Dark Greens at Blackmoor
Early summer morning at Blackmoor – Mendip Hills, Somerset, UK. ID JB_3495
Blackmoor
So I came to Blackmoor to find the dark green fritillaries. I had never seen one and was beginning to think they were a fantasy butterfly that did not really exist. But, as you may have guessed from this post’s thumbnail I finally got to see my very first dark green.
And this was my first photograph…
Dark Green Fritillary (Speyeria aglaja) – Blackmoor, Mendip Hills, Somerset, UK. ID JB_2446E
Every few minutes it would return to the same patch of wild thyme. So all I had to do was lye on the ground and wait for it to return. That was it for the first day, and it was more than enough to go home very happy.
A few days later I returned to find more and more dark greens.
Dark Green Fritillary (Speyeria aglaja) – Blackmoor, Mendip Hills, Somerset, UK. ID JB_3084
They are called dark green because of the colour of their underwing. Its was not very green.
Dark Green Fritillary (Speyeria aglaja) – Blackmoor, Mendip Hills, Somerset, UK. ID JB_2553
Turned out that a patch of field scabious was one of their favourite spots.
Dark Green Fritillary (Speyeria aglaja) – Blackmoor, Mendip Hills, Somerset, UK. ID JB_5122
Soon there were groups of dark greens all after the same plants.
Dark Green Fritillary (Speyeria aglaja) – Blackmoor, Mendip Hills, Somerset, UK. ID JB_4693
Eventually, some would break away to find their own flower.
Dark Green Fritillary (Speyeria aglaja) – Blackmoor, Mendip Hills, Somerset, UK. ID JB_4690
It was wonderful to see so much of the butterfly that to me had been illusive for so many years.
Dark Green Fritillary (Speyeria aglaja) – Blackmoor, Mendip Hills, Somerset, UK. ID JB_4960
A wonderful, and very hot meadow, in which to watch butterflies.
Dark Green Fritillary (Speyeria aglaja) on Field Scabious (Knautia arvensis) – Blackmoor, Mendip Hills, Somerset, UK. ID JB_4550
On almost every flower!
Dark Green Fritillary (Speyeria aglaja) on Field Scabious (Knautia arvensis) – Blackmoor, Mendip Hills, Somerset, UK. ID JB_4549
And finally…
A portrait of the once illusive dark green fritillary on its favourite flower.
Dark Green Fritillary (Speyeria aglaja) – Blackmoor, Mendip Hills, Somerset, UK. ID JB_5216
