Tuesday 3 August 2010

More butterflies and a moth

Here's a few more pictures of some butterflies that are congregating at my Buddleja. Even I can identify the Red Admiral and the Swallowtail, but there is also what I understand to be a moth, that flies just like a hummingbird but which is about as long as the tip knuckle on my little finger. As you will see, it's hard to capture in a photograph. Any ideas as to its identity?

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8 comments:

Tim Trent said...

Hummingbird Hawk Moth in all probability

Mark In Mayenne said...

Yep, looked it up, that's the one. Their photographs are better than mine, though :)

Molly Potter said...

Amazing photos AGAIN! My little boy has just got into moths and butterflies since the moth and butterfly people at the park gave him a poster. he's often in the back garden identifying.

nice to see you again Codgi
x

Molly Potter said...

The top right hand photo was the one that evoked that commemt. you didn't ask the moths to sit still enough did you.

Mark In Mayenne said...

Thanks for the comments Molls! When I see the Swallowtail on flowers, it usually looks like it's backwards: the tail looks like its head, down to the shape of the wings that look like they're on the wrong way round. I guess that's its defence mechanism.

Glad you like the top right pic, I hope your son enjoys them too.

The bike shed said...

Red admiral; scarce swallowtail (I think)and hummingbird hawk moth. The hawkmoths fly in the night as well as day and almost certainly you will have other large species

Mark In Mayenne said...

Thanks, Mark. I am fairly sure that the butterfly is a swallowtail; I photographed one last year, and this one is the same, though it's hard to tell from this picture. They don't seem to be particularly scarce here, though, I can see one most times I look out of the window at the bush.

I have never seen the hawkmoths at night, but to b fair I haven't really looked. I have seen some rather large moths in the morning though, a couple of inches across. They sometimes come into the gîte if the windows are open and I have to put them outside.

ReedBunting said...

I always love your close up butterflies, shame you didn't get a good one of the hummingbird moth though. They are so interesting to watch, very strange creatures!

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