Butterflies and moths (2) to be found in and around Torphins Wood, Aberdeenshire, Scotland.

Torphins is a village in upper Deeside, Aberdeenshire Scotland. There is nothing particularly special about the wood, it is a mixed species coniferous/deciduous wood, so things found there can probably be found in many other Scottish, British or even European woods. For more information on Torphins itself and the human population there go to Torphins.org.

Insects, beetles 1, 2, ground beetles 1 2, springtails, earwigs, flies, true bugs, bumblebees, bees, wasps, sawflies, butterflies and moths 1 2 3, moths, lacewings etc., dragonflies and damselflies, stoneflies,		Flatworms	Slugs/snails	Worms/leeches	Lice
		Millipedes/centipedes etc.	Spiders 1, 2, harvestmen, mites, ticks, etc.	Woodlice, water fleas, cyclops

Mother Shipton, Callistege mi

The caterpillar is up to 40 mm long, and thin like a looper with just 3 pairs of prolegs. It feeds on clover and similar plants. The eggs are laid in June and hatch after 3 weeks. In September they pupate and overwinter. The adults emerge the following year in May or June.

More on Mother Shipton and similar moths

Painted lady, Cosmopolite, Cynthia cardui

Caterpillars feed on mallows, thistles, and nettles in a shelter of leaves during the summer, and reach 28 mm long.

Pupation takes place inside the leaf shelter.

Adults emerge mis to late summer, but cannot survive the British winter.

More on the Painted lady and similar butterflies

Brimstone moth, Opisthograptis luteolata

Caterillar feeds on hawthorn, blackthorn and apple, and reaches 33 mm long.

Adult flies from April to August/