Topic: Butterflies

[Garden Manager]

Anyone seen any yet?

I have, in my garden earlier this week. Not knowing butterflies very well i couldnt tell you the variety, though it was a coppery colour so i imagine it must be one of those with 'Copper' in its common name!  ;D.

On the same day i also saw the first ladybird of the year, whilst doing some weeding.

[Ceratonia]

Yes - saw a yellowy-green one last weekend, which I now know to have been a Brimstone.

I've had ladybirds active in December, January & February - seem to have very large numbers of them this year - not sure what they're all going to eat!

[Garden Manager]

I've had ladybirds active in December, January & February - seem to have very large numbers of them this year - not sure what they're all going to eat!

Wish I could get them to take up residence in either the greenhouse or conservatory, plenty of whitefly in those places for them to feed on

[Mrs Ava]

Seen a couple, but have seen trillions of ladybirds!  And my first great big fat bumble bee of the year at the start of the week!  ;D

[jennym]

I've seen lots of ladybirds too, feel a bit guilty when tidying up debris from the garden and see them - good excuse not to tidy though :)

[eileen]

No butterflies yet.  :(

No ladybirds yet.  :(

BEES -  YES!!!!!!!  ;D

[GREENWIZARD]

only dirty flies............. too much dog  poo left in next doors garden >:(

[jeanaustin]

Saw my first butterfly of the year on the lottie this morning, a small tortoiseshell.
Also today, lots of ladybirds about when I cut back my Penstemon plants, think they've been over-wintering in these.  Also saw a couple of bumblebees.

[Rosa_Mundi]

Beautiful one in the kitchen - copper/brown with blue roundels?
Also had bees bashing themselves against the window glass....

[Robert_Brenchley]

Sounds like a Peacock. The adult often hibernates in houses.

[Mrs Ava]

So many bumblers today!  A couple came into the conservatory as we had the door open it was so warm!  Also, a lacewing and a hoverfly!!

[Rosa_Mundi]

Thanks, Robert - pictures confirm a peacock. Had probably been in the garage and woken up - he's out in the big wide world now.

[Garden Manager]

Beautiful one in the kitchen - copper/brown with blue roundels?
Also had bees bashing themselves against the window glass....

A Peacock butterfly?

Sounds a bit like the butterfly i've seen (and again since i first posted). Bees? the bumblers have been around for ages now, though saw one honey bee flying around the other day too.

[froglets]

No butterflies, a groggy wasp, a bumblebee & a few ladybirds on the hardy geraniums which are bushy green already.  Hoping the tiny specs on the wood I took out of the woodpile then put back are ladybird larvae in the making.   Had lots in there last year so fingers crossed