The Silver Y (Autographa gamma)

Currently my garden is populated by dozens of Silver Y's. It is a small inconspicuously brown day active moth that flies in April as migratory butterfly from the Mediterranean to the North. The eggs are laid there in May and a few months later the new generation flies around. Together with the old generation it results in an enormous quantity of these ordinary butterflies in July, August and September.

This moth has a silver Y (Gamma) on the forewing and  exists in various shades of brown 

While sitting on the ground between the flowers they have chosen, dozens of Silver Y's swarm around me. They seem to be very hungry and  hurry like Hummingbirds from flower to flower. As long as there is nectar in the flower they are not picky at all for the species. Without resting they keep on flying tirelessly. Quite a challenge for a photographer.  Fortunately there is enough light and I can choose a faster shutter speed, but even then I often miss them. They have no fixed pattern in visiting the flowers. Merry they fly from one side to the other. Each time it is a surprise where they will reappear after they have vanished from my viewfinder, even before I could push the button of my camera.

Because they can not hibernate here, the new generation flies back to the South at the end of the summer. Next year they will return and take care of their own offspring.

The photos are enlarged even more beautiful. Click on the first picture.

Thanks to all my friends abroad for your spontaneous, nice comments and praising words on my last blog. I hope we keep in touch. Of course I will visit you on your own blog, although it may take sometimes a little longer.

Greetings, Joke