CommaPolygonia c-album (Linnaeus, 1758)Nymphalis c-albumComma
Caterpillar of Comma (Polygonia c-album) on currant in Bonn-Kessenich
CommaPolygonia c-album (Linnaeus, 1758)Nymphalis c-albumComma
Chrysalis of Comma (Polygonia c-album) on currant in Bonn-Kessenich
CommaPolygonia c-album (Linnaeus, 1758)Nymphalis c-albumComma
Comma (Polygonia c-album) in the Kottenforst
CommaPolygonia c-album (Linnaeus, 1758)Nymphalis c-albumComma
Comma (Polygonia c-album) in the Kottenforst
GatekeeperPyronia tithonus (Linnaeus, 1767)Maniola tithonusHedge BrownGatekeeper
Gatekeeper (Pyronia tithonus) in the Kottenforst
[Female]
GatekeeperPyronia tithonus (Linnaeus, 1767)Maniola tithonusHedge BrownGatekeeper
Gatekeeper (Pyronia tithonus) in the Kottenforst
GatekeeperPyronia tithonus (Linnaeus, 1767)Maniola tithonusHedge BrownGatekeeper
Gatekeeper (Pyronia tithonus) at the edge of the Kottenforst
[Male]
Strictly speaking, this male Gatekeeper (Pyronia tithonus) was sitting a few metres outside the city limits of Bonn. Together with other Gatekeepers (Pyronia tithonus), it was perched on a Dogwood (Cornus) bush and only flew a few metres every now and then.
Large TortoiseshellNymphalis polychloros (Linnaeus, 1758)Large Tortoiseshell
Large Tortoiseshell (Nymphalis polychloros) in the Kottenforst
Large TortoiseshellNymphalis polychloros (Linnaeus, 1758)Large Tortoiseshell
Large Tortoiseshell (Nymphalis polychloros) in the Kottenforst
Parts of Bonn's Kottenforst are now unmanaged again. This morning I was amazed at how many butterflies could be found on just a few dozen metres of forest path. In addition to Large Tortoiseshell (Nymphalis polychloros), there were also: Purple Emperor (Apatura iris), Lesser Purple Emperor (Apatura ilia), White Admiral (Limenitis camilla), Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta), Comma (Polygonia c-album), Silver-washed Fritillary (Argynnis paphia), Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria), Green-veined White (Pieris napi) and Large skipper (Ochlodes sylvanus).
Large TortoiseshellNymphalis polychloros (Linnaeus, 1758)Large Tortoiseshell
Large Tortoiseshell (Nymphalis polychloros) after hibernation in the Kottenforst
In February 2021, it was unusually warm in Bonn for a few days after the icy cold. To my surprise, I saw a very tattered Large Tortoiseshell (Nymphalis polychloros) on a gravel path in the Kottenforst on 21 February. Unfortunately, I didn't have a camera with me that day. So I set off again two days later and - lo and behold - I came across another hibernating Large Tortoiseshell (Nymphalis polychloros) about 200 metres further on. However, it was another species in much better condition. Now equipped with a camera, I managed to take this photo. I also saw a Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta) and some male Brimstones (Gonepteryx rhamni). There were no flowering plants yet.
Large TortoiseshellNymphalis polychloros (Linnaeus, 1758)Large Tortoiseshell
Large Tortoiseshell (Nymphalis polychloros) in the Kottenforst
In summer, the Large Tortoiseshell (Nymphalis polychloros) is only seen for a short time, as it goes into its winter hiding place in July.
Lesser Purple EmperorApatura ilia (Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775)Lesser Purple Emperor
Lesser Purple Emperor (Apatura ilia) f. clytie in Bonn-Oberkassel
[Male]
This was the first time I had come across an Lesser Purple Emperor (Apatura ilia) in Bonn. The beautiful meadow in Bonn on the right bank of the Rhine is often used by Oberkassel dog owners as a "dog litter tray". The butterfly of the rarer reddish variety (f. clytie) was delighted: it sucked on a dried piece of dog faeces for a long time. Occasionally it flew up and did a few laps. Sometimes with a stopover to sunbathe on a single large shrub.
Lesser Purple EmperorApatura ilia (Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775)Lesser Purple Emperor
Lesser Purple Emperor (Apatura ilia) f. ilia in the Kottenforst
[Male]
Lesser Purple EmperorApatura ilia (Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775)Lesser Purple Emperor
Lesser Purple Emperor (Apatura ilia) f. ilia in the Kottenforst
[Male]
MapAraschnia levana (Linnaeus, 1758)Map
Map (Araschnia levana) (1st generation) in the Kottenforst
MapAraschnia levana (Linnaeus, 1758)Map
Map (Araschnia levana) (2nd generation) in Bonn-Kessenich
MapAraschnia levana (Linnaeus, 1758)Map
Map (Araschnia levana) (2nd generation) in Bonn-Kessenich
MapAraschnia levana (Linnaeus, 1758)Map
Map (Araschnia levana) (1st generation) in Bonn-Kessenich
MapAraschnia levana (Linnaeus, 1758)Map
Young caterpillars of Map (Araschnia levana) in the Kottenforst
MapAraschnia levana (Linnaeus, 1758)Map
Caterpillars of the Map (Araschnia levana)
I had taken some caterpillars of Map (Araschnia levana) found on a Stinging nettle (Urtica dioica) home for rearing. This was a fortunate circumstance for the caterpillars, as part of the Stinging nettle (Urtica dioica) there was mown or mulched two days later (probably as part of path maintenance work by the forestry office).
MapAraschnia levana (Linnaeus, 1758)Map
Chrysalis of Maps (Araschnia levana)
Ich hatte einige auf einer Stinging nettle (Urtica dioica) gefundene Raupen des Maps (Araschnia levana) zur Aufzucht mit nach Hause genommen. Eine der Raupen verpuppte sich schließlich an einem Blumentopf, in die ich eine Stinging nettle (Urtica dioica) gesetzt hatte. 10 Tage später schlüpfte der Falter und wurde in die Freiheit entlassen.
Marbled FritillaryBrenthis daphne (Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775)Marbled Fritillary
Caterpillar of a Marbled Fritillary (Brenthis daphne) on Rubus Species (Blackberry) (Rubus spec.) in the Kottenforst
In rainy weather I found some caterpillars of Marbled Fritillary (Brenthis daphne) on Rubus Species (Blackberry) (Rubus spec.) under Common Aspens (Populus tremula) in the Kottenforst. It was my very first sighting of a Marbled Fritillary (Brenthis daphne) in Bonn - and my first sighting of a caterpillar of this species.
Marbled FritillaryBrenthis daphne (Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775)Marbled Fritillary
Marbled Fritillary (Brenthis daphne) in the Kottenforst
Exactly two weeks earlier I had discovered three caterpillars of Marbled Fritillary (Brenthis daphne) at the edge of a clear cut in the Kottenforst. When I visited the site again, there were several adult butterlfies of this species there.
Marbled FritillaryBrenthis daphne (Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775)Marbled Fritillary
Marbled Fritillary (Brenthis daphne) in the Kottenforst
Exactly two weeks earlier I had discovered three caterpillars of Marbled Fritillary (Brenthis daphne) at the edge of a clear cut in the Kottenforst. When I visited the site again, there were several adult butterlfies of this species there.
Marbled WhiteMelanargia galathea (Linnaeus, 1758)Marbled White
Marbled White (Melanargia galathea) on the Rodderberg
On this day, many Marbled Whites (Melanargia galathea) were out and about on the Rodderberg. I managed to take some photos in an area that is not part of the nature reserve and therefore not cordoned off.
Marbled WhiteMelanargia galathea (Linnaeus, 1758)Marbled White
Marbled White (Melanargia galathea) on the Rodderberg
Meadow BrownManiola jurtina (Linnaeus, 1758)Meadow Brown
Meadow Brown (Maniola jurtina) in Bonn-Oberkassel
[Male]
Meadow BrownManiola jurtina (Linnaeus, 1758)Meadow Brown
Meadow Brown (Maniola jurtina) in Bonn-Kessenich
[Male]
Meadow BrownManiola jurtina (Linnaeus, 1758)Meadow Brown
Meadow Brown (Maniola jurtina) in Bonn-Pützchen
[Female]
Meadow BrownManiola jurtina (Linnaeus, 1758)Meadow Brown
Meadow Brown (Maniola jurtina) in the Kottenforst
[Female]
PeacockAglais io (Linnaeus, 1758)Inachis ioNymphalis ioEuropean PeacockPeacock ButterflyPeacock
Caterpillars of the Peacock (Aglais io) at the Bonn University Hospitals
A road runs along the university clinics on the Venusberg. This borders the area to the forest. Between the road and the forest there is an approximately 2 meter wide border on which Nettle Family (Urticaceae) can be found. The caterpillars of the Peacock (Aglais io) were found on one of them.
PeacockAglais io (Linnaeus, 1758)Inachis ioNymphalis ioEuropean PeacockPeacock ButterflyPeacock
Peacock (Aglais io) on fields in Bonn-Endenich
PeacockAglais io (Linnaeus, 1758)Inachis ioNymphalis ioEuropean PeacockPeacock ButterflyPeacock
Freshly laid egg clutch of the Peacock (Aglais io) in Bonn-Oberkassel
PeacockAglais io (Linnaeus, 1758)Inachis ioNymphalis ioEuropean PeacockPeacock ButterflyPeacock
Peacock (Aglais io) at the Stingenberg
PeacockAglais io (Linnaeus, 1758)Inachis ioNymphalis ioEuropean PeacockPeacock ButterflyPeacock
Caterpillars of the Peacock (Aglais io) on a field path near Bonn-Ückesdorf
A country lane between Röttgen and Ückesdorf is lined with Nettle Family (Urticaceae) in some places on both sides. I found a total of three clutches of caterpillars there and looked in every few days. On this day, several dozen caterpillars had already spread over many plants. It won't be long before they pupate.
Queen of Spain FritillaryIssoria lathonia (Linnaeus, 1758)Argynnis lathoniaQueen of Spain Fritillary
Queen of Spain Fritillary (Issoria lathonia) on the Siegdamm near Bonn-Geislar
[Female]
As I photographed this Queen of Spain Fritillary (Issoria lathonia) near the Sieg, I heard the unmistakable call of a Northern Lapwing (Vanellus vanellus) behind me. In the centre of the field, which was still overgrown with short tussock, I saw it sitting barely visible.
Queen of Spain FritillaryIssoria lathonia (Linnaeus, 1758)Argynnis lathoniaQueen of Spain Fritillary
Queen of Spain Fritillary (Issoria lathonia) on the Siegdamm near Bonn-Geislar
[Female]
Red AdmiralVanessa atalanta (Linnaeus, 1758)Pyrameis atalantaRed AdmirableRed Admiral
Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta) in the Kottenforst
Red AdmiralVanessa atalanta (Linnaeus, 1758)Pyrameis atalantaRed AdmirableRed Admiral
Chrysalis of a Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta) shortly before the adult butterfly hatches
[Breeding image]
About two weeks earlier I had found an almost adult caterpillar of a Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta) on a Nettle Family (Urticaceae) in the Kottenforst and took it home to breed. The butterfly, still in the chrysalis, hatched the next morning.
Breeding: Ingo DanielsIngo Daniels
Red AdmiralVanessa atalanta (Linnaeus, 1758)Pyrameis atalantaRed AdmirableRed Admiral
Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta) in the Kottenforst
[Female]
Red AdmiralVanessa atalanta (Linnaeus, 1758)Pyrameis atalantaRed AdmirableRed Admiral
Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta) in the Kottenforst
RingletAphantopus hyperantus (Linnaeus, 1758)Ringlet
Ringlet (Aphantopus hyperantus) in the Kottenforst
[Female]
RingletAphantopus hyperantus (Linnaeus, 1758)Ringlet
Ringlet (Aphantopus hyperantus) in the Kottenforst
RingletAphantopus hyperantus (Linnaeus, 1758)Ringlet
Ringlet (Aphantopus hyperantus) in the Kottenforst
[Male]
Silver-washed FritillaryArgynnis paphia (Linnaeus, 1758)Silver-washed Fritillary
Silver-washed Fritillary (Argynnis paphia) in the Kottenforst
[Female]
Silver-washed FritillaryArgynnis paphia (Linnaeus, 1758)Silver-washed Fritillary
Silver-washed Fritillary (Argynnis paphia) in the Kottenforst
[Male]
Small TortoiseshellAglais urticae (Linnaeus, 1758)Nymphalis urticaeSmall Tortoiseshell
Caterpillars of the Small Tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae) in the Marienforster Valley in Bonn-Bad Godesberg
Small TortoiseshellAglais urticae (Linnaeus, 1758)Nymphalis urticaeSmall Tortoiseshell
Chrysalis of an Small Tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae)
[Breeding image]
I had taken a few caterpillars of Small Tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae) home from the Marienforster Valley for rearing a few days before the photo was taken.
Breeding: Ingo DanielsIngo Daniels
Small TortoiseshellAglais urticae (Linnaeus, 1758)Nymphalis urticaeSmall Tortoiseshell
Small Tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae) at Hof Gut Melb in Bonn-Poppelsdorf
In my youth, the Small Tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae) was still omnipresent in Bonn. I remember Orange Eye Butterflybushes (Buddleja davidii) with dozens of Small Tortoiseshells (Aglais urticae) sucking on them. In recent years, you needed a lot of luck to catch sight of an Small Tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae). I came across a few specimens at the Gut Melb farm, which were cavorting in the flowering meadows together with lots of bees and bumblebees.
Small TortoiseshellAglais urticae (Linnaeus, 1758)Nymphalis urticaeSmall Tortoiseshell
Small Tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae) in the Botanical Garden Bonn
Small TortoiseshellAglais urticae (Linnaeus, 1758)Nymphalis urticaeSmall Tortoiseshell
Freshly laid egg clutch of an Small Tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae) on the Rodderberg
Right at the edge of the path I saw an Small Tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae) "inspecting" the upper parts of several Nettle Family (Urticaceae). After a few minutes, the female butterfly had made up her mind and began to lay her eggs, which took about 10 minutes.
Speckled WoodPararge aegeria (Linnaeus, 1758)Speckled Wood
Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria) in the Kottenforst
Speckled WoodPararge aegeria (Linnaeus, 1758)Speckled Wood
Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria) in the Kottenforst
Speckled WoodPararge aegeria (Linnaeus, 1758)Speckled Wood
Egg of the Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria) on the Finkenberg in Bonn
Just a few seconds a female Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria) sat down on a blade of grass hidden in the herb layer to lay this egg.
WallLasiommata megera (Linnaeus, 1767)Wall BrownWall
Wall (Lasiommata megera) in Bonn-Oberkassel
WallLasiommata megera (Linnaeus, 1767)Wall BrownWall
Wall (Lasiommata megera) on the Rodderberg
Although the Rodderberg covers a very large area overall, the protected dry grassland section is not very large. Despite being cordoned off, it is all too often used as a party area or dog toilet. The Wall (Lasiommata megera) can be found here regularly.