On Thursday I went on a trip with friends to Friston Gallops (above Butchershole Bottom) in the Friston Forest near Jevington; it is well know for its butterfly abundance and diversity. This is its citation on the Butterfly Conservation Sussex website
Grid ref: TV 555 994
Nearest town: Eastbourne
Large open Downland area, surrounded by woodland. Mainly managed by Forest Enterprise.
Access details Well signed car park off road between Friston and Jevington. Open downland is to the West
Key species Adonis Blue, Chalkhill Blue, Marbled White. Good populations of Common Blue, Small Copper, some Dark Green Fritillary. Silver-washed Fritillary and White Admiral in the adjoining Friston Forest.
Other common species The open Downland area has a huge population of common butterfly species, and wild flowers, including Pyramidal and Common Spotted Orchid.
Author Graham Parris Butterfly Conservation - Sussex Branch - PAGE TITLE (sussex-butterflies.org.uk)
We saw the first rain in Sussex for many months; a welcome change to the dry weather which has damaged the landscape of Sussex. After a thunder storm, the sun shone briefly (from ca. 11.00-12.00), during which we saw many butterflies warming up, by spreading their wings. Butterflies are ectotherms, which means they rely on external sources for body heat. In the morning, and throughout cooler days, they must spend time in the sun with their wings spread, raising their body temperature to roughly 85 degrees before they can fly. A few minutes of basking in the sunshine raises their temperature as much as 20 degrees above the surrounding air. 5 Basic Butterfly Behaviors to Know - Birds and Blooms
My last trip to Friston Gallops was in June, see: Friston Forest, Friston Gallops and Lullington Heath. Butterflies & Birds. 14.06.22 (simelliott.net)
The photographs are in chronological order.
All sections of text in italics are quotes, sources cited.
Male Chalkhill Blue
Male Common Blue
Male Common Blue
Very faded female Common Blue on Hawkbit
Common Blue
Female Common Blue
Male Common Blue
Female Chalkhill Blue on Wild Carrot
Male Chalkhill Blue
Common or Chalkhill Blue female?
Female Chalkhill Blue
Female Common Blue
Meadow Brown on Knapweed
Common Blue
Green-Veined White on Bramble
Female Common Blue
Common Blue
Male Meadow Brown
Small Copper
Female Common Blue on Wild Carrot (?)
Brown Argus (?) on Hawkbit (?)
Common Blue of Knapweed
Wall Brown
Common Blue
Four-spotted Orb Weaver ?
Small Heath on thistle (?) head
Common Blue on Knapweed
Hepiopelmus variegatorius (I had to ask in the Bees Wasps and Ants Recording Society (BWARS) Facebook Group to get the exact ID)! In Britain this wasp is a parasitoid of Buff and White Ermine moths. The female injects her long ovipositor inside the host caterpillar and deposits her eggs into the caterpillar’s body. Her young hatch and devour their host, pupate, and emerge to begin the cycle again. https://www.naturespot.org.uk/.../hepiopelmus-variegatorius
Common Blue on Great Willow Herb
