The distribution issue was the reason I didn't list the P. celina as the first choice.

You are likely right about the P. hispanus. I don't have any experience with the group so better ID without further study was impossible.

OK - the trip is done. The first day was a circle Aubert-Montcorbau-Vila-Aubert and it was unbelievable. Thanks for the tip Guy! The personal highlite was A. euphenoides, which had apparently just started. A. cardamines was more common, but worn. The Blues were dominated by C. minimus, but there wer...

Yes, I understood. I meant that I should have been there years ago.

The time is actually after mid-June, so that should not be a problem.

I'll keep that place in mind - over 3h drive one way is indeed a bit much. I could do it, but SO would definitely complain.

It would seem I'm hopelessly late then. I can always try to find new places, though. If the outside places you listed are reachable with car during a day, I'll pay a visit.

Thanks!

Thanks! Camping is not something I do, but neither do I prefer luxury hotels. Albergues along Camino Frances have worked just fine. :D I figured I'd be early for the really special ones, but I'll be delighted by many species you and Roger see all the time. July would have been nice, but that is rese...

It seems I'll be headed to Val d'Aran in June. Are there any recommendations for walking trips and places to stay? I'd prefer butterflies and SO demands good hiking trips. So what would be the walks that combine those best?

I have no idea what is the best place for E. eversi near Masca :wink: , but I can heartily recommend the walk towards sea along the ridge south of Masca. It is rather easy up to the stone circle. I have seen the species there on two occasions and both can be considered "early". I've also s...

Very nice text and gorgeus pictures from Canaries! Three comments: - I have seen couple fresh E. eversi flying near Masca December 28th. I would say that means it can start surprisingly early if weather is right. - There are a surprising number of sightings of C. marshalli at Barrancos. It may have ...

I'm a bit late for this, but two flashes on manual at 45 degree angle (one on each side) and white paper works well for light. You can control the exposure and work out the white balance. If the slide holder is rigidly fixed to camera, you can even do minimal HDR to remove digital noise from the sha...

Your'e welcome!

It took me quite a while before I found the ID for my - pretty much identical - picture from La Gomera. And I'm not limited to butterflies either.

For the larval case I'd suggest Amicta cabrerai - at least as one possibility. I don't know what the options are.

Let's see ... 0070 is Pyralis sp. and if my memory serves me right, it is P. farinalis. The last is Cucullia sp. Those I don't know further.

And if you choose to go for DSLR, you should keep in mind that lenses tend to keep their value much better than the camera bodies do. A used body can be had for rather low price and it can be perfectly usable for a long time. In canon system something like 40D would likely fullfill your needs for qu...

Thanks!
I mentioned H. aristaeus because it has been listed from Lesvos along with H. senthes. That could be a mistake coming from the time the latter was considered a subspecies of the former.

Your opinion of the last four was promising - I thought I'd missed H. pellucida.

...and the rest of the Hipparchias. It seems to me that the first might be something else and the rest are likely the same. The rest are likely H. senthes. I don't recall seeing an upperside that could be H. aristaeus. The first seems problematic. It does not seem like H. pellucida, which is the las...

I'll start with a single picture. Is this H. mersina? It certainly is the only candidate. It was also the only worn one I recall seeing.

Oh well. These are not ladies, but I'll add them to this thread anyway. The underside looks quite similar to my eyes in every case, but I don't know what the difference is...

I'm not much for diaries, but a list I can manage. :) Spialia orbifer (3) Carcharodus alcaea (~20) Carcharodus orientalis (1) Thymelicus sylvestris (~40) Thymelicus hyrax (remotely possible, but the picture will likely cancel...) Gegenes nostrodamus (1) Pelopidas thrax (1) Zerynthia cerisy (0 ... 4)...

Thanks! I'll edit the males next, but I'm afraid the megalas may have already been in aestivation.

After that I have a few Hipparchias...

That is Opisthograptis luteolata.