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Crazy Druid Member
Joined: 25 Mar 2006 Posts: 188 Location: Edinburgh, Scotland
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Posted: Sat Apr 15, 2006 7:29 pm Post subject: ID a Butterfly |
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While on the Butterdean Cache we came across a butterfly and frog (well I think its a frog, could be a toad)
Can anybody tell me what kind of Butterfly it is?
And the frog/Toad
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Haggis Hunter Founder member
Joined: 29 Aug 2005 Posts: 2487 Location: The building site formally known as Edinburgh!
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Posted: Sat Apr 15, 2006 8:15 pm Post subject: |
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I also came across a butterfly today, whilst walking the dogs. The markings where in the same place as yours, but the circles or tips where bright blue. It sat there as well and I wish I had my new camera with me, so that I could have taken a picture of it. _________________ Let me know if I say anything that offends you
I might want to offend you again later |
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Haggis Hunter Founder member
Joined: 29 Aug 2005 Posts: 2487 Location: The building site formally known as Edinburgh!
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Posted: Sat Apr 15, 2006 8:18 pm Post subject: |
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Mini HH has had a look at the toad, and she reckons that it is the type that disguises itself and hides in sand.
I'll be interested to know if she is even nearly right? _________________ Let me know if I say anything that offends you
I might want to offend you again later |
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Crazy Druid Member
Joined: 25 Mar 2006 Posts: 188 Location: Edinburgh, Scotland
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Posted: Sat Apr 15, 2006 9:18 pm Post subject: |
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Just called an old m8 of mine who is an herpetologist and was informed that it is a Common toad Bufo bufo
He said that they do excavate a shallow burrow (which they return to after foraging for prey) but in the UK its mostly in deciduous woodland, scrub,parks and fields
So she was very close |
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Crazy Druid Member
Joined: 25 Mar 2006 Posts: 188 Location: Edinburgh, Scotland
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Posted: Sat Apr 15, 2006 9:28 pm Post subject: |
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I got an ID on the Butterfly
Peacock butterfly
Inachis io
The peacock butterfly has brownish-red wings, each with a single, large peacock-feather-like eyespot – used to scare predators. It rests with its wings closed, showing the almost black, well-camouflaged underside.
It is one of the commonest garden butterflies, found throughout lowland England and Wales. It is rarer in Scotland. |
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HighlandNick Founder member
Joined: 30 Aug 2005 Posts: 635 Location: Highlands, Scotland
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Posted: Sat Apr 15, 2006 9:37 pm Post subject: |
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It's the Peacock Butterfly. Obvious really!!!
They are one of the first butterflies to be seen in spring and can be as large as 3 inches across. The eyes make it look much bigger still to deter predators. One study had these eyes blanked out with marker pen. The butterflies all got eaten!
Now the Physics bit. The iridescent wing markings work in the same way as a thin oil film on water. Interference effects cause the various colours as light is reflected from the ridges on the wings. In the photo above, these iridescent markings don't show up too well unfortunately. |
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Haggis Hunter Founder member
Joined: 29 Aug 2005 Posts: 2487 Location: The building site formally known as Edinburgh!
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Posted: Sun Apr 16, 2006 9:36 am Post subject: |
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Crazy Druid wrote: | Just called an old m8 of mine who is an herpetologist and was informed that it is a Common toad Bufo bufo
He said that they do excavate a shallow burrow (which they return to after foraging for prey) but in the UK its mostly in deciduous woodland, scrub,parks and fields
So she was very close |
She did actually redeem herself immediately after I posted the above log, she said, it might actually be dirt it hides in, and that it uses it for hunting. So she was extremely close.
It's good to see that she is learning and remembering what she is taught at school.
The butterfly that I seen, is what you have said on the packet, the only difference was that it's spots where blue not white. _________________ Let me know if I say anything that offends you
I might want to offend you again later |
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