Vanessa atalanta update

[Robert Butcher]

Well, all i can add is that around the grampian- tayside-fife region
of the east coast of Scotland all the nettle patches i have checked
so far are empty, or contain the nettle moth (Anthophila fabriciana)
or an assortment of microleps. No peacock (Inachis io), small
tortishell (Aglais urticae) or red admiral (Vanessa atlanta) larvae
seen yet. This i would suggest is unusual, but id rather sample a
larger area first before making such a statement in support of what
you see in Denmark. I suspect there are these species in the borders
(England-Scotland, east coast) from descriptions from a colleague
here who works in this area, and should be able to confirm
either way shortly.
Rob
 
P.S. By the way, if Anne Kilmer is reading this:-
 i was in Cork last month. Although principally for a wedding and a
week of cycling, i spent two days walking around the sheeps head
peninsula and inland hills in W. Cork (cos i broke my bike
frame..too much of the black stuff i guess). The weather wasnt
wonderful (but hey, for W. Cork, i guess like Scotland, it was fine!)
but there seemed a poor Lepidoptera imagoe representation (cant
comment on larvae, as i wasnt really looking), with a few whites,
no skippers, blues,cinnabar moth etc (all the usual suspects that is
were absent) and only three small tortishells (same location).
However,  i was mainly concerned with Bombus and Psithyrus species
(bumble  bees and cuckoo bumble bees), so cannot objectively comment,
although i managed to confirm three Marsh fritillaries (and brought
back two parasitised larvae (the Cotesia bignelli were well cocooned
up outside the remnants and indeed have since eclosed).
Robert Butcher,
Evolutionary and Ecological Entomology Unit,
Department of Biological Sciences,
Dundee University,
Dundee, DD1 4HN,
Tayside, Scotland,
UK.
Work Phone:- 01382-344291 (Office), 01382-344756 (Lab).
Fax:- 01382-344864
e-mail:- r.d.j.butcher at dundee.ac.uk