Have you seen one of these? There was a nationwide survey in 2005 into the UK distribution of this beastie, the Harlequin Ladybird. It is described on the website devoted to it as “the most invasive ladybird on Earth”. For further details see The Harlequin Survey. It appears not to have been found west of a line drawn from Merseyside to the Isle of Wight, but you never know.
Data from the Nynehead Appraisal suggests that our local environment is of interest and concern to many of us. Nearly 70% of those who responded to the questionnaire appear to agree with the proposition that 'wild plants, birds and animals around Nynehead are important', and about a third of those indicated separately that they might be willing to take a positive part in some sort of 'environmental' activity. Such interest merits its own place on the website - and this is it!
1. Brown Hairstreak Thecla betulae
Click for dorsal view.
One proposal from David Manners is that 'we' - that's men women and children! - might like to keep an eye open for an uncommon butterfly called the Brown Hairstreak (or Thecla betulae to give it its ‘proper’ name) which, while found fairly abundantly in the surrounding neighbourhood has yet to be recorded within the Parish of Nynehead. Just for the record, here is a map showing the distribution of Thecla betulae in Somerset. We appear to be in an area free of Hairstreakers! The nearest site to Nynehead known for Thecla betulae is probably Thurlbear Quarry Lands near Taunton. In Nynehead we have the environment but lack evidence for Brown Hairstreaks.
2. Egg of Thecla betulae
During the winter is probably the easiest time to find that evidence. The butterfly itself is only around towards the end of summer. The Brown Hairstreak prefers to lay her eggs at the end of summer in a very particular manner and place which is abundant locally. She lays eggs singly on blackthorn or 'sloe' at the base of the fork where new wood sprouts from old - see photo 2. Moreover, she does so in a very 'child-friendly' fashion as, rather than high up, she prefers to lay 0.8 to 1.5 metres above the ground - that's two and a half to five feet in old money. The eggs are pure white and, although small (less than 1 mm in diameter - that's about the cross-section of a grain of rice) they tend to show up well against the wood which is dark. When magnified, the eggs have the appearance of miniature sea urchins. Not all blackthorns in the area offer the same prospects to egg hunters; blackthorns that have not been mindlessly thrashed to pieces by mechanical flails are likely to prove more fruitful than those that have been!
3. Young caterpillar
The eggs of the Brown Hairstreak remain visible and unhatched from November till about April when they hatch into small, yellowish grubs that become greenish caterpillar. During winter when most of the leaves have gone, if there are any eggs around they should be comparatively easy to spot. Needless to say, anyone lucky enough to find Thecla eggs should observe but not touch or disturb them!
4. Mature caterpillar
After a couple of months solid feeding the caterpillars will have changed colour, (photo 4) and be mature and ready to pupate (photo 5). Pupation takes place on the ground and the imago or final butterfly emerges in late August or September which will be the only time we have a chance to see them in all their glory. They mate and lay their eggs from Ooctober and thus the cycle repeats itself. Males are apparently hard to see as they tend to congregagte high up in a strategic tree, whereas females tend to wander about singly on, or close to, the ground. Only occasionally do they deign to unfold their wings and display the characteristic orange patches on their wings that distinguish them from the males.
5. Pupa
6.Female Brown Hairstreak Thecla betulae
Click for a larger image.
There is considerable variation in the colour and markings of the adult butterflies as can be seen from comparing photos 1 and 6. I am beholden to Walter Schön for photos 1-6. He lives in Bad Saulgau, near Lake Constance, Swabian Jura, in South Germany - ah the wonders of the internet! He has a WEBSITE from which I borrowed the photos. His website also has lots of other information about Brown Hairstreaks and other allied species. Take a look! And Walter Schön has these encouraging words for us;
“I had a look in the excellent book "The Millennium Atlas of Butterflies in Britain and Ireland" - I am sure that you will find these egg! You might find the eggs of the Purple Hairstreak and the White Lesser Hairstreak as well - but Brown Hairstreak is easier.”