Hello Guy,

Thanks for mentioning Lafranchis 2014 (Papillons de France). I didn't know it existed. I ordered a copy straight away .

Sylvie, please excuse me for jumping into your thread.
--
Colin

This morning I went to Terme Blanc where the are no trees to give some shade to escape from the heat :( , but as this is an isolated hill, there was a slight breeze to cool things down a bit :) . I had expected to see some Southern Gatekeepers, but only saw one, my first of the year #63, but no phot...

Hello Allan,

Thanks a lot Allan, it certainly seems to be that .
--
Colin

I've yet another moth for which I would appreciate the identification. It was seen in the Alpes-Maritimes at about 200 metres altitude, and was about 3-4 cm. wing-tip to wing-tip.
--
Thanks,
Colin

There seem to be a new crop of Adonis Blues in the Parc de la Brague. Here's a female, IMG_5066.JPG and here's a male, both with lovely wide fringes. IMG_5076.JPG And a new crop of Glanville Fritillaries. These two were together. I'm a bit worried about the first one, as I've not seen such a variati...

Chris, Last year a saw a few f. leucomelas . In previous years I hadn't seen any, perhaps because I didn't know that they existed, so I didn't look for any :) . Concerning Lang's Short-tail Blues, here I see them mostly in October, November and December, though I do see a small number in other month...

Chris, Your moth is a Paysandisia archon (aka Palm Moth, aka Le Clandestin des palmiers). Their larvae apparently create havoc with certain palm trees :( . This tatty one was in our garden two years ago, even though we don't have any palms. IMG_9946.JPG You are doing very well with your Black Satyrs...

Yesterday near the Pont des Dones: Many Marbled Whites, IMG_4934.JPG a few Large Skippers, IMG_4935.JPG several Berger's Clouded Yellows including this dead specimen apparently in the grips of a spider :( , IMG_4942.JPG and several Cleopatras. IMG_4952.JPG Today in the Parc de la Brague: My first So...

First of all, from July 3, a female Meadow Brown IMG_4867.JPG and a Common Blue, IMG_4869.JPG and from July 5, a Scarce Swallowtail. IMG_4883.JPG It is still very hot here, but I went out this morning to where the trees give a reasonable amount of shade. There were hardly any Hairstreaks, whereas a ...

Chris,
I love your Two-tailed Pasha caterpillar. If it wasn't so hot I'd go out into the garden and scrutinise our arbousier tree .

These last couple of days we've had visits in the garden from a Scarce Swallowtail or two, together with a Geranium Bronze or two.
--
Colin

Chris, As I said above the only butterflies at the moment along the Brague are Speckled Woods and unidentified Whites :( . And in the Parc in general there are not many open spaces suitable for seeing many butterflies of many species. A better choice would be along the Piste de Darbousson and on to ...

This morning I decided not to go looking for butterflies but to walk along the footpath next to the Brague river where it would be cooler. But it was still hot. So, a few photos of the Brague between the Pont des Tamarins and the Gué des Clausonnes: IMG_4837.JPG IMG_4829.JPG IMG_4833.JPG IMG_4847.JP...

This morning I went to the Vallon des Dones hoping to see Black-veined Whites or Marsh Fritillaries, but without success :( . But I did see my first Dingy Skipper #60 of the year. IMG_4779.JPG It is rather dingy compared to this one seen last year which is, in my opinion, not at all dingy. IMG_2504....

Thanks, Trevor. I shall try to continue to post such images .
--
All the best,
Colin

It's starting to get too hot for me, and perhaps also for the butterflies. And they are threatening us with temperatures around 40 degrees for the middle of the week :( :( :( . However this didn't stop me from seeing this morning my first Large Skipper #59 of the year. (Surely I can't be wrong about...

Things look to be hotting up for you, Colin. Hello David, From the weather point of view, it certainly is :( . I still see great quantities of Hairstreaks, Silver-washed Fritillaries, Spotted Fritillaries and Cleopatras. Yesterday I saw, amongst other things, four or five Painted Ladies and a coupl...

I have edited my previous post, as I had forgotten to upload a photo .
--
Colin

What is your general 'grayling' situation ? Chris, I don't see regular Graylings, they tend to be at higher altitudes. I saw Great Banded Graylings at the beginning of the month, and expect to see Woodland Graylings from late July on. I saw one False Grayling in 2012!!! And that's it. In the area a...

June 20 2015: Cleopatras are still around in great quantities, as are the Hairstreaks (Blue-spot, Ilex and False Ilex). Also many Silver-washed Fritillaries, including these two females. IMG_4572.JPG IMG_4578.JPG I saw a couple of Weaver's Fritillaries. IMG_4594.JPG June 21 2015: There was a Scarce ...

My best guess is Knapweed Fritillary, but it looks very strange to me.

EDITED, JUNE 25: Oops, it seems I forgot to add the photo .
--
Colin