Friends, may I once again declare to all and sundry that I have not had a relapse and I am writing this from home and not the nearest school for amateur or failed comedians. There really is, according to the latest issue of Butterfly - The Magazine of Butterfly Conservation , a butterfly that drinks human blood! And its Scottish no less! Hoots mon! Read on….
GREEN HAIRSTREAK SCENTS BLOOD
Butterfly has received an intriguing report of a Green Hairstreak with a liking for human blood. Butterfly Conservation member Michael Noble wrote: “ My wife and I were walking in the Isle of Skye and came across a family whose small boy had fallen and cut his head. His mother was trying to stem the flow of blood which was smears on his arms. As I stood there with my camera around my neck a Green Hairstreak landed on her arm and started drinking the blood. The path was at least 100 yards from any trees so I am wondering whether the scent of blood had carried that far” (1)
Another interesting story in the same issue is:
WEIRD STORY
The Cumberland News reported that “ a giant alien-like moth hovering over his garden” had given a Carlisle man the fright of his life. The 63-year-old said the creature-believed to have been a Humming-bird Hawk-moth-was “ like something out of Dr Who”
He said: “ It was just hanging around the lavender sucking away on nectar. It gave me one hell of a fright.” (2)
I wonder if it really was a Humming-bird Hawk-moth?
This final story is not really weird but interesting nevertheless and continues the Scottish theme (Q; Why has Richard gone all north of the border? Answer below)
PURPLE HAIRSTREAK FIND
Glasgow & Southwest Scotland committee member Scott Donaldson discovered a new Purple Hairstreak colony on a visit to Paisley. He spotted around a dozen of the butterflies in Shaw Wood, in the town`s Thornly Park. His discovery sparked an immediate local response and was reported in the local Press. Tom Prescott, Species Conservation Officer for Butterfly Conservation Scotland, said: “ The Purple Hairstreak has been doing well in Scotland recently.” He added : “ The butterfly is difficult to observe and it probably still remains under-recorded. “ (3)
1 Butterfly Autumn 2011 p. 4
2 Ibid p. 4
3 Ibid p. 9
A: Because my ancestors were Scottish.
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