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As I mentioned previously There is a collection of David Attenborough DVDs being given away with The Daily Mirror newspaper this week & next. However I didn’t find out which episodes were included until today.

The DVDs are also being given away with glossy posters & a set of stickers with each episode. It looks really fascinating, so I am going to try and get them all. There are episodes from all of Sir David’s programs included in the promotion, and these are episodes of:

The Life of Mammals
The Life of Birds
Life in the Undergrowth
The First Eden
Planet Earth
Planet Earth
Trials of Life
Life on Earth
Life in the Freezer
The Living Planet
The Blue Planet
The Secret Life of Plants

I’ve been trying to take a photo of this This very common species of butterfly for ages, but sadly due to their very skittish nature I’ve never managed to get close enough without them flying off. Luckily patience (and being very still) paid off & I managed it last week.

They can be found from April to September in flowery places especially near cultivation. There are usually three broods every year and the eggs are laid of Brassicas and other cruciferous plants including Cabbages, which makes them the bane of most gardeners lives when the larva hatch in large numbers & feed gregariously.

However The large White doesn’t have it all it’s own way though. The parasitic wasp Apanteles glomeratus lays it’s eggs inside the larva by means of its needle like ovipositor, and when the eggs hatch the wasp larva eat the poor caterpillar from the inside out before it has chance to pupate

Large Whites are common throughout Europe, with much migration into Britain, leading to a very large population during the Summer months.

The Buddleia where I photographed the Small Tortoiseshell (Below) was also attracting a whole host of other butterflies too. Among them were loads of Peacock Butterflies, which are commonly seen in gardens & other flowery places from July to September, and feed with their wings wide open (Which make great photos).

From late Autumn onwards the insect can often be found hibernating in hollow trees, outhouses & sheds, where it’s black mottled underside camoflages it perfectly amongst the nooks & crannies, it stays put until it is time to fly again next Spring.

Like the Larva of the Small Tortoiseshell, the black furry larva of the Peacock can also be found feeding on Stinging Nettles from May to July

I was out with my camera & I managed to take a picture of this Common European garden butterfly which can be found feeding or sunbathing in gardens & other flowery places on sunny days during the Summer.

A second brood of Small Tortoiseshells generally flies during late Summer before going into hibernation. The larva are spiky black & green, and can be found feeding on Stinging Nettles during the Spring & Summer months.

I was out with my camera the other day & I saw this common European species of moth so I took a photo. It is so named because it resembles a traditional carpet pattern, with the blotchy pattern helping to break up the outline of the moth & hide it from predators, especially on tree trunks or lichen covered rocks. It flies from Spring to Autumn in gardens and many other habitats and The larva varies in colour from green to grey and feeds on Cruciferoous plants, including cabbages.

This week (June 23rd to June 29th) is The Royal Entomological Society’s national insect week. This event aims to give people of all ages the opportunity to learn more about these most fascinating creatures. It will be launched by wildlife enthusiast and television presenter Chris Packham, and Joan Ruddock MP at London’s Chelsea Physic Garden.

Red Admiral (Vanessa Atalanta)

Painted Lady (Vanessa Cardui)
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You can Find out more here
http://www.nationalinsectweek.co.uk/

GARDEN MOTH COUNT

There is also an event From 21 June to 6 July, called the Garden Moth Count. The aim of which, is to help find out what is happening to moths in Great Britain. Sounds like a great excuse to go out and photograph Insects.

You can Find out more here
http://www.butterfly-conservation.org/