What have I seen on Wild Marjoram? - A diary of wildlife on Banstead Downs

A mid-summer favourite of the honey bee

Gatekeeper [Pyronia tithonus britanniae]

Female of sub-species britanniae feeding on Wild Marjoram (Origanum vulgare), with red Trombidium sp. mite at base of hind wing – Location : Banstead Downs, Surrey, England – Date of image : 21 Jul 2015

2 butterflies on Wild Marjoram

Brown Argus (Aricia agestis) left, and Chalk Hill Blue (Lysandra coridon) feeding on Wild Marjoram (Origanum vulgare) - Location : Banstead Downs, Surrey, England – Date of image : 08 Jul 2026

Chalk Hill Blue [Lysandra coridon]

male L. coridon feeding on Wild Marjoram (Origanum vulgare) - Location : Banstead Downs, Surrey, England – Date of image : 10 Jul 2026

Chalk Hill Blue [Lysandra coridon]

male L. coridon (left) and female on Wild Marjoram (Origanum vulgare) - Location : Banstead Downs, Surrey, England – Date of image : 15 Jul 2026

Chalkhill Blue [Lysandra coridon]

Male on Wild Marjoram (Origanum vulgare) - Location : Banstead Downs, Surrey, England – Date of image : 11 Jul 2025

2 butterflies

male Gatekeeper (Pyronia tithonus) (left) and female Chalk Hill Blue (Lysandra coridon) on Wild Marjoram (Origanum vulgare) - Location : Banstead Downs, Surrey, England – Date of image : 20 Jul 2026

Brown Argus [Aricia agestis]

Adult – Location : Banstead Downs, Surrey, England – Date of image : 18 Jul 2025

Jersey Tiger [Euplagia quadripunctaria]

adult E. quadripunctaria feeding on Wild Marjoram (Origanum vulgare) - Location : Banstead Downs, Surrey, England – Date of image : 24 Jul 2026

Common Carder Bee [Bombus pascuorum]

B. pascuorum leaving a Wild Marjoram (Origanum vulgare) flower - Location : Banstead Downs, Surrey, England – Date of image : 24 Jul 2026

Western Honey Bee [Apis mellifera]

female A. mellifera on Wild Marjoram (Origanum vulgare) flowers - Location : Banstead Downs, Surrey, England – Date of image : 25 Jul 2026

2 butterflies

Gatekeeper (Pyronia tithonus) (left) and female Meadow Brown (Maniola jurtina) on Wild Marjoram (Origanum vulgare) - Location : Banstead Downs, Surrey, England – Date of image : 27 Jul 2026

Common Blue [Polyommatus icarus]

male P. icarus on Wild Marjoram (Origanum vulgare) - Location : Banstead Downs, Surrey, England – Date of image : 31 Jul 2026

Small Copper [Lycaena phlaeas]

adult L. phlaeas on Wild Marjoram (Origanum vulgare) - Location : Banstead Downs, Surrey, England – Date of image : 31 Jul 2026

Small Skipper [Thymelicus sylvestris]

female T. sylvestris feeding on a Wild Marjoram (Origanum vulgare) flower; note tiny red Trombidium breei mite attached to base of wing - Location : Banstead Downs, Surrey, England – Date of image : 05 Jul 2026