What's flying in Marseilles 2015

[Charles Nicol]

very nice pics there Chris. i especially liked the Nettle Tree Butterfly.

i shall be arriving in France on 23rd July.

Charles

[Chris Jackson]

Looking forward to your gastronomic arrival in France, Charles.

Today, Wednesday, 1st July - 33°C
Believe it or not, the South of France is not the worst hit by the heat wave, there are other régions, including Paris, where it is hotter

Today I saw this individual, in a place I do not usually visit.

Is this a Black Satyr ? (Satyrius actaea)
My reference books show much less contrast in the colours.

This photo was taken with a mobile phone - sorry

Thank you for your comments.
Chris

[LancsRover]

Hi Chris, Long time no speak, great pics of Cleopatra(I know how hard it is to get that pic) and I like your Spanish Gatekeepers.
I was wondering how hot it was today in your area? it's been 32c in Fineshade Wood(Stamford) where I have been chasing Silver-washed Frits. among others and you tell me it's only 1c warmer in Marseilles I can't beleive it.
Regards Russ.

[Chris Jackson]

Good to hear from you, Russ. Glad things are going well and you're getting some good weather. Its about time the UK had a good summer. And particularly thanks for looking into my thread .
Chris

[Charles Nicol]

Looking forward to your gastronomic arrival in France, Charles.

Today, Wednesday, 1st July - 33°C
Believe it or not, the South of France is not the worst hit by the heat wave, there are other régions, including Paris, where it is hotter

Today I saw this individual, in a place I do not usually visit.

Is this a Black Satyr ? (Satyrius actaea)
My reference books show much less contrast in the colours.

actaeaX_13 Parc La Magenta Vitrolles 01 Jul 2015.jpg

This photo was taken with a mobile phone - sorry

Thank you for your comments.
Chris

could it be some kind of Grayling ?

[Chris Jackson]

Hi Charles,
After a second look in my Tolman & Lewington, I'm more convinced its a Black Satyr although there is more contrast in the markings on my individual. I've already spotted 'regular' Grayling this year, and they don't look like that round here. When I got a glimpse of the uppersides, the Black Satyr is much darker than the Grayling.

Today it is 33°C here in Vitrolles, and lunchtime up in the scrub was hot and sweaty, but I saw my first Long-tailed blue and Striped Grayling of the year.

Cheers, Chris

[Chris Jackson]

Hi folks,

South of France, 33°C, no wind, hot, sweaty and uncomfortable,

Today in my local Parc des Bruyères:
Swallowtail looking for refreshment on a damp patch

A Two-tailed Pasha Caterpillar in a strawberry tree
Caterpillar resulting from first generation (measuring 4 cm, perhaps in last Caterpillar stage ?)
2nd brood expected at end of summer

Context for Strawberry Tree

A Cicada on a pine tree

A Southern Gatekeeper

Cheers, Chris

[CFB]

Chris,
I love your Two-tailed Pasha caterpillar. If it wasn't so hot I'd go out into the garden and scrutinise our arbousier tree .

These last couple of days we've had visits in the garden from a Scarce Swallowtail or two, together with a Geranium Bronze or two.
--
Colin

[Chris Jackson]

Hi Colin,
It should be reaching 35°C today in Marseilles. As I write, it is 30°C inside the house (we don't have air conditioning), and we have 3+ Scarse Swallowtails on the buddleias - it is the most common species this week, and my wife's favourite.
Chris

[Charles Nicol]

great pics Chris !

we have an arbutus in the back garden but i don't think that we are likely to find any Pasha caterpillars on it

[Chris Jackson]

Hello, Charles,
An update from a previous posting, my jasius caterpillar is now 5 cm long , I'm hoping to catch it pupating !!

Today 9th July, only 33°C - heatwave finished

The biggest surprise this year is the abundance of Black Satyr. I thought they were rare but I am now seeing them everywhere I look.
Today in my local park, apart from the local 'common' species, I saw:
Black Satyr (perhaps returning to this park 6 years after it burnt down ? - I have no prior knowledge unfortunately):

Striped Grayling, which I was expecting, and which I have seen in other locations over the last week or so:

A rather large cicada (these chirp in the pine trees),

plus the moult of a cicada (something out of 'Alien').

I know nothing about cicadas. Males / females = big / small. Are there "Queens" ? A minority are 4 or 5 times bigger than the others . I bet one of our 'bug' contributors knows !!
In a different place, in town, I saw these moths hanging around a 'date' palm.

Cheers, Chris

[CFB]

Chris,

Your moth is a Paysandisia archon (aka Palm Moth, aka Le Clandestin des palmiers). Their larvae apparently create havoc with certain palm trees .

This tatty one was in our garden two years ago, even though we don't have any palms.

You are doing very well with your Black Satyrs, Striped Graylings and what have you .

Cheers,
Colin

[Chris Jackson]

Thanks for the details, Colin.
I could see that this date palm was a focal point for them !!
Next week we will be in Grasse - not much cooler than here I'll bet
We will be at Belambra "Les Jasmins".
Chris.

[Chris Jackson]

South of France, 33°C in the afternoon and 25°C at night, with mosquitoes of course

Last week I popped inland and upland from Marseilles to visit the mountain of Saint Baume, and saw some seasonal species:
Black Satyr, which seems quite common this year:

Chalk-hill Blue, I think, not Provence Chalk-hill ? (the poor thing was after any humidity it could find):

Woodland Grayling :

A Pyrgus, but which I do not know ?:

A Purple Hairstreak, in poor condition:

An unfamiliar butterfly:

Some context:

Cheers, Chris

[John Vergo]

Hi
To the pyrgus I would say : Olive Skipper ( P. serratulae)
the unfamiliar blue : Furry blue ( Polyommatus dolus)
br
john

[Charles Nicol]

Hello, Charles,
An update from a previous posting, my jasius caterpillar is now 5 cm long , I'm hoping to catch it pupating !!

Today 9th July, only 33°C - heatwave finished

The biggest surprise this year is the abundance of Black Satyr. I thought they were rare but I am now seeing them everywhere I look.
Today in my local park, apart from the local 'common' species, I saw:
Black Satyr (perhaps returning to this park 6 years after it burnt down ? - I have no prior knowledge unfortunately):

The attachment actaea15_13 P Bruyères 09 Jul 2015 (5).JPG is no longer available

The attachment actaea15_13 P Bruyères 09 Jul 2015 (2).JPG is no longer available

Striped Grayling, which I was expecting, and which I have seen in other locations over the last week or so:

The attachment fidia16_13 P Bruyères 09 Jul 2015.JPG is no longer available

A rather large cicada (these chirp in the pine trees),

The attachment cigale.JPG is no longer available

plus the moult of a cicada (something out of 'Alien').

The attachment cigale moult.JPG is no longer available

I know nothing about cicadas. Males / females = big / small. Are there "Queens" ? A minority are 4 or 5 times bigger than the others . I bet one of our 'bug' contributors knows !!
In a different place, in town, I saw these moths hanging around a 'date' palm.

The attachment moth.JPG is no longer available

Cheers, Chris

i think this is a Palm Moth... it was in the main square of Carcassonne :

i hope your Pashapillar is doing OK



Charles

[David M]

I think Furry Blue is the only real candidate for your Lycaenid, Chris. It certainly doesn't match anything else you might have down there.

[Chris Jackson]

Thank you John and David for the Furry Blue ID.
I'm unsure for the skipper, however. My fault for not getting an upperside shot.

Charles,
We are currently in the area of Grasse and Cannes, and as I sip my cocktail by the pool, the palm trees are swarming with these moths. A rich holiday-maker's burden I suppose.
Chris

[Charles Nicol]

Thank you John and David for the Furry Blue ID.
I'm unsure for the skipper, however. My fault for not getting an upperside shot.

Charles,
We are currently in the area of Grasse and Cannes, and as I sip my cocktail by the pool, the palm trees are swarming with these moths. A rich holiday-maker's burden I suppose.
Chris

il faut imaginer Sisyphe heureux



Charles

[Padfield]

Hi Chris. Again, with respect to John V., I would say this cannot be serratulae. Living in the Alps I know this species very well and none of its characters fit. A useful feature, which adds considerably to the jzz, is that the veins on serratulae are the same colour as the ground colour, making the hindwing look particularly flat. Sometimes the veins catch the light but they never stand out. If the distribution works, I would go for cirsii for your butterfly.

Guy