25 were seen today, most of which were feeding on Woolly Thistle heads which had been damaged, I think by a weevil (I've photoed the weevil and sent pics through to Andy Foster, weevil expert). 14 were feeding on Woolly Thistles in one small meadow, including three on one head -
Here's a close up of what they are probing -
Both males and females were doing it. Here's a girl -
Various other butterflies doing it too - White Admiral, Red Admiral, Comma, a Morning Cloak (much better name than Camberwell Beauty), and the biggest female Large Tortoiseshell ever seen -
Here's the habitat -
And in case you're wondering whether iris has finally lost its marbles altogether, they were also feeding on stone & concrete (not lime mortar) on buildings -
I remain, determined to get plastered this evening... ... ...
2 comments:
That answers a question I've long pondered... " why on earth do Hoopoe - yes Hoopoe !!!! feed on those thistle heads ?
I've observed them balancing on and probing them in Spain.
Now I know - weevils !
Woolly Thistle heads are infested by a whole host of insects, including weevils & click beetles which attack the sap and opportunistic flies and Leps which then home in on the exposed sap...
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