Top view of a large moth with brown wings that have a pattern of darker lines, and a large blue, brown and black eyespot
Our first Southern Moon moth (Dasypodia selenophora) visited tonight. Last year we were recording these moths in early September, so they are somewhat later this year
#teammoth #ausinverts #wildoz #Leptember #inaturalist
Good morning & good month! #Leptember now gives way to #Orctober...
"A month long festival of orchids from around the globe! Wild or cultivated, let's celebrate these diverse & beautiful plants!"
We open with this Sawfly Orchid (Ophrys tenthredinifera) taken on our Gargano tour by Gillian E.
Close-up of a small yellow butterfly atop a deep pink zinnia. The butterfly's wings are edged in a touch of pink that reflects the colour in the flower's petals.
Beautiful Clouded Sulphur on the last day of #Leptember
I love the way the pink on his wings picks up the hue of the zinnia
Nature is amazing
#Butterflies
#Lepidoptera
#Naturephotography
Sorry about re-posting but forgot to tag #teammoth #mothsmatter #leptember Crimson Speckled ,this morning near Deal.
And just like that #Leptember is over. As butterflies are some of favourite creatures, I've really enjoyed sharing photos of them every day this month. But, for now, many of our beautiful butterflies are also fading away ...
Close-up of large orange butterfly on photographer's hand. His wings are adorned with black stripes radiating out from his thorax. One set of black stripes crosses the others; this is the telltale sign that the specimen is a Viceroy and not a Monarch. He has white dots all along the edges of his wings, like the Monarch, but the dots appear bolder than on the Monarch, perhaps because the orange is deeper and richer on the Viceroy and that creates a greater contrast.
The Viceroys are still out in force! This one was sunning himself on the gravel driveway yesterday.
It's the last day of #Leptember -- I have never seen a Viceroy this late into the month. What a funny year it's been.
#Butterflies
#Lepidoptera
#Naturephotography
Last day of #Leptember! Can’t go wrong with a Swallowtail I suppose.I’m happy to see them at any time.
Beginner's luck is a thing, and with a balmy autumn night I was quite excited for my 9th ever moth-trapping night. But Clifden Nonpareil was not on the bingo card! Also, Least Carpet, Pink-barred Sallow and Rosy Rustic. #TeamMoth #leptember #Moths @willjsmith.bsky.social
Large Wainscot (Rhizedra lutosa).
The Large Wainscot is the most recent of the 18 species of #moths I've photographed this year to display thanatosis.
#teammoth #mothsmatter #leptember #dramaqueenmoth
Pearly Underwing (Peridroma saucia).
A Pearly Underwing from a few days ago. I didn't get this moth in past years. This year, however, may be different because I've been trapping almost every night, which has increased the chances for passing #moths to come to the light.
#teammoth #mothsmatter #leptember
Green-brindled Crescent (Allophyes oxyacanthae). NFY.
This morning, I was pleased to find some green in the trap. For the moment, a Green-brindled Crescent NFY will suffice, but it's not a Merveille du Jour.
#teammoth #mothsmatter #moths #leptember
Day 29, the penultimate day of #Leptember, a day to marvel at the gorgeous colouring of Orange-tips, wings open, wings closed. First, the male for which the species is named; then the female who is, I think, just as beautiful.
Close-up of a large brown butterfly with orange and cream-coloured markings. The most distinctive part of his design is the set of large, dark purplish-blue eyespots along the edges of his wings: three large and one small on each wing. The eyespots are graded in colour and ringed in layers of cream and dark brown. The butterfly sits atop a yellow coneflower in a meadow.
Always thrilling but also slightly alarming to come across a Buckeye in the meadow -- those eyespots are so vivid, yet unreal
Nature is amazing
#Leptember
#Lepidoptera
#Butterflies
Silver Y (Autographa gamma).
A Silver Y from yesterday morning.
#teammoth #mothsmatter #moths #leptember #mothmonday #macromonday
A beautiful small copper butterfly choosing a fallen beech leaf that matched him to warm up on!
#MacroMonday from #TattonPark yesterday, beautiful small copper camouflaging well on an autumn leaf
Perfection! 🧡 @savebutterflies.bsky.social #Cheshire #Leptember
#Leptember day 28 The browns
They may be considered a bit dull but these 'brown' species are the butterflies I see the most during the summer months, and I'm still seeing Speckled wood beauties now on sunny days. Shown here are Gatekeeper, Ringlet, Meadow brown and Speckled wood.
Close-up of black and white skipper (a type of lepidoptera) perched on a white flower. The symmetrical markings on its wings overlay the white petals of the flower. We see more greenery and flowers in the background.
Another shot from earlier in the week that is apt for #Stunday -- White Checkered-skipper on White Aster, in our native prairie
Nature is amazing
#Leptember
#Lepidoptera
#Naturephotography
#NativePlants
Side view of Painted Lady butterfly perched on a salmon-coloured zinnia. Its underside features a mosaic of white, taupe, and blue. Another zinnia is about to flower and the elaborate structure that will support the blossom seems art deco-ish. A green meadow and blue sky appear in the background.
Shot from a few days ago is appropriate for #Stunday -- so many elaborate patterns and systems of symmetry right here
Nature is amazing
#Leptember
#Naturephotography
#Butterflies
Fabulous perfect peacock butterfly seen on my walk last Friday, my absolute favourite butterfly.
#SundayYellow Had to sneak the beautiful #PeacockButterfly I saw last Friday in again 🤭 yet he is relevant as part of his pattern includes golden yellow; on the eye on the upper wing next to his tiger striped towards to body top of the wing too. #Leptember @savebutterflies.bsky.social
For day 27 of #Leptember, a selection of blue butterflies I don't see very often - in fact, I've only seen Large & Long-tailed once, & saw my first Silver-studded blues this summer: Adonis, Large, Long-tailed and Silver-studded.
26-27th Sept, 28. 9 species with 3 NFG 🥳. Brown-spot Pinion, Grey Shoulder-knot, and Beaded Chestnut #DERBYSHIRE. A local woodland walk produced what I think is Ashy Button (Acleris sparsana)
#TeamMoth #Leptember @derbyswildlife.bsky.social #mothsmatter #moths @obsidentify.bsky.social #nature
Fabulous speckled wood, always friendly and curious, watching me watching you!
It's a #butterfly day! 😍🤩🎉🦋 Super local walk today exploring my favourite wood. Haven't been for probably a month and had exciting finds along with the perfect #SpeckledWood, who was happy to pose. ♥️ @savebutterflies.bsky.social #Lancashire #Leptember #vitaminN
Close-up of what appears to be a piece of enameled, Art Deco jewelry in cream and black but is in fact a moth. He has a furry head tufted in cream and black stripes, and the black markings on his wings look like carefully-placed mosaics.
Not many moths overnight but what a thrill to see the Harnessed Tiger Moth this morning. Better than coffee!
Moths are amazing.
#Leptember
#Moths
#MothsMatter
#TeamMoth
Burnished Brass (Diachrysia chrysitis).
An upside-down Burnished Brass. I'm having to go through the vast number of photos that didn't make the cut earlier in the year because there aren't many #moths to photograph right now. It's always interesting, though, because you never know what you might find.
#teammoth #mothsmatter #leptember
Close-up of a large black butterfly with yellow markings and orange eyespots on its wings. The eyespots are surrounded by an iridescent blue, resulting in a breathtaking effect against the green plants in a meadow.
The #Leptember surprises continue with this female Black Swallowtail, who just paid a visit to our native prairie
Nature is amazing
#Butterflies
#Lepidoptera
#Naturephotography
A Feathered Thorn moth flaunting its feathery antennae
The face of the Feathered Thorn, with its antennae tucked down by its sides
A Feathered Thorn moth resting on bracken
It's the final #MothFaceFriday of #Leptember
So here's an autumnal offering by way of today's Feathered Thorn.
Such a gorgeously fluffy auburn face and thorax, and a pair of very impressively feathered antennae. Stunning!
A perfect peacock today
IT'S A #butterfly DAY! 😍🤩🎉🦋 Just when I'd given up hope of seeing another this season a pristine fresh peacock was sat sunbathing along the path on my lunch walk. Perfection ♥️♥️♥️ #Leptember #Lancashire @savebutterflies.bsky.social
#Leptember day 26
I've been lucky to see more Marbled whites this year than ever before, at Charlton Kings Common in Cheltenham, on Rodborough Common in Stroud & in the quarries on the Isle of Portland. What stunning butterflies they are!
It’s Fritillary Friday again. Here’s a Titania’s Frit by Alice H and a Marbled Frit by Harry F.
Both images taken on one of our tours in the Vercors, France 🇫🇷
#Leptember
Black Rustic (Aporophyla nigra).
A Black Rustic for #MothFaceFriday.
#teammoth #mothsmatter #moths #leptember
