NATURE NOTES: Grizzled in Hindley!
Low Hall Local Nature Reserve in Hindley came up trumps this week with the discovery of a first for Greater Manchester – a Grizzled Skipper!
We had been looking at what we needed to do to bring the meadows back to species rich grassland when we noticed a large skipper (no not a fat sailor who had took a wrong turn at Fleetwood) and I commented that at one time we had the rare Grizzled Skipper here.
Well ,not two minutes later lo and behold there was a Grizzled Skipper zipping about in front of us.
Grizzled Skipper's are charming little spring butterflies and can be really difficult to spot due to their ability to vanish during flight.
It is a very accomplished flyer and regularly changes speed and direction in an instant.
Up close the large eyes and fluffy face makes the Grizzled Skipper an endearing little character.
The males, and the one we saw was a male, tend to be found basking in
the sun perched on a dead flower head in a sheltered hollow or south facing bank or ditch.
Their what appears black and white colouration acts as camouflage and they can be easily overlooked when at rest or roosting on flower heads.
The Grizzled Skipper is generally dark brown above, fringed with white and a loose checkerboard pattern of white spots which can be variable.
As individuals age, the dark brown ground colour turns a more dull bronze colour. The Grizzled Skipper is a priority species for conservation due to the continued loss of habitat and resulting drop in population.
This is a warmth-loving butterfly, and both sexes bask in the sun for long periods, typically on a stone, leaf or bare earth. This is a very active butterfly which will fly at most times the day, and even into the evening, providing conditions are warm enough.
The butterfly uses several nectar sources, favourites being bird's-foot-trefoil and buttercup.
The male is somewhat territorial and will chase any butterfly, irrespective of size, from its area. Females entering the territory are courted for a short period and, if the female is receptive, pairing occurs.
The butterfly can be found roosting on heads of flowers and grasses during cool weather and at night. Eggs are laid singly on the underside of a leaf of one of the foodplants growing in warm positions, next to bare ground or short vegetation. The eggs usually hatch about ten days later.
The caterpillar eats what's left of the egg on hatching, and immediately moves to the upperside of the leaf, where it spins a web of silk across the midrib.
The caterpillar feeds on the leaf surface at first, leaving the leaf intact. It spends a great deal of time resting, rather than feeding, and development is slow.
The caterpillar moves to a new leaf, creating a new web, as necessary. The caterpillar stage lasts approximately two months before it pupates and then overwinters emerging next spring.
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Weather for Wigan
Friday 10 February 2012
Today
Light snow
Temperature: -6 C to 2 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: South east
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: -1 C to 2 C
Wind Speed: 6 mph
Wind direction: South
