Invertebrates Skye is an excellent place to look for all manner of invertebrates. With 18 species of butterfly possible, including trickier species such as Large Heath, Dark-green Fritillary and Scotch Argus. Stonechat Bothy is a good spot for all of these species! Phil and Laura are both moth recorders too, and frequently run a moth trap on the croft with a good range of scarcer species, due to the variety of habitats. Famously, Skye has an endemic species of moth, the Talisker Burnet, often found alongside the Transparent Burnet and Six-spot Burnet! Dragonflies and Damselflies do well in the numerous bogs, pools and streams, with many species such as the small Beautiful Demoiselle and large Golden-ringed Dragonfly with very restricted ranges.
Vapourer Moth Caterpillar 13603603_653952131423249_5681234978451358600_o
Merveille du Jour 1044195_692654390886356_5930255720593510987_n
Merveille du Jour at home on lichen. 14333806_692654440886351_7106483103135128270_n
December Moth, one of the last moths we trapped this year. 181 species recorded on the croft in our first year. 15016215_720406784777783_5866670333604741639_o
Buff-tip 15036700_720742628077532_5163442143175921191_n
Oil beetle 14939348_720742648077530_4902923790370879305_o
Elephant Hawk Moth 15039613_720742634744198_923134139274480854_o
December Moth laying eggs on the wall of our house 26/11/16 15252585_729765287175266_1722483220479625808_o
Red Sword-grass trapped in our first session of 2017, amazing camouflage... 17218298_789404307878030_1158726416740104943_o
This Ruby Tiger caterpillar came out of hibernation today, it's been on our window all winter. 17191977_789422011209593_8862482607768050831_o
Drinker Moth Caterpillar on the Croft, 1st of April. 17492915_801272170024577_7504184148845217925_o
Hebrew Character - 3 colour forms of the same moth species, trapped 6.4.2017 17635096_804022203082907_5561288273003911928_o
Large Red Damselfly 18558681_824999294318531_3051892445992407017_o
Highlights from the trap... 24/05/2017 Pale Prominent 18671585_830558437095950_5339021249899295090_o
Highlights from the trap... 24/05/2017
Saxon (nationally scarce B!) 18623429_830558447095949_6294342765990156185_o
Highlights from the trap... 24/05/2017
Poplar Hawk Moth 18623305_830558450429282_4810614690038891542_o
Clouded buff... a new moth for us this week. A surprisingly dull name for such a vibrant moth.... we are calling it the Rhubarb and Custard 19417241_844445765707217_5772445300526579509_o
Knot Grass caterpillar 21082820_879682455516881_8174399462552078656_o
Lots of Peacocks on the Knapweed outside the Bothy this afternoon. 21056153_879682865516840_1387708618164859253_o
Large Red Damselfly on the croft today.... I think this is an adult male 34985118_1024111037740688_7974750307181658112_n
Gold Spangle
One of the highlights of last nights moth trapping effort. 144 moths of 35 species. 36847951_1052382791580179_741789316430168064_o
In the sun yesterday a small patch of thistles by our house was buzzing with bees, butterflies, beetles and hoverflies☀️🐝🦋 37229545_1059637804188011_1825025406156144640_o
We found a new one for the croft list yesterday.... a male Meadow Grasshopper 😊 37890783_1071253433026448_1522467981177651200_o
Scotch argus happy sheltering in the orchard this morning despite the breezy, dreich weather. Seeing lots of these on the croft just now.No need for us to worry about watering at the moment 🌦 38521108_1081612895323835_2931931730665275392_o
Common Darter, we think, maybe it's a young male 38630028_1082032108615247_5333798646565568512_o