Highwoods Preservation Society - June 13

If the weather is warm there should be plenty of butterflies about. Look out for the yellow Brimstones around the Alder Buckthorn bushes, which is the main food plant for their caterpillars.

Other butterflies around are, Commas, orange and brown with scalloped wings. The bright orange/black/yellow Small Tortoiseshells, the beautiful Peacocks, the delicate orange/brown Small Coppers.

The beautifully marked Painted Ladies and the familiar Red Admirals, are migrants having flown all the way from the Mediterranean.

Dragonflies and Damselflies should be come more common as the month nears its end. Damselflies are the smaller more delicate insects, which generally fold their wings along their bodies when at rest. Dragonflies are more robust and hold their wings at 90 to their bodies.

These spectacular insects have a most unusual life cycle.Their larvae are totally aquatic and this stage may last for two to four years depending on the species, but as soon as they emerge (by climbing out of the water up vegetation) the adult cycle only lasts a few weeks.

In most dragonfly species the male and female are different colours. So far, 12 species have been identified in the woods. Look for them around the ponds but also in the open rides as they search out insects for food.