Guess who came to dinner today.... The Two-tailed Pasha (Charaxes jasius).

Roger

I would opt for serratulae . There are indications from the underside, and the upperside, whilst a little odd for serratulae , is not abnormal for this highly variable species. As for accretus , my understanding is that this is more heavily marked and quite far removed from nominate alveus . But who...

They are very common in France, sometimes exceptionally common - here is an image of a hundred or so males taking salts from the ground. Aporia crataegi_12529W.JPG And a curio - a female that had just emerged - chrysalis visible - but the veins had not not yet turned black. It didn't stay long enoug...

Nice that the Southern White Admirals come to you, now. I remember the first one you saw, near Toulon in 2004? (it was when we saw Furry Blues – you were en route back from the Pyrenees), we were having lunch where we were staying, when you spotted a SWA which you quickly followed, hurdling a fence ...

That is some image of deione, Guy, perfectly captured and with a depth of field that is probably beyond the reach of most macros.

I doubt that even top-of-the-range expensive cameras could match that.

And, of course, it's not just the camera, it's the person behind it.

Roger

Hi Pete, Tolman does actually describe a subspecies, baetica , but he makes the distinction between north African and European races, baetica being the European subspecies, with no apparent distinction between French and Spanish “races”. Another female we saw was very much paler red, but not because...

On our route to Var in south-central France in mid-May, we made a “slight” diversion of about 250 miles to spend a day or two in the eastern Pyrenees mainly for Spanish Fritillary ( Euphydryas desfontainii ) at a little-known location which I had been told about but only after I had been sworn to se...

Pete’s post prompted me to re-read the reports of the early Mercantour/Alps trips 2014-16, quite nostalgic to recall the very pleasant and like-minded guests and the way they melded into a very convivial group almost immediately. One situation I found quite amusing was when the group were delayed at...

A morning at Inchcombe Hole on Thursday (the day after millerd) produced the best of the weather as it clouded over at lunchtime. There were several Dukes, all males some fresh and some already showing signs of wear, a male Holly Blue (doing something strange on the ground), Grizzled Skipper or two ...

I agree that foulquieri could be an option, but I say that in the sense of not ruling it out rather than thinking that it is. The forewing markings are quite jagged, yes, usually an indication of foulquieri , but not exclusively. One problem is that serratulae is very widespread and very variable, p...

I agree with Guy, and would add that there are also three clues to serratulae from what can be seen of the underside markings: Discal s1 looks non-leaning basally – nearly all other candidates have a leaning mark here Discal s4/5 looks to be broadly rectangular – indicative of serratulae Marginal s2...

I agree this is nearly 100% carthami , even from the upperside view alone. The forewing markings are almost conclusive, strong marks and very white, plus the cell spot is often this shape for carthami . As to the hindwing submarginal markings, as Guy says, of the options it can only be carthami . Th...

I have described as the only butterfly species designed by Barnes Wallace.

Roger

These two species are remarkably deceptive. The problem is that maera males of the form adrasta are very different to the nominate form of maera and look very much like megera . Have a look at the illustrations in Tolman and Lewington. Don't beat yourself up. :) To illustrate the point, here is an i...

Coypu are not uncommon in southern France, especially in the freshwater lakes just inland from the coast. Their spread might be aided by locals and tourists that feed them, just as they do with boars. There is a slight suggestion that the Wall might actually be a Large Wall. I totally agree with Guy...

Padfield wrote: ↑Sat Dec 17, 2022 4:49 pm Orion is rising over the Grand Chamossaire, with Gemini to the left,

There was me, looking for the Chequered Blue....

Taken locally in Hertfordshire. They were in copula on a track used by cyclists, so were helped to the safety of a nearby bush.

...And a female underside, beautifully boldly marked.. Amazing individual! Never seen one remotely like that, Roger. Neither had I, David. I saw it in central France when it was in a Lucerne field, one of maybe 50 Common Blues none of which looked like this. My (and Guy's) Dutch friend Peter Groene...

I can't compete with millerd's fabulous array of blue females, but here are a couple of my favourite images from France: A mating pair which had the decency to both be fresh and be in the same plane Polyommatus icarus_49240W.JPG And a female underside, beautifully boldly marked Polyommatus icarus_50...

As David says, impossible to be sure, but on what can be seen, I would be leaning towards Wall rather than large Wall.

A clearer underside shot would be very helpful.

Roger