Hogweed leaf miner

Leaf miners are the larvae of tiny moths.  They tunnel between the top and bottom membranes of the leaf leaving a pale trail.  The trail gets thicker as the larva gets fatter.  There may be more than one larva in the same leaf.

The two examples shown below are on Hogweed and Sow Thistle leaves but they occur on many other plants.  Each plant has its own species of micro-moth to cause the leaf mine.

Hogweed leaf miner

Sow thistle leaf miner

Other frequently encountered leaf miners are on holly, bramble and horse chestnut.

Enchanting

The heart-shaped leaves of enchanter's nightshade are easily overlooked but at this time of year the delicate flower spike identifies it. 

The flowers are undramatic.  While buds are still waiting to open at the top of the spike, the seeds are already ripening at the bottom.  These seeds attach themselves to passing creatures with lots of tiny velcro hooks.

It often grows near plants of Dog's Mercury, another species which spreads by underground runners.  But dog's mercury, which does not have heart-shaped leaves, has square stems and thicker roots.  Enchanter's nightshade has a round stem and more fibrous roots although the underground runners are thicker and purest white - another identifying clue.

Enchanter's Nightshade on the left and Dog's Mercury on the right

The botanical name, Circaea lutetiana, refers to Circe, the enchantress of Greek mytholgy, but why 'nightshade'?  I dunno.

Rosebay

And while we're on pink, rosebay willow herb is back in bloom near post 14 at Filnore Woods.

But it seems to be shorter than last year.  You can just make out the grey ghosts of last year's flower stems in the distance in the shot below.

Photo: Alan Watts

But perhaps the flower spikes will elongate as the season progresses.

A good year for cherries

Wild cherry trees seem to have produced more cherries than usual this year.  These were just some of them at Filnore Woods.

Photo: Alan Watts

Lots of cherry stones onthe ground underneath.

Forgot to include this one.

The speckled wood butterfly likes to sunbathe on a leaf.  

Photo: Alan Watts

The males are very territorial.  When they meet another male they perform an aerial combat dance, twirling around each other at great speed.

July butterflies

Alan likes lepidoptera (scaly wings) as butterflies and moths are called.

In the last few days he has photographed these four:

1. This Comma - orange, speckled dark brown and with a raggedy edge to the wings

2. A Marbled White

3. Two ringlets running rings round each other

4. This unidentified moth - possibly one of the Rustic group - can anyone help us?

It was browsing through the reading material in the leaflet box near post 1 at Filnore Woods.

Orchids

On the Severn bank again these pyramidal orchids - going over a bit now.  Notice that each flower in the bunch has a lower lip with three lobes.