h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

This year I had loads of the same sort of butterfly in my garden, but I couldn't identify it.

Anyone have any idea what they were?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/minashouse/336107561/in/set-72057594140345025/

Hello

The butterfly is called a Gatekeeper, it's now one of the most common betterflies in the Eastern Counties. The ammount of orange colouring can vary from butterly to butterfly.
Hope that helps

Ooh, pretty! I've never seen one of those before. I had lots and lots of red admirals (think that's what it is!)on my lavender bush and echinacea this year!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/48584001@N00/331840238/in/set-72157594436143723/

Bring back summer!

Ooh, link not working - highlight the whole thing and it should get you to my photo. Sorry, not used to posting links!

Ok, figured it out:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jemstone33/331840238/in/set-72157594436143723/

I hope!

ooh that's lovely!

Thanks Venus. Gatekeeper was one I thought it might be, but it didn't seem to look like the picture in my book. I need a better book! I'd also like a better camera for taking close up shots. I took loads of photos, and most of them just came out blurry.

I didn't seem to get much else in the garden this year, just these little blighters!

I had to look in two books, one picture did'nt have much orange on it. In the other book, it said about colour differences. One book is never enough eh!

True! Although even the internet didn't help much at the time.

I've had an awful lot of caterpillars lately, about 1" long and beige. The thing is they are always at the back door, and I've no idea where they would be coming from or going to. The place where they turn up doesn't have any containers, or soil, or plants, just a concrete path with a porch over it, so I've no idea what they are there for.

I keep finding green ones curled up indoors. I think that might be something to do with the terrier I'm fostering though...

Perhaps birds have dropped yours?