And possibly as extreme as this (near Marseilles). Or is this a sub-species ?

Hello JKT,
Thanks for replying.
Anything flying in Finland at the moment ?
Greetings from Marseilles.
Chris

Thanks for your reply Guy. I've seen the video and I think I will have nightmares tonight. How scarey. Its like something out of Alien !
CJ

Hi all,
Today I found a number of these caterpillars on fennel in the South of France. The majority seemed to be "nurturing" a cluster of eggs or mini cocoons. Does anyone know what they are and what they are doing ?
Thanks, Chris.

Hello again David,
"Hélas" September will soon be out.

Thanks Guy, and hello again FISHiEE, Glad to hear you had a good time in Corsica. I am amazed that you saw that many TTPs although this may be a particularly good year for this species. I am becoming more familiar this year with this mythical species. I believe that fig trees ARE an attraction to th...

Hi all,
We're still getting temperatures up to 25°C down here in the South of France, so moral is good and I'm making the most of it while it lasts.

Thanks Guy, it must have just been travelling through because it is not a frequent sight and I can't believe they breed around here. Chris.

Hi all, I saw this drab ghost of a butterfly in my garden in Marseilles this morning. I've seen Silver Washed Fritillaries before but I'm sure this was larger, had none of that orange one expects in a SWF, and it swooped on me a couple of times. It had a go at the buddleias and then flew off again. ...

Nice photos. Any idea what the host plant is?

Hi Lee,
I'm looking forward to seeing an interesting report.
Bring it on as it comes.
Chris.

Hi Colin, I popped out this morning to the outskirts of Marseille to try and rival your open-wing shot. This was the result - there is still room for improvement though. The weather conditions are good at the moment and we can't be far off the peak of the TTP season. Its a good year. Regards to all ...

Hi Colin, Great photos of a magnificent butterfly. This may be a good year for the TTP as I myself have seen about 5 or 6 in the Marseille region this year whereas over the last 2 years it has remained a rather fleeting and mythical BF for me. I cannot beat your open-wing shot, for the moment!! Chri...

Thanks Guy. I can now put my records straight. Chris

Hi, can someone identify this butterfly for me please, photos taken in the South of France at the beginning of June; I'm torn between alphacariensis and hyale. I'm sure my fluke open-wing shot is a dead give-away to someone in the know. It is the quantity of black colouring that is throwing me. This...

Its probably not much consolation to you, but the number of Humingbird hawk moths this year in Marseilles is probably about the same as last year, so I don't think there is any particular catastrophe - perhaps it depends on wind direction ?
Chris

Nice souvenirs Kev. Photos to contemplate over winter. Unfortunately all good things have an end - until the next time of course!
CJ

Nice photos Kev. Surely a Holiday to remember. The nice thing in the Alps is the variety of flora and fauna and you never know which butterfly you're going to come across next.
Chris.

Hi folks, I'm lucky enough to have the mediteranean scrub (garrigue) just behind my office in Vitrolles (Bouches du Rhone), and today's lunch-break stroll was well worth it. There were 2 Two-tailed Pashas hilltopping with a Swallowtail and a Scarce Swallowtail. If I see a Two-tailed Pasha, it is at ...

Thank you Roger for your quick reply. Oberthür's it will be ! On a different note, I will get back to you later in the year if I may as I need to be parachuted-in with pinpoint accuracy (place and time) on Festoons for next spring in the South of France as I believe you have some experience in these...