Many thanks, Guy, for the suggestions and kind remarks. I'm sure you are right (as usual :D ). The Junonia was the only specimen I saw and did not see the open wings. The white rectangle at the underwing costa looks pretty distinctive for J. hedonia - my suggestion was a hopeful stab in the dark. Wi...

The Blue Glassy Tiger was also in good numbers in the reserve: 21-DSC09919_edited-1.jpg 12-tiger.jpg Most days I managed a walk along the forest edge, where I was delighted to find a Hoary Palmer (Unkana ambasa): 1-DSC09833_edited-1.jpg Several Common Jezebels (Delias eucharis) were floating about, ...

Hi Guy, It was cithaeron , but apparently some idiot had released several adults (eclosed from pupae bought from an African supplier)about ten years ago. Mine was the third or fourth report (although the first photograph). The species appears to have established itself on the island and, I guess, wi...

Just back from 10 days in Sabah, near Tuaran. Although it was mainly beach for my hard worked wife, there were some interesting butterflies to be found around the resort, which boasted a 200 acre Nature Reserve. The Common Mormon was just that, but almost impossible to photograph as they never usual...

And one from me to everyone.

Nice one, Jack - an excellent read. Took me back to the bumper Clouded Yellow year of 1947...

The mortal remains of Antony Moore.

'In flight' would be a challenging category...

Tony M.

Frankenoptera?

Tony M.

Fascinating stuff - what a find!

Tony M.

Thanks, David. Condolences gratefully received.

Tony.

Further to my photo of C.cithaeron taken on Mauritius in September(see personal diary), and thought initially to be a first record for the island, I have now heard from Steve Collins from the African Butterfly Research Institute that apparently some idiot brought some pupae to Mauritius from Africa ...

Done! Good luck...

Tony M.

Thanks, Peter.

Tony M.

Do the entries have to be from 2017 only, or does the competition run from Nov 30 2016?

Thanks, Wurzel - it did seem something of a privilege to see such stuff. I have still heard nothing back from the Mauritian authorities about the Blue-spotted Emperor. They do appear to be consumed with apathy where matters entomological are concerned. Does anyone have any ideas about whom I might c...

One of the best 'wildlife' places on the island is the Black River Gorge, where there are bits of original forest, including the once widespread Ebony. We dutifully did a trek in this National Park, but were eventually defeated by the Mauritian equivalent of the Stable Fly (Stomoxys calcitrans) They...

On the second day, we did a 10k trek through the Bras d'Eau nature reserve, a few miles to the north. It is one of the last strongholds of the Mauritian Paradise Flycatcher – now down to about 200 pairs on the planet. During a brief rest break, one appeared a couple of metres away. We had a great vi...

Just returned from two weeks in Mauritius on a R&R trip for my hard working wife – I should be so lucky! Presumably, because of its remoteness, the island only boasts 30 or so butterfly species, but most are fairly common, and about half of them were seen during our stay, plus a real surprise on...

Hear, hear!!

Tony M.

Brilliant, Iain,

No need to wait for next July - find some south facing flowering Elm and look for eggs in Nov/Dec. I found eggs in Stafford over five years before I saw an adult...

Tony M.