Insect Records from Summer 2003

Insect ·Records from Sum,m,er 2003

by Richard Stewart

In our garden at Westerfield Road, Ipswich, we

had a foretaste of what was to come when Azure Damselflies began emerging from our small pond on 24th May and from then to 12th July we witnessed many more such transformations and the engrossing sight of up to eight pairs of the same species egg laying.

' After returning from holiday we were able to make garden records on seventy of the days between 6rhJuly and 21st September, the day I am writing this. We recorded the Red Admiral on 58 days with a maximum of six on 30th August and the Painted Lady on 56 days, sometimes four or five chasing each other around the garden with a maximum of33 on 3lstJuly.

It is debatable if these were migrants, home bred or a mixture of both but another migrant, the Humming-bird Hawk Moth is usually seen once a year. In 2003 we had fourteen recorded visits between 11 th June and 15th September, nectaring on Valerian and Verbena bonariensis but mainly on Buddleia. It was even seen flying during a rare shower of rain on 10th September. Compared to that the six records for the migrant Silver Y were disappointing but we probably missed it after dark on the Buddleia. The garden also had first records for Small Skipper and Purple Hairstreak, bringing the total up to 25 species. This butterfly bonanza attracted nine visits from a Hornet between 13th August and 7th September. It chased some butterflies though we noted only one detached wing. It was also observed on several days landing delicately on the pondweed to sip water. Although many nectar sources were used Buddleia was the main attractant. I am surprised when people comment mid-July that theirs has finished flowering since by regular deadheading the flowering period can be extended - we still have several florets in late September. In 2003 deadheading was done on 24th July, 3rd and 27th August and finally on 9th September. The aim is to remove the dead floret without cutting off adjacent new flowering shoots. This continuous flowering undoubtedly contributed to the numbers and varieties of insects we attracted to our garden during the very hot summer of 2003.

Silver-Y Moth

by Mervyn Crawford