Peacock butterfly

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Very lucky to see a solitary Peacock butterfly resting on a buddleia bush today.

It’s thought that the markings on the wings fool or confuse other animals and birds into thinking it is looking at the eyes of a small animal and help to protect the vulnerable body from attack. In contrast the underside of this butterfly is very drab and brown, almost resembling a dead leaf which allows it to blend in to its environment which is particularly useful when it is hibernating.

After spending the winter hibernating they emerge in the spring, mate and lays eggs on nettles. There is only one brood a year.

More information on this beautiful butterfly can be found here.

Longhorn Beetle

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Longhorn beetle
This specimen which was spotted near the Firhall Bridge is known as a four banded long horn beetle or, Leptura quadrifasciata.

Longhorns get their name from their long antennae. They feed on pollen and various bits of plants, mainly from umbellifers such as cow parsley and hogweed.

Broom

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Snap, crackle and pop - the sounds coming from exploding seed pods on Broom bushes.