Interesting stuff recently Chris. I must admit I know very little of butterflies outside the UK. Love the little Provencal Hairstreak, and the Southern Festoon. :D Hope your getting on ok with the FZ1000. :) Cheers Thanks Andrew, As for the FZ1000, it is proving handy for distant shots of butterfli...

When do you normally expect to see your first adult euphenoides , Chris? Hi David, There have been only a handful of sightings thus far in PACA. I have not seen one yet myself but there again I spend time at work, unfortunately. I would say that April 5th would be a peak date for sightings, and the...

Update on egg coloration. This egg seen on Buckler's Mustard ( Biscutella laevigata ), in Marseilles, has changed colour over 48 hours. It may well be A. euphenoides , but hopefully we will soon see. Egg on Sunday evening (01Apr): euphenoides - egg1 on Biscutella laevigata St Marcel 01Apr18 (1aa).JP...

Hi Folks - south of France, 3rd April Today it is overcast and breezy so there were no butterflies next to my workplace at lunchtime. However, there are plenty of flowers and plants in the scrub at the moment. On the Plateau of Vitrolles: Wild Tulip - Tulipe sauvage (Tulipa sylvestris) (Liliaceae) T...

Nice one, Jack.

That got a few giggles around the office.

Chris

Hi Essex, Provencal Hairstreak is a protected species in France and as such its location is a bit hush hush. As well, the flight period is little more than 4 weeks and often we get variable weather at this time of year (it can be wet, cool and windy) so photo opportunities can be slim. Yes David, it...

Provence Orangetips! :D Thanks Essex, If you are interested, this is one place where I post my sightings from the south of France PACA region : http://www.faune-paca.org/index.php?m_id=5&p_c=1&p_cc=-1&sp_tg=9&sp_DateSynth=01.04.2018&sp_DChoice=offset&sp_DOffset=5&sp_SCho...

Hi Pete,
An excellent storyline and some great photos.
It just makes you want to be there, and with the right person to guide you of course.
Most of those species are on my wish list.

Good work, Pete.

Chris

Latest news I have found an egg on Biscutella laevigata . Which species does this egg belong to ? A clue : in the south of France we have E. crameri, A. euphenoides and A. cardamines egg on Biscutella laevigata St Marcel 01Apr18 (2a).JPG egg on Biscutella laevigata St Marcel 01Apr18 (2).JPG egg on B...

Thanks Tony, Latest news from the south of France. The Provencal Hairstreak is 10 days late this year compared with 2017. What a relief when I spotted my first of the year yesterday in the Var at 360 m altitude. A male: ballus23 male 31Mar18 (1).JPG ballus23 male 31Mar18 (2).JPG ballus23 male 31Mar1...

Lovely selection, Chris, although surely you can only count that as half a Wall Brown? :D Thanks, David. My new FZ1000 is OK for distant shots, but it doesn't seem to give as good macro results as the FZ150. Here are some recent photos from the south of France. This cold spell seems to be holding b...

... Looks like the season is up and running on both sides of the Channel! ... Hi David, Just having spent 1 week back in Leicester, with the "mini beast from the east", and clearly no chance of spotting a UK butterfly, and then having snow showers welcome me back to Marseilles Marignane a...

Thank you David, Essex and Charles. I will keep my eyes peeled when the weather improves. I am currently in Leicester visiting family as I write, and the mini beast from the east is blowing a blizzard across the garden. Some birds, squirrels and foxes have been seen in the garden though: P_20180318_...

Thank you Charles. Tuesday 13th March - lo of 7°C and hi of 14°C Here is bit of an update from the south of France. Sightings today at lunchtime: Bath White, Large White (species #10), Small White and Red Admiral Bath White, female, uppers and unders: daplidice43 female Vitrolles scrub 13Mar18 (10)....

downland boy wrote:Yes, that is an early instar Oak Eggar larva...they overwinter in this stage. DB

Thanks Downland Boy.
Chris

Thanks for the photo Charles.
My cat looks a bit different but it could be at a different stage.
Chris

Hello Roger, I have checked the PACA Atlas and my sighting corresponds to a historical location which has not had reports since the year 2000. I think that this is simply because people do not go in the field, or previous lepidopterists from the area have moved on or gone to "join that big butt...

Hi Folks, I saw this cat yesterday in the South of France on Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa) while looking for Brown Hairstreak eggs. Any ideas ? I didn't see a nest of cats nearby. It was all on its own. caterpillar on Prunus spinosa 10Mars18 (5).JPG Context: context - betulae - egg La Taurelle 10Mars1...

Brown Hairstreak eggs (x 10) seen today on Prunus spinosa in the South of France. Hey ho. Good news.
Chris

Thursday 08 March
14°C, sunny spells

In Vitrolles, south of France

..... and another white ....
#9
Bath White, male: Chris