What's flying in Marseilles 2015

[Charles Nicol]

have just caught up with your most recent sets of pics. The Spanish Gatekeeper and the False Ilex were especially formidable !

the spider was amazing.

keep 'em coming !

PS hope your shirt works with the GBGs. they especially liked my red stripy shirt.



Charles

[Chris Jackson]

Nice shirt, Charles, I'll have a word with my stylist.

Today, June 10th, down in the Olive Grove next to my office

After the thunderstorms of these last couple of days, the temperature has dropped back from 30+ to 25°C.
Here are some pics of Glanville caterpillars in their silk web, feeding on plantain:

Also flying, Holly Blue

Marbled Frit

Marbled White

and plenty of Meadow Brown, False Ilex, Dusky Heath, Cleopatras, blues .. whites ... and a sudden large resurgence of Wall Browns.
Cheers, Chris

[Chris Jackson]

South of France - hot and sweaty 33°C

This week I had my first sighting of a Southern Gatekeeper this season, and today my first photo:

also flying, Brown Argus

in this place, near work in Vitrolles

Earlier in the week on my home patch in Marseilles:
Silver-studded blue

False Ilex Hairstreak

Pair of Spanish Gatekeepers

and a spider in my local park

In the garden:
Geranium Bronze (groggy, probably because it had received a blast of insecticide from the neighbour who is furious about these "pests" on his geraniums)

There are definitely less GBs in my garden this year than last.
Chris

[Sylvie_h]

Hi Chris,

Tell me about pesticides !! Don't worry if your neighbour uses them, he's also getting his dose of neonicotinoids...

There is an urge also for the public to sign the petition against the lifting of the ban of these powerful pesticicdes in the UK which is due to take place in the autumn.
Already 300 000 people have signed the petition and it is advised to email your MP also and state your views. The focus is on bees but there are also a lot of other pollinators out there (hoverflies, wasps and butterflies).
You can see (and sign if you haven’t already!) the petition here:
https://secure.38degrees.org.uk/keep-the-ban

Sylvie

[David M]

Thanks for bringing that to our attention, Sylvie. I thought we'd left all this hardcore poison behind us?

Petition duly signed.

[Sylvie_h]

Thanks David.

Sylvie

[Charles Nicol]

Thanks David.

Sylvie

Moi aussi

[Chris Jackson]

I have been absent from my local stomping ground in Marseilles for a week due to 'obligations' in the Pyrenees.
As soon as I got back I noted that the Great Banded Grayling and the Grayling are present in Marseilles - a sure sign of summer:

Cheers, Chris

[Chris Jackson]

I would like to share this upperside shot I managed 10 days ago.
Its lacking some clarity and is heavily cropped - I'm aiming for better :

(Panasonic FZ150)

An ID for this skipper please ?

Cheers, Chris

[David M]

Your Cleopatra image is pretty sharp, Chris. Well done.

As for your skipper, I'm not certain but its apparent small size and extended abdomen shouts 'Lulworth' at me, although I am probably wrong!

[John Vergo]

The Skipper is for sure a T. acteon ( Lulworth Skipper)

[Chris Jackson]

Thank you David and John,
I think I've come to the conclusion that, amongst the 'orangies', I only have Lulworth and Small in my neck of the woods.

I suppose my Cleopatra is 'relatively' sharp, David, considering the bridge camera I use - imagine the results if I was kitted out with more 'professional' gear, and if I knew how to use it
You yourself David have had some good in-flight upperside shots.
Cheers, Chris

[Charles Nicol]

I would like to share this upperside shot I managed 10 days ago.
Its lacking some clarity and is heavily cropped - I'm aiming for better :

cleopatra20_13 male upperside P Bruyères 12 Jun 2015 (a).jpg

(Panasonic FZ150)

An ID for this skipper please ?

P1320564.JPG

Cheers, Chris

Great Cleopatra pic there Chris !

i have just booked my hols in France

Charles

[NickMorgan]

Yes, I would be very happy with a Cleopatra shot like that! Looks great to me.

[Chris Jackson]

... i have just booked my hols in France Charles

A gastronomic butterflying holiday, Charles ? My tummy is rumbling already !!

Nick, have you made plans to get away butterflying this summer (farther South) ?

26th June - 31°C and the odd cloud (fortunately)
Today I moved inland and uphill from Marseilles. Fifty minutes drive and at an altitude of 650 meters everything changes.
I visited Plan d'Aups which is on the border between the Bouches du Rhone and the Var.
Any confirmation of ID is welcome.
I saw what I think is a Niobe Fritillary - rare for me !

Context - Plan d'Aups

Not sure of this blue (Blue No. 1):

Silver-washed Frit f. valezina (very chuffed to have seen one, although Colin in the Alpes Maritimes sees many more than me and manages much clearer photos)

Now here is a scoop, if I'm not wrong this may be a Spanish Purple Hairstreak !!! Wow, a lifer for me

Context

Blue ? (Blue No. 2) (unders and uppers)

Southern White Admiral

Another lifer - Ilex Hairstreak
This may be the first time I've found my usual 'Marseilles' False Ilex Hairstreak in the same environment as an Ilex Hairstreak
ilisis ??

esculi ??

Which skipper please ?

My first Pearly Heath here in the South (I usually only see Dusky Heaths)

What a fun day !!
Apart from that, 20+ other species that I ignored because I see them down in Marseilles. So much to see, so little time.
Cheers, Chris

[Padfield]

Hi Chris. Your blues are escheri. I'm afraid the ilicis is in fact spini - so not a lifer! Sorry ... Yes to the esculi and niobe too - and roboris of course. No doubt with that one!

I thought that Cleopatra ups was a great shot!

Guy

EDIT - oh - and that skipper is large skipper.

[Chris Jackson]

Thanks Guy,
I guess you are right about spini, I was getting over-excited.
Ah well.
Still, pretty chuffed with the Spanish Purple Hairstreak (pointed in the right direction by Roger !!)
As for my Cleopatra ups photo - glad I can make my contribution (apporter ma pierre à l'edifice) as we say
Cheers, Chris

[David M]

Well done on the Spanish Purple Hairstreak, Chris.

Great find.

[Charles Nicol]

you have been busy Chris !

i especially liked your valezina... a splendid pic.

i shall be enjoying the délices visibles of the Aude again. looks like i can practice during next week's heatwave !



Charles

[Chris Jackson]

... Well done on the Spanish Purple Hairstreak ...

Thanks, David, but an upperside shot is essential, and they don't seem very willing !!
A challenge met is always replaced by another challenge.

Today, once again, I moved north-east out of Marseilles and into the Var, to the Plan d'Aups, and more importantly, close to the mountain of the Sainte Baume. This mountain and its surrounds, is host to 137 species out of the 256 species of butterflies found in France.
I saw 20+ species in the space of 2 hours. Here are just a couple of pics of the prime species seen:
Spanish Purple Hairstreak:

and the plant that attracts it, and that was buzzing with many other insects, Rhus coriania - Sumac:

Nettle Tree Butterfly:

High Brown Fritillary ? (uppers and unders):

Context - near Plan d'Aups

I'll spare you pics of the common cleopatra, didyma, icarus, spini, podalirius, crocea, paphia, jurtina, argiolus, niobe, daphne, arcania, reducta, esculi, phlaeas, machaon, escheri, alphacariensis.........
Temperatures should be hitting 40°C here next week, I'd rather be in the UK
Cheers, Chris