Another spectacular day – and another ‘new for the summer’ butterfly at Wheatland Farm. Small tortoiseshell are flying over Popehouse Moor.
Small tortoiseshells have good years and bad years, and the bad years tend to be after hot dry summers, so 2019 might not be so great in Devon. The fresh adults we saw today will be the first brood of the year (there may be another later in the summer).
Like peacock butterflies, small tortoiseshell larvae need nettles – well, we have some of those at Wheatland Farm!
#30DaysWild Previously
This time last year: Four spotted chaser dragonfly
This time in 2017: Sowing more wildflowers at Wheatland Farm