Nature Guernsey will be at Le Grand Pré later this month and there will be plenty to see: bugs, butterflies and damselflies. Work was carried out last year to recreate more wet areas with muddy margins where damselflies and drsagonflies lay their eggs. Numbers have declined locally, in part due to loss of habitat. La Société is working hard this year to monitor these species and to redress the balance.
There is nothing common about the Common Blue Damselfly with their gorgeous blue and turquoise colouring. They are just starting to show now at the reserve.
Green Hairstreak from 8th May. This delightful butterfly is more commonly seen on the cliffs. It is the first time I have seen one on my local patch – and thanks to Rachel Ann for showing it to me. They are usually quite flighty, this one was very docile enjoying the sun. Caterpillars feed on Gorse and Bird’s-foot Trefoil so they should be present on L’ancresse Common. They are easily overlooked, so I will be looking more closely on my walks during their flight season.
A favourite hoverfly, Helophilus pendulus, prefers habitats close to water. There is a very good chance that this smart insect will be seen sunning itself on a leaf or feeding on one of the many members of the Dandelion family.
Natural history of the Bailiwick of Guernsey 