Hi Paul Just a few comments on your interesting trip report so far. Balkan Green-veined White . Considerable doubt has been cast on the validity of this taxon. See for example http://www.butterfliesofbulgaria.com/pienap.html . But quite apart from that, the reduced veining you mention is actually ty...

Looks like a hoverfly larva. It likes nothing better than chomping aphids if you have any to spare in your garden.

M.

I have recently returned from an EIG survey trip to Bulgaria, with the Bosnian or Balkan Blue Plebejus dardanus as target species. On 8 July we arrived at the Slavyanka hizha (mountain hut) for a stay of three nights. Mt Slavyanka (aka Alibotush) is on the border with Greece, to the south of the Pir...

I was leaving this for Guy, but since my name has been mentioned I will add my twopenn'orth. For me they are definitely osiris . In the Mazarine the veins on the upperside are more distinct, being darker than the ground colour. I'd say that Mazarines in Bulgaria do not differ significantly from thos...

The 'Bull frogs' are Green Toads Epidalea viridis, close relatives of the Natterjack. Pseudophilotes vicrama= Eastern Baton Blue.

M.

Your caterpillar is the Red Sword-grass Xylena vetusta. Not sure if the moth is identifiable from the photo.

M.

I would suggest Balkan Zephyr Blue Plebejus sephirus rather than Escher's. The female with the large lunules on the hindwing may also be that species. By the way, the caterpillars you identify as Black-veined White are those of the Small Eggar Eriogaster lanestris . The large solitary larva is proba...

I think it's more likely to be a worn Amanda's. The Pontic Blue has broad dark borders to both fore- and hind-wings. Both species were common at Xerokambos in early June 1986, both utilising the same foodplant. Image of Pontic Blue attached.

M.

That is indeed the ordinary Clouded Yellow. I attach a shot of the Greek Clouded Yellow from 1986 in which you can see that the discal spot on the forewing underside has a yellow centre. The males are also quite distinctive in flight , appearing darker than crocea beause of the purplish sheen.

M.

Hello Dave. I am enjoying your trip report, which brings back memories of my visit to the same area back in June 1986. I am a little puzzled that you do not seem to be seeing the Greek Clouded Yellow at the Xerokambos site. As an enthusiast for orthoptera I 'd like to comment on your Eupholidoptera ...

It's a longhorn beetle, difficult to identify from this angle, but perhaps Rhagium mordax. You could try posting it on iSpot.

M.

In 1999 Butterfly Conservation published a booklet on the Holly Blue by Ken Willmott that's well worth reading if it's still available.

Misha

In May 1974 I had the good fortune to be the first person to see, or at least to recognise, the Chequered Skipper at Glasdrum. There is a story to tell about how this came about, but this thread is probably not the place for it. For purely historical reasons I attach a scan of the Kodachrome 2 slide...

According to Kudrna the name debilis is a nomen nudum , that is a name published without an accompanying description, and is therefore invalid. The next available name for the distinctive alpine taxon is glaciegenita . As far as I know, the most recent research does not support the contention that g...

April 13th. Constant sunshine and only the lightest of zephyrs. I took a long walk, first about three miles along the Bournemouth cliffs towards Hengistbury Head. This produced just 3 butterflies - 3 Clouded Yellows. Then at Hengistbury Head one Speckled Wood. Walking back through the Wick Fields, w...

Agreed. Garden Tiger.

I wonder if someone with both a bat detector and a camera with ultrasonic focus motor (Canon or Nikon AF-S) could look what sort of 'signature' the motor emits as it operates? I'd be interested to see the results. Mike I have just carried out a test using my Canon 100mm IS macro on an EOS 60D with ...

Junonia hierta perhaps?

Misha

My only visit to the Kalavryta area was in the first half of June and it was superb, but you are likely to see a different suite of species in July. In your place I would be looking for the Chelmos Blue Polyommatus iphigenia , the Odd-spot Blue Turanana endymion and the Fiery Copper Lycaena thetis h...

I don't like to speak of a breeding colony at Southbourne. Ever since I started observing Clouded Yellows there, there have been at least a few and sometimes many in the autumn, and usually some in the following spring. Unfortunately most of the spring females forsake the cliffs once mated, and, I p...