Violet fritillary butterfly

The violet fritillary butterfly (Boloria dia) is one of the smallest fritillaries, its wingspan being up to 3.4 centimetres. It is found quite commonly in central and eastern Europe but only in local populations further south. It inhabits forest edges, open woodland and meadows on low hillsides, reaching no higher than 1000 metres.

It is light orange-brown with black spots. The underside forewings are similar but paler, but the hindwings are purple-brown with white spots. Males and females look similar.

The flight period is from mid-spring to early autumn, during which up to three broods may be produced.

The food plants are violets and brambles.

© John Welford

Ostrich dinosaurs

The name “ostrich dinosaur” has been given to a group of creatures that lived during the late Cretaceous period (110-66 million years ago), in what is now North America and Asia. The proper name for the group is Ornithomimosaurs. They acquired their popular name because of their resemblance to modern ostriches in their size and overall shape.

They were tall and slim with powerful hind legs that would have allowed them to run fast. The front limbs worked like arms with fingers and sharp claws that could grasp their food. They had beak-like toothless mouths that would also have made them look like modern flightless birds.

One ostrich dinosaur was Struthiomimus which would have been four metres long and two metres tall. Fossils have been found in Alberta, Canada. Others were Gallimimus (8 metres long), Dromiceiomimus (3-4 metres) and Ornithomimus (4-5 metres, see picture) which could probably run at up to fifty miles an hour.

This class of dinosaurs would have eaten seeds and fruits, plus worms, lizards and other small animals.

© John Welford