.

Habitat: Meadows, roadside verges and gardens.

Food: Nectar. The caterpillars feed on stinging nettles.

Special features: Peacock butterflies can be easily recognised by their four large eye spots, which look similar to those on a peacocks tail feathers.

In contrast the underside of the wings look almost black, allowing the peacock to remain well camouflaged in garden sheds and outbuildings during its winter hibernation.

When the bluebells start flowering, peacock butterflies are just starting to wake after their winter hibernation, and can take advantage of their plentiful supply of nectar.

Peacock caterpillars: Peacocks lay their green eggs, in batches of up to 500 on the underside of stinging nettle leaves - the favourite food plant of the caterpillars.



Underside of wings.

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Peacock Butterfly-Inachis io


Size: Wingspan approximately 60mms.

Distribution: Found throughout the UK. Less common in Scotland.

Months seen: March to October.

Habitat: Meadows, roadside verges and gardens.

Food: Nectar. The caterpillars feed on stinging nettles.

Special features: Peacock butterflies can be easily recognised by their four large eye spots, which look similar to those on a peacocks tail feathers.

In contrast the underside of the wings look almost black, allowing the peacock to remain well camouflaged in garden sheds and outbuildings during its winter hibernation.

When the bluebells start flowering, peacock butterflies are just starting to wake after their winter hibernation, and can take advantage of their plentiful supply of nectar.

Peacock caterpillars: Peacocks lay their green eggs, in batches of up to 500 on the underside of stinging nettle leaves - the favourite food plant of the caterpillars.



Underside of wings.

.

 

Buff Tailed Bumble Bee-Bombus terestris..

This is our largest bumblebee, and usually the first to emerge. The thing to note on the queen is the dirty orange colour of the hairs at the end of the abdomen. Also when Bombus terrestris and B. lucorum can be seen together the yellow hairs of B. terrestris appear more orangey while those of B. lucorum are more lemon yellow. Workers have a white tail, and are almost indistinguishable from Bombus lucorum workers. Lengths, queen 20-22, worker 11-17, male 14-16

This was a Queen as it had a buff coloured tail..

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Buff Tailed Bumble Bee-Bombus terestris..

This is our largest bumblebee, and usually the first to emerge. The thing to note on the queen is the dirty orange colour of the hairs at the end of the abdomen. Also when Bombus terrestris and B. lucorum can be seen together the yellow hairs of B. terrestris appear more orangey while those of B. lucorum are more lemon yellow. Workers have a white tail, and are almost indistinguishable from Bombus lucorum workers. Lengths, queen 20-22, worker 11-17, male 14-16

This was a Queen as it had a buff coloured tail..

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