The onset of some real spring weather has brought the hibernating butterflies out. I've seen plenty of brimstones and a comma or two but this peacock cooperated by staying still for a while.
This little creature is a beetle classified as nationally scarce - Pilemostoma fastuosa.
It is known as a tortoise beetle because its head is hidden beneath the shell of its thorax. These small beetles (about 4mm) live on chalk downland but they overwinter in woodland. My specimen seems to have stopped over here on its journey between the two. It has just a mile to fly to get to the nearby chalk downs.
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