Flora & Fauna (media)

10079    (4 Photos)

Yellow-legged Tortoiseshell (Nymphalis xanthomelas)

2026-04-15    Kongelundsområdet (Dragør), Denmark

Imago Grusbunkelysningen. Ca. 14:30.
Was sitting on the gravel pile in the sun. Flew up a few times as I tried to approach it, but it returned. Then it took a whirl turn dancing with a Peacock Butterfly and then sat on the ground where the upperside photo was taken. Then it took height and disappeared over the trees in an easterly direction. I left the site for 5-10 minutes and returned to see if it had come back,but no.
Also found by Kim Duus independently earlier in the day.

Mobile bino photos.

Rare

10076    (1 Photos)

Mourning Cloak (Nymphalis antiopa)

2026-04-07    Kongelundsområdet (Dragør), Denmark

Imago Nordskoven. Korridoren. As usual.
Second animal this year. A slow start compared to last year.
Mobile photos.

10060    (5 Photos)

Greater Spring Blacklet (Cheilosia grossa)

2026-03-21    Kalvebod Fælled (København), Denmark

Imago Female Fasanskovlysningen.
On the ground in open birch-aspen forest. First hoverfly for me this year and a lifer. Black antenna and pale hind tibia indicate this species.
Mobile photos.

10059    (4 Photos)

Yellow-legged Tortoiseshell (Nymphalis xanthomelas)

2026-03-20    Amager Fælled, Denmark

Imago Paddevandhullerne.
In the dry grass, south of. Was present for about half an hour including a short detour after which it returned to the same spot. Then it finally flew slowly in a southern direction, low, and out of sight. My first self-found animal.

The photos are not excellent, but still it does look like the legs are not as pale as they should be on a xanthomelas, compared to polychloros, why I would like to think there is room for some variation, because the upperside leaved no doubt that it is an individual of the former species.

Mobile bino photos.

Rare

10056    (1 Photos)

Common Toad (Bufo bufo)

2026-03-12    Amager Fælled, Denmark

Adult Female Den Landskabelige Kanal.
Was standing vertically in the water, motionless. Likely dead. The size makes me think it's a female. The white spongy/cotton-like substance just outside the mouth looked as if it might have originated from the internal parts.

10052    (3 Photos)

Pinecone Mushroom (Auriscalpium vulgare)

2026-03-05    Kongelundsområdet (Dragør), Denmark

Frieslandsskoven.
Apparently supposed to grow on cones, but it doesn't look like it does here, though I found in a patch with many pines, and many of them being cut down. Not registered in naturbasen for Amager, but is not uncommon in the country in general. Only a single found.

10051    (1 Photos)

Cherry Gall Wasp (Cynips quercusfolii)

2026-03-05    Kongelundsområdet (Dragør), Denmark

Frieslandsskoven. Galls [Galle]
On oak leaf.

10047    (1 Photos)

Birch Katkin Bug (Kleidocerys resedae)

2026-03-05    Kongelundsområdet (Dragør), Denmark

Imago Frieslandsskoven.
Climbed onto me while I was studying a pinecone mushroom [Koglepigsvamp]. < 1cm.

10036    (1 Photos)

Grass Snake (Natrix natrix)

2026-03-04    Kalvebod Fælled (Tårnby), Denmark

Ottehøj.
A very early animal enjoying the sun at the foot of the hill. Air temperature around 10 C, but 35 in the sun down in the grass.

9968    (1 Photos)

Giant Mesquite Bug (Thasus gigas)

2008-10-11    Kalvebod Fælled (Tårnby), Denmark

Imago

9967    (1 Photos)

Dysdercus mimulus (Dysdercus mimulus)

2009-05-29    Parque el Cedazo (Aguascalientes), Mexico

Imago The red ones are young.

9966    (1 Photos)

Giant Mesquite Bug (Thasus gigas)

2009-05-31    Presa Rodriguez (agu), Mexico

9962    (1 Photos)

Sacred Fir (Abies religiosa)

2019-11-27    Carretera 95 (cdmx), Mexico

A regional fir, here along the highway south of La Cima.

3419    (3 Photos)

Sea-Buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides)

2025-09-20    Kalvebod Fælled (Tårnby), Denmark

Imago Sneppelunden.
Here you can find some of the tallest Sea-Buckthorns on Amager. Unfortunately the plant is being removed systematically.
Ripe from late summer into autumn the berry is a true treasure with an exotic sour taste.

3415    (1 Photos)

Texas Crescent (Anthanassa texana)

2008-10-27    Cerro del muerto (agu), Mexico

Imago

3414    (1 Photos)

Dainty Sulphur (Nathalis iole)

2008-10-27    Cerro del muerto (agu), Mexico

Imago

3413    (1 Photos)

Common Greeneyed-White (Leptophobia aripa)

2009-09-05    Sierra Fría (agu), Mexico

Imago

3412    (1 Photos)

Texas Crescent (Anthanassa texana)

2009-08-04    Presa La Colorada (agu), Mexico

Imago Seen here or at the near by reservoir, El Salvador.

3411    (2 Photos)

Western Giant Swallowtail (Heraclides rumiko)

2009-08-20    Campos el Molino (Aguascalientes), Mexico

Imago

3410    (2 Photos)

Variegated Fritillary (Euptoieta claudia)

2009-09-05    Sierra Fría (agu), Mexico

Imago

3409    (1 Photos)

Nokomis Fritillary (Speyeria nokomis)

2009-09-05    Sierra Fría (agu), Mexico

Imago Male Perhaps the same as 3408.

3408    (1 Photos)

Nokomis Fritillary (Speyeria nokomis)

2009-09-05    Sierra Fría (agu), Mexico

Imago Male

3407    (1 Photos)

Funeral Duskywing (Erynnis funeralis)

2010-06-05    Campos el Molino (Aguascalientes), Mexico

Imago Pale patch in cell near costa in forewing.

3406    (1 Photos)

Purple Emperor (Apatura iris)

2008-07-13    Kalvebod Fælled (Tårnby), Denmark

Imago Pinseskoven.

3405    (2 Photos)

Blue-frosted Banner (Catonephele numilia)

2009-09-17    Aquismón (pueblo - slp), Mexico

Imago Female On the slope overlooking the village below.

3404    (1 Photos)

Blomfild's Beauty (Smyrna blomfildia)

2009-09-17    Aquismón (pueblo - slp), Mexico

Imago On the slope overlooking the village below.

3403    (2 Photos)

Nun Moth (Lymantria monacha)

2025-10-18    Kalvebod Fælled (Tårnby), Denmark

Pupa Heksegryden.
A single pupa sitting on Aspen (P. tremula) at two meters height. I had another in the same spot on October 28.

iNaturalist suggested this species or L. dispar. The latter is a rare species and has not been found breeding naturally on the island before(there was a larger accidental release when elm-trees were imported to Ørestaden from Germany - there the species is considered a pest).

Asked TL and he got info that suggested monacha, but later Leucoma salicis was suggested by another capacity. But - checking up on it, salicis has never been found on Amager, and comparing with pupae on Lepiforum the pupa of monacha seem to be a perfect match, why I decide to go with this species. Also the most likely because it has been reported before.

3402    (1 Photos)

Nun Moth (Lymantria monacha)

2025-10-28    Kalvebod Fælled (Tårnby), Denmark

Pupa Heksegryden.
See 3403 for comment on this finding. I visited the spot again the day after, but the pupa was gone. Blown off by the wind or eaten by a woodpecker perhaps.

3401    (1 Photos)

Citron Amanita (Amanita citrina)

2025-10-03    Kalvebod Fælled (Tårnby), Denmark

Bagstien, Pinseskoven.
A single was there looking shortly like the tempting deathly one, the Snowwhite Wonder Delight, that could end all misery. But it was not. But a first it was. But I'm not mycologizing why it is irrelevant, if there were one, two or many. If you can't die from it, there's no point in pursuing it.

3400    (2 Photos)

Spectacular Rustgill (Gymnopilus junonius)

2025-10-03    Kalvebod Fælled (Tårnby), Denmark

Bagstien, Pinseskoven.
Never saw it before, never heard of it. And not seen recently on Amager, according to naturbasen. But then again, the scientific name used there is not the same as other resources use, why I to doubt if we are talking about the same species. Naturbasen is becoming more and more irrelevant, as the greedy owner doens't seem to care about maintaining the site. Unfortunately there is no country level alternative that is worth using, why many people keep using it.

3394    (2 Photos)

Marbled Orbweaver (Araneus marmoreus)

2025-09-22    Kalvebod Fælled (Tårnby), Denmark

Imago Female Fonscolombii-lysningen. Form pyramidatus. Scarce in Denmark.
Two accidentally caught in net while catching dragonflies.

3366    (1 Photos)

Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus)

2025-08-14    Kalvebod Fælled (Tårnby), Denmark

Imago Male Granatsø. Same as 3365.

Still present this afternoon with the same behavior flying forth and back along the same stretch. Today, however, it chose to visit several flowers during the transects, which it didn't do yesterday. Then, probably very focused on finding a mate, and less so today with the compass recently and well-adjusted after three and a half hours [and more] of active duty fulfilled!

Thomas Larsen got photos of the upperside deciding the sex, and my photos show that it is the same male as yesterday.

Here on Autumn Hawkbit [Høst-Borst].

Rare

3365    (8 Photos)

Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus)

2025-08-13    Kalvebod Fælled (Tårnby), Denmark

Imago Pair Granatsø. Mating.
Discovered the first animal just as I arrived. Clearly orange in the wing, there was no doubt about the species. It continued to explore a stretch of 200 meters of dry meadow, frenetically moving forth and back in search of a mate. I thought it was a male looking for a female, but as the in-flight photos show, it was the female who was all up and running here.

At a point it stopped coming back and I thought it was gone or had found a perch in the short grass. I checked the ground in the direction it had last flown, and reached the end without seeing it. The obvious thought was that it had continued, and I too decided to continue with what I came for originally: Dragonflies. But then as I started to go back, it flew up. An orange flash. But it was different this time. Looked more clumpsy, and then all the yellow hanging below it. Maybe it had been different animals flying forth and back, and finally they found each other. The male, without white spots in the forewing, took the lead slow-carrying both of them to a likely safer spot than where I just flushed them from. He soon dropped to the ground and they continued their mating pleasures. This was around 13:15. I got my photos (or at least photos as good as my old camera allows me to have), and then I continued to look for dragonflies. 45 minutes later I decided to go back, just to see if they were still in action. And they were. Same spot, same moveless position with the male being on top and the female hanging head-down. I then decided to leave this locality and visited the rest of the spots I had planned for this afternoon. Two hours later, on my way home, I decided to make a quick visit, and they were still there. I left them at 16:50.

I don't know much about the mating strategies of these butterflies, but it seems to be an extremely long process I had just witnessed. If they are still there tomorrow, I'm buying icecream for everyone who reads this - Free delivery, where-ever you are..!

In a short-grassed dry field with mainly clover [kløver], Yarrow [Røllike] and Bird's-foot Trefoil [Kællingetand].
In photo 2 followed by a Small Heath (Coenonympha pamphilus) [Okkergul Randøje].

Same as 3366.

Rare

3363    (1 Photos)

Tawny Wave (Scopula rubiginata)

2025-08-11    Kalvebod Fælled (Tårnby), Denmark

Barbarus-vandhullet. A single seen in the grassy meadow.

3362    (1 Photos)

Tawny Wave (Scopula rubiginata)

2025-08-11    Kalvebod Fælled (Tårnby), Denmark

Villahøj-renden. A single seen.

3361    (3 Photos)

Common Soapwort (Saponaria officinalis)

2025-08-11    Hvidovre Strandenge, Denmark

A single patch in a shady patch.

3343    (1 Photos)

Large Marsh Horsefly (Tabanus autumnalis)

2025-08-06    Kalvebod Fælled (Tårnby), Denmark

Imago Female SHV-lysninger.

3340    (1 Photos)

Field Digger Wasp (Mellinus arvensis)

2025-08-08    Kongelundsområdet (Dragør), Denmark

Imago Female NØ-vandhullet.
A single present, and only seen like this in photo (iNa-identified).

3339    (3 Photos)

*Mark-Dyndflue* (Eristalis interrupta)

2025-08-08    Kongelundsområdet (Dragør), Denmark

Imago Male & Female The dike, Nordskoven. On Tansy [Rejnfan].
One female (separate eyes) and three males frantically courting her.

3338    (1 Photos)

Mourning Cloak (Nymphalis antiopa)

2025-08-08    Kongelundsområdet (Dragør), Denmark

Imago Nordskoven. Summer generation.
Was sitting on this post at the end of the dike.

3328    (2 Photos)

Compost Hoverfly (Syritta pipiens)

2025-08-05    Lergravene (Dragør), Denmark

Imago Male Nothing much to say. Apparently a very common species that I haven't seen before. Thick thighs and two pale spots at the front of the thorax.

3325    (1 Photos)

Tansy Plume (Gillmeria ochrodactyla)

2025-07-23    Kalvebod Fælled (Tårnby), Denmark

Imago Fonscolombii-lysningen. A single seen.
Brown and white on tibia between spines is good for this species. And sitting on Rejnfan, likely the most expected of the species.

3321    (2 Photos)

*Gulvinget Solbille* (Oedemera femorata)

2025-07-23    Kalvebod Fælled (Tårnby), Denmark

Imago Fonscolombii-lysningen. A single seen.

3315    (1 Photos)

Red Malachite Beetle (Anthocomus rufus)

2025-07-19    Han Vejle (skjulet), Denmark

Imago Several seen. Small.

3314    (1 Photos)

Small Skipper (Thymelicus sylvestris)

2025-07-19    Han Vejle (skjulet), Denmark

Imago Did indeed look small when flying around. Brown underside to the clubtip compared to dark on lineola [Stregbredpande]. A good handful seen, but only casually while focusing on the main dragonfly-targets this day.

3302    (1 Photos)

Bittersweet Nightshade (Solanum dulcamara)

2025-07-19    Jenskær (Silkeborg), Denmark

Growing in the stream where to look for delightful dragonflies.

3300    (2 Photos)

Hemerobius humulinus (Hemerobius humulinus)

2025-04-22    Kalvebod Fælled (Tårnby), Denmark

Imago Birkedammen.

3299    (1 Photos)

Scathophaga furcata (Scathophaga furcata)

2025-04-22    Kalvebod Fælled (Tårnby), Denmark

Imago Birkedammen.

3298    (2 Photos)

Longhorn Beetle (Leptura quadrifasciata)

2025-06-10    Kalvebod Fælled (Tårnby), Denmark

Imago Bagstien. A single present.
On a redwine-sugar splash intended for the exclusive butterfly Apatura ilia.

3297    (2 Photos)

Purple Emperor (Apatura iris)

2025-06-10    Kalvebod Fælled (Tårnby), Denmark

Imago Female Bagstien. Very large why likely a female.
It sat at a natural spot (no wine-splashing) where the day after a Lesser Purple Emperor had replaced it.