Bird, bug, butterfly and a wild variety of photos from Belarus, Cyprus, Finland, Greece, Ireland, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Scotland and Spain by Irish wildlife photographer Patrick J. O'Keeffe and invited guests

Wednesday, 9 December 2020

ORANGE TIP BUTTERFLY (Anthocharis cardamines) a female nectaring on Herb Robert Wildflower (Geranium_robertianum) Lullymore West Bog, Lullymore, Co. Kildare, Ireland

 
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Click external link here for detailed Orange-tip Butterfly information
Click external link here for detailed Herb Robert Wildflower information
 
 The Orange-tip Butterfly (Anthocharis cardamines) is of the family Pieridae which is in the genus Anthocharis. This common and widespread species is on the wing from early May to late June. The larval food plant is Cuckoo Flower (Cardamine pratensis) which is also known as Lady's Smock. It overwinters as a chrysalis.
 The Herb Robert Wildflower (Geranium_robertianum) is of the family Geraniaceae which is in the genus Geranium.
 
Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

Tuesday, 8 December 2020

ORANGE TIP BUTTERFLY (Anthocharis cardamines) a male nectaring on Herb Robert Wildflower (Geranium_robertianum) Lullymore West Bog, Lullymore, Co. Kildare, Ireland


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Click external link here for detailed Orange-tip Butterfly information
Click external link here for detailed Herb Robert Wildflower information
 
 The Orange-tip Butterfly (Anthocharis cardamines) is of the family Pieridae which is in the genus Anthocharis. This common and widespread species is on the wing from early May to late June. The larval food plant is Cuckoo Flower (Cardamine pratensis) which is also known as Lady's Smock. It overwinters as a chrysalis.
 The Herb Robert Wildflower (Geranium_robertianum) is of the family Geraniaceae which is in the genus Geranium.
 
Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

Sunday, 6 December 2020

ORCHID BEETLE (Dascillus cervinus) on Blackberry Plant (Rubus fruticosus aggregate) Lullymore West Bog, Lullymore, Co. Kildare, Ireland


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Click external link here for detailed
Orchid Beetle information
Click external link here for detailed Blackberry Plant information
 
The Orchid Beetle (Dascillus cervinus) is of the family Dascillidae which is in the genus Dascillus.
The Blackberry Plant (Rubus fruticosus aggregate) is of the family Rosaceae which is in the genus Rubus.

Thursday, 3 December 2020

BLUE TAILED DAMSELFLY (Ischnura elegans) [Immature female, form rufescens] Lullymore West Bog, Lullymore, Co. Kildare, Ireland


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The Blue-tailed Damselfly (Ischnura elegans) is of the family Coenagrionidae which is in the genus Ischnura. It commonly occurs throughout Europe. In this species the abdomen S8 is blue coloured. Separate with care from the very similar but smaller Scarce Blue-tailed Damselfly (Ischnura pumilio) whose abdomen S9 is blue. The flight season extends from April to early October. Immature females have a number of colour variations including the pink form rufescens.

Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds 

Tuesday, 1 December 2020

BURNET COMPANION MOTH (Euclidia glyphica) Lullymore West Bog, Lullymore, Co. Kildare, Ireland


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Click here to see distribution map for Ireland
 
The Burnet Companion Moth (Euclidia glyphica) is of the family Erebidae which is in the genus Euclidia. It occurs through the Palearctic region. This day flying species is on the wing from April to late July, peaking in June. Larva (caterpillar) can be seen from late June to the end of August and then overwinters as a pupa, in a cocoon.
 
 Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

Monday, 30 November 2020

Sunday, 29 November 2020

ALDER BUCKTHORN WILDPLANT (Frangula alnus) Lullymore West Bog, Lullymore, Co. Kildare, Ireland



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The Alder Buckthorn Wildplant (Frangula alnus) is of the family Rhamnaceae which is in the genus Frangula. This deciduous shrub or small tree is uncommon in Ireland and is typically found in acidic soils. It mainly occurs in a band which stretches from Co. Kildare, in the midlands, westwards into eastern Co. Galway as well as parts of Co. Clare where a prostrate form grows in the limestone soils of the Burren.
This species and the Common Buckthorn (Rhamnus catharticas) are the larval food plants of the Brimstone Butterfly (Gonepteryx rhamni).
 
Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds
 
Distribution map of Alder Buckthorn (Frangula alnus)
 
File:Frangula alnus range.svg 

Legend:            Native range.   Isolated population.

 Map source:

Caudullo, G., Welk, E., San-Miguel-Ayanz, J., 2017. Chorological maps for the main European woody species. Data in Brief 12, 662-666. DOI: 10.1016/j.dib.2017.05.007

Friday, 27 November 2020

CRYPTIC WOOD WHITE BUTTERFLY (Leptidea juvernica) on HERB ROBERT WILDFLOWER (Geranium_robertianum) Lullymore West Bog, Lullymore, Co. Kildare, Ireland


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Cryptic Wood White Butterfly information
Click here for detailed Herb Robert Wildflower information
 
The Cryptic Wood White Butterfly (Leptidea juvernica) is of the family Pieridae which is in the genus Leptidea.
The Herb Robert Wildflower (Geranium_robertianum) is of the family Geraniaceae which is in the genus Geranium.