Nice to get a close comparison of False Heath Fritillary Melitaea diamina (left) and Heath Fritillary Melitaea athalia (right). Both enjoying some dog poo in the French Vercours @europebutterfly.bsky.social
Silverweed flood-pasture, a type of grassland I've been seeing a lot of in the Lower Derwent. The computer is arguing with me about what community this actually is because the accompanying grasses differ from the reference dataset but over large areas, Silverweed is completely dominant.
martinswarren.bsky.social
Plantago famarae is a small shrub native to the Famara cliffs of Lanzarote, Canary Islands, Spain. It is a classic example of insular woodiness: woody island endemics evolved from herbaceous mainland ancestors. #Plantaginaceae #Botany 🌾🧪🌱
An interesting find from Montana recently. This caterpillar was on meadow death camas, a toxic wildflower palatable to only a few insects. But I don't think this caterpillar will grow up - note the cluster of black dots, likely eggs (or external larvae?) of a parasitoid wasp or fly. 🐙🌿🐛💀 #BugSky
Drosera rosulata
One of the tuberous sundews that is endemic to the southwest of Western Australia. This one was happily growing around a granite outcrop in the Perth Hills in late autumn 🌿
#ozflora #fierceflora #sundew #wildoz #nativeplants #bloomscrolling
Pelicans possess the largest bills of any birds on Earth.
These enormous bills are perfectly engineered for catching fish and regulating the bird's temperature.
Video
🇨🇦JOY 🇨🇦
Two larval cases of Coleophora siccifolia
(Keeled Case-bearer) found yesterday on Hawthorn at Long Melford, Suffolk (three found in total). A Nationally Scarce B species.
I really should thank @andydnunn.bsky.social for his recent post as it reminded me to look for this species. 👍
#mothsmatter
Some more Silver-studded Blues, seen at Prees Heath Common. I visited late evening & early morning to catch them roosting, then again in the afternoon when they were active (and more difficult to photograph!).
@savebutterflies.bsky.social
Stunningly fresh Yellow Shell just now on Rose End Meadows. Who said moths are brown and dull 🤔
#TeamMoth
In other news a lurking Green Pug in the garden was number 300 for the year.
