Thank goodness for that, Roger. That has saved me from embarassement ..... this time.
Chris

Hi Folks
Where is the error ? I m trying to decipher the BBC article on holiday on my smart phone so its not really clear (at least that's my excuse . )
Chris

Hi Chris,
You may be interested to know that in your second photo, both butterflies are nectaring on Teucrium polium (Felty Germander) .

CJ

Goldie M wrote:My contacts tell me Emperor's have been seen in Brigstock Country Park near by, near the Cafe. Goldie

I take note, Goldie.
Thanks.
Chris.

Hi Charles,
I expect there will be other people around who may be willing to give pointers.

Hi David,
Can you believe it, it is easier for me to see a Purple Emperor near my home town in England than in France .

Chris

South of France I happened upon this emergence Sunday morning in the west Var. Apparently I missed it only by a matter of minutes. Orange Fritillary just emerged: didyma46 emergence and chrysallis Vallon du Cros 24Jun18 fz150 (1).JPG Empty chrysallis some time later on my return: didyma46 chrysallis...

I'm worried to hear that there are problems at Fermyn Wood. In fact I'm coming home to Leicester from 30/06 to 03/07 and was hoping to visit these woods for the first time. I think I will still pay a visit and see what can be seen, possibly on 01/07. By the way, if anyone nearby knows the woods well...

Those are fabulous observations, Chris, and I had no idea the pupae could be located in such exposed locations. It'd be nice if during one of your future visits one of these butterflies were to be emerging from the pupa! One can but hope. Monday 11th June Witnessing a Southern White Admiral emergen...

Friday 08 June Hi All, Here is the follow on to my report from 2 days ago, from my lunchtime olive grove patch. The 5th instar Southern White Admiral cat that was green just the day before yesterday, has lost its green tinge and is starting to pupate (seen at midday today). SWA cat on Lonicera imple...

Those reducta cats and chrysalis are fantastic. I'm amazed how exposed the pupa is - I mean in terms of heat and dessication, rather than predation. Guy Hi Guy, The pupa is indeed exposed, however down here we are not exceeding 25°C and it is quite humid. This pupa is the start of the 2nd voltin. I...

Thanks David and Sylvie for your comments. I have under an hour during my lunchbreak to cover my 2 workplace patches, so it would be pretty amazing if I could actually photograph the emergency of the imago. Today I managed a couple of better shots of the same subjects. Southern White Admiral chrysal...

I will let you know if I hear of TTP in the Pyrenees, David. We did narrowly escape the hailstorms, Charles, thank you for your concern. Tuesday 05 June Down in the olive grove during my lunchbreak, the Southern White Admiral early stages are progressing. Since my last photos some 13 days ago (25th ...

Lovely Red Underwing shot, Chris. Are things warming up for you yet? Seems like France is being squeezed out of the high pressure zones right now. Thanks David, The weather has got better these last few days, with 30°C announced for tomorrow (Saturday 26/05). However a look at the forecast shows so...

Hi David and Chris, I think I would have heard reports if there were any restricted second broods. Here at low altitude (150 m ASL) both these species have stopped flying this year, but higher up there were reports of Southern Festoon still flying last weekend. Here are a few of the recently emerged...

Thanks Guy and David, This is one of the places that burned down in August 2016 so it is amazing that Z. rumina is already back again. If the dark cat really is Z. polyxena this is doubly amazing because the nearest Z. polyxena colony is at least 7 km away and both species may now be flying together...

Hi All, Today in the south of France I found two cats of more or less the same size on the same plant Aristolochia pistolochia . I know for certain that this is predominantly (if not only) a Spanish Festoon site. I have never seen a Southern Festoon flying here. Having said that, a few kilometers aw...

Thanks Andrew, David and Charles for your comments. I've been rushing around recently and getting nowhere, that's why I've been so long in replying. Down here the weather is still far from predictable at the moment and with one thing and another I'm not getting the sightings that I should at this ti...

30 April - South of France. Next up in the Zerynthia saga. My Southern Festoon ( polyxena ) eggs having hatched, and the caterpillars steadily growing, today I turned my attention to the Spanish Festoon ( rumina ) site not far from my workplace. This species runs slightly later than polyxena , and t...

Thanks, David and Charles, April 29th - South of France, Weather a bit dodgy for the coming days even down here. This is what I saw today very locally in Marseilles: A recently emerged Orange Tip cat on "Arabis sagittata", heavily cropped ... (FZ150 8) ) cardamines caterpillar on Arabis sa...

Yes Charles,
These cats belong to the "Cul brun" in French
Chris