Shipley Station Butterfly Meadow

Shipley Station Butterfly Meadow was opened by David Bellamy back in 1993 and to most people is just the fenced off space between the walls at Shipley Station. It is actually a haven for several butterfly and other wildlife. I went to have a look at it today, Saturday 22 July 2017..

I am not showing the photos in the order inw hich they are taken but more in the lifecycle order. This is a Cinnabar Moth caterpillar on Ragwort. UK Moths

And this spectacular one is the caterpillar of a Vapourer Moth. UK Moths

This paper pocket is what is left of a Burnet Moth pupae.

The Knapweed was the main thing that the small wildlife was on. This 6 spot Burnet Moth looked rather shiny. UK Moths

And this one is a Cinnabar Moth unless the underside of Burnet Moth wings are red.

Quite a few Small Skippers were flitting around and feeding on the Knapweed. UK Butterflies

I don’t know why it has its name and I’m not sure I want to know but this, I think, is a Flesh Fly.

The Knapweed really attract the insects. Hoverfly included.

and this one coming in snout first.

and once in sharing it with several other insects.

There’s orange tailed bumblebees

and white tailed bumblebees

This is a hoverfly called Chrysotoxum bicinctum

and this little one is one of the many forms of Shield Bug.

This Harlequin has a dent in its wing casing. It should be an easy fix with a small sink plunger