If you are coming on a self catering
summer holiday to Plas Farm, see how many of these you can spot!
Top Row - From Left to Right
1. Small Tortoiseshell Aglais urticae
Often seen along the farm drive and around the buildings, male
butterflies establish territories by driving off other butterflies
from favourite patches in sunny situations, often next to a wall
or a hedge. Each day they set up a territory about noon and during
the afternoon each male will hold, on average, two areas, each
for about 90 minutes.
2. Peacock Inachis io
The four false eyes on the peacock's wings make it unmistakeable.
It uses sound as well as its coloured false eyes to frighten away
a predator such as a bird. As the predator approaches, the butterfly
will open and close its wings rapidly, making a scraping noise
as the wings rub together.
3. Painted Lady Cynthia cardui
Each May and June, painted ladies migrate to Wales from
south-west Europe and North Africa, a distance of more than 800
miles (1,287 km). They travel at around 10 mph, skimming over
meadows and hedgerows and by July may be spotted in the fields
behind the holiday cottages, seeking out the nectar from meadow
thistles whilst avoiding attacks from hungry Emperor dragonflies.
Middle Row - From Left to Right
4 . Gatekeeper Pyronia tithonus
Often found in the corners of fields near bramble thickets, the
orange-brown gatekeeper has false eyes on its forewings which
usually have two white pupils. This specimen is a female as it
has a distinct dark band of scent scales across its forewings.
5. Comma Polygonia c-album
The comma is the only Welsh butterfly with wings that
give the appearance of ragged edges - an aid to camouflage. The
underside of its wings has a distinct white 'comma' mark. This
spectacular aristocrat delights in sunshine and will bask for
hours with wings spread, often within yards of your holiday cottage.
Absent from large areas of northern Britain, the comma is increasing
in population for reasons that are not fully understood. Oh, and
look out for their caterpillars on the leaves of elm trees - they
look like bird droppings!
6. Speckled Wood Pararge aegeria
Resident to southern Britain, you will find this butterfly
if you take a short walk from your holiday cottage to the woods
where you will find them in sunny glades, which they defend and
conduct their courtship. Their speckled wings give an ideal camouflage
in the dappled world of light and dark where sunlight percolates
through the canopy and scatters over brambles and honeysuckle.
Bottom Row - From Left to Right
1. Small Skipper Thymelicus sylvestris
Widespread in Wales but absent from Ireland, Scotland and northern
England, the small skipper may be found at Plas Farm during the
summer, darting among flowers in the grassy meadows behind the
holiday cottages. They drink the nectar from the flowers and use
the tall grasses as vantage points from which to conduct sorties
against other insects that trespass on their territory. When they
are resting, they sometimes hold their hind wings slightly backward
- like a swing-aircraft - and sometimes incline their forewings
upwards.
2 . Red Admiral Vanessa atalanta
The bright colours of the butterfly earned it the 18th-century
name of the admirable, from which its modern name evolved. This
picture was taken outside Bwthyn Y Sear holiday cottage, where
one chose to rest and sun itself, displaying the brilliance of
its outstretched wings.
3. Large Skipper Ochlodes
venata
The largest of the British skippers,
the male has a dark bar (the scent scales) in the centre of the
forewing. This picture was taken in the rush pasture on the hill
behind the holiday cottages one sunny day in July.
