Excellent work by all those involved. I take my hat off to you.
Chris

Thank you Charles and David, Here is today's instalment. Wednesday 19th September Behind my workplace one of the Southern White Admiral (3rd generation?) eggs has hatched. I must have missed it by a matter of minutes because the cat was still eating its egg shell. On honeysuckle: reducta32 caterpill...

Thanks Guy,
I had a horrible feeling it was H. fagi chasing after B. circe.
Yes, you win a pint or 2 and a packet of crisps next time I see you.
Chris

Hi Folks,
Today, 16 September, South of France, west Var, 400 m altitude.
43.356909, 5.745434
Have a look at this photo and please tell me who is courting who ?
I need a 2nd opinion. Have a bash even if you are not familiar.
Thanks,
Chris

13th September South of France This is bit of a continuation from some of the story lines on page 6. Next to my workplace this year I have witnessed (or at least I think I have), all three generations of Southern White Admiral. This colony is based on two clumps of honeysuckle - Lonicera implexa . H...

Great Chalkhill shots, Andrew.
Definitely prize winners.
Chris

Yes, good shots of the Pasha, Charles.

Tremendous work, Chris. If you can observe it when it emerges I'll buy you a meal and a pint!! :) You got off lightly this time David :D The Scarce Swallowtail imago must have emerged while I was at work yesterday, so the pupa stage lasted 11 days. Reminder of the pupa in the evening of 9th of Augu...

Bring on the Pastis* and the Pashas!

*A consommer avec plus ou moins de modération

Chris

Good report, Vince, with plenty of detail.

Chris

Show us the photos, Lee.
Chris

Good luck with your house moving Guy.
Family is priority.
I'm sure that many great opportunities are waiting for you and I have no doubt that you will rise to them.
Switzerland's loss is UK's gain.
Chris

... I'll buy you a meal and a pint!! :) Thanks David, but that won't be necessary. Pending any emergence of a Scarce Swallowtail, the successive generations continue and overlap. Whilst we have pupa maturing, we have fresh eggs hatching. Today in my garden on an apricot tree, a 1st instar I. podali...

David M wrote:Fascinating, Chris. I shall look forward to the next sequence.

Wait no longer, David.
09 August
Scarce Swallowtail pupated.
Latecomers, check above for the start of the sequence.

Chris

Thanks Charles, And to continue with early stages, I have a very recent short series of photos. These are shots of a Scarce Swallowtail cat in my garden in the south of France, on Prunus domesticus (Reine Claude plum) 3rd of August. 30 mm long. Notice the camouflage spots. On the upperside of a leaf...

Apart from physical characteristics, when you have experienced both in flight, there is a big difference in jizz. DGF has a noticeably higher wing beat rate and when it lands, it often lands in the shade at the base of a plant.
Christopher

Good set of photos, Paul.
My go-to fail-safe camera is the FZ150.
Keep up the good work.
Chris.

NickMorgan wrote:Chris,
A little out of date, but as it doesn't cost anything, this is worth a look: http://sea-entomologia.org/PDF/MSEA11Le ... iurnos.pdf

Thanks Nick.
Those distribution maps look really precise, and the bilingual text could come in handy.

Chris

Thanks for the Spanish field guide details, Guy.
And thanks for the heads up on the restrictions. I'll make sure there is nothing around that looks vaguely like a net.
We don't want heavy fines - monies would be better invested in chilled cerveza.

Adios
Chris

Hello All, Can anyone recommend a field guide (not a large hardcover) limited to the butterflies of Spain? Or even Spain + Portugal at a pinch, but not including the rest of Europe (that I have already). If it were in Spanish, that would add an extra challenge :lol: . Preferably with distribution ma...