Marseilles South of France 2017

[Sylvie_h]

Hi Chris,

Interesting observations and nice pictures, you must be very busy at this time of year in the South of France.... I guess from July, everything will start to die off and you will need to go higher up.
Regarding your dragonfly, I would go for Gomphus Simillimus although I would like to see a picture of the side of the thorax. Do you have one? Emergence at this time of year may be a bit early but knowing the area where you are species tend to abide by the weather conditions rather than by the calendar so I would not be surprised to find them 2 weeks earlier.
Sylvie

[Charles Nicol]

Glad to see that Nature is replenishing your site so quickly Chris ! I enjoyed your Festoon pics especially.

[Chris Jackson]

Hi Sylvie,
I dont have better views of the dragonfly. As you say, the weather may dictate emergence more than the calendar.
Any holidays planned for France this year ?

Hi Charles,
The Spring butterfly species will soon be making way for the Summer species, and neither of them wait for me.

Today, 28 April, South of France, Marseilles area:
A very strong Mistral wind kept most imagos grounded,
However, it was the opportunity to check out some caterpillars:

Despite the strong cold wind, in one day I managed to find 4 different butterfly species' caterpillars. I'm progressing.

Some Southern Festoon caterpillars are still in an early stage (4 to 5 mm). I was expecting to see them larger by now:

I believe this to be Provence Orange Tip caterpillar on Biscutella laevigata:
(a second opinion is seriously required)

Here, Western Dappled White caterpillar, also on Biscutella laevigata. It is larger (3.5 cm) because this species flies well before the P.O.T.:

Orange Tip caterpillar on Arabis sp.:
(The white flower heads have been eaten by the caterpillar)

Some context in the Marseilles area today, with host plants, Biscutella laevigata and Arabis sp., growing alongside this path.

Blue skies, sunny, very strong cold wind ( 14°C ).

"Wish you were here" as the post cards say,
Chris

[Chris Jackson]

Hi Folks,
1st of May, intermittent clouds, some sun and a brisk chill wind

Some of the early Spring species are reaching the end of their flight period in my area, such as the Spanish Festoon:

This one belongs to a small colony at the top of this hill at the base of the rock formation:

The vicinity of the Spanish Festoon was also playing host to mating Marsh Fritillaries. At least 8 Marshies counted despite the stong wind:

The Southern White Admiral is a new arrival. I've never noticed the silvery blue markings this intense before:

It was seen here:

This wasp seemed to be checking out an old nest. I don't know what it was looking for:

Cheers, Chris

[Tony Moore]

Re: Wasp.

A wasp had built a similar nest - which appeared to be empty - on the sun curtain of our room in Morocco.

.
It was there every day for a week, occasionally roosting on the combs, but no sign of any other activity. It sometimes seemed to have trouble re-locating the nest, especially if the curtain had been moved at all. I thought this odd as you would think that the smell from the nest would be enough.

Tony M.

[Chris Jackson]

Thanks for the parallel, Tony.
I can imagine a few more scarey and nasty things in Morocco that I would not like to find in my shoes in the morning.
Chris

[David M]

It'd be hard to improve on that Southern White Admiral image, Chris. You've captured that metallic sheen excellently. I'm always struck by how 'alive' the uppersides of this species are compared to camilla. It's a bigger, bolder, more attractive insect for sure and I never tire of seeing it.

[Sylvie_h]

Hi Chris,

Excellent observations on the caterpillars. You seem to find them so easily.... what is your trick?
Yes, I have holidays planned for France this year : 2 weeks in the Northern Alps - last week of June and first week of July. In the meantime, with the rather good weather, I enjoy what is around Swansea and Gower.
Looking forward to see more of your observations,
Sylvie

[Chris Jackson]

Hi David,
That Southern White Admiral photo may be my first and last effort this year, apart from any possible underside shot, or should I find a pair 'in copula'. I'll consider that as my quota for 2017, and move on (already) (crazy hey ?). Things are moving so quickly - I'm already realising that I've missed any chances of seeing a female Provence Orange Tip. The time slot is tight. Western Marbled White should be around soon.

Hi Sylvie,
In April you only need to learn to recognise 4 host plants down here and you are guaranteed to spot some caterpillars. The host plants are Aristoloche pistoloche, Aristoloche rotunda, Biscutella laevigata and Arabis turrita.
I look forward to seeing your summer photos from the Alps.

Last weekend I was honoured to participate in a local wildlife inventory in Vernègues, in the Bouches du Rhône.
This was the picnic in the company of very knowledgeable people:

We saw plenty of M. phoebe:

Orchis purpurea:

Ophrys lutea:

Ophrys passionis:

L. megera 'in copula', with that grrrrr. unavoidable twig in the foreground that is so essential in this kind of unforgettable photo :

P. icarus 'in copula':

Cream-spot Tiger:

A bit of context looking North from Vernègues towards the Luberon:

Cheers, Chris

[Sylvie_h]

Hi Chris,

Your wasp is a Polistes (paper wasp) and it could be Polistes Dominulus which is the commonest species of paper wasp in Europe (except in the UK where it is very rare).
Sylvie

[Chris Jackson]

.... Your wasp is a Polistes (paper wasp) and it could be Polistes dominulus ...
Sylvie

Thanks Sylvie. Now I can put a name to my photo.
(So can Tony - see further up).
Chris

[Sylvie_h]

Hi Tony,
Good observations on the behaviour of the wasp.
Wasps and solitary bees when building their nest do not use smell to locate it but sight. They inspect the area where the nest is built very carefully and look for landmarks such as stones, vegetation etc and memorise them. When they fly back to the nest, they fly over these landmarks and can locate the nest. So if you moved the curtain, then it was probably a bit disorientated as the nest moved away from the landmarks it had memorised.
Sylvie

[Chris Jackson]

Hi Folks,
Here are a few recent sightings from central southern France:
Slender Scotch Burnet:

Yellow-banded Skipper:

undersides just about visible (Roger knows this place ) (Roussar....):

Spanish Festoon eggs on Aristoloche pistoloche (South facing slope below 400 m ASL which means this site is running late) (above Cuges):

Osiris Blue early in the morning with dew at 650 m ASL:

Black-veined White (late afternoon at 400 m ASL):

This plant is Asphodelus:

Purple-shot Copper at 850 m ASL:

This year I seem to be in the right place at the right time for some species.
The sun is already hot down here in the month of May.
Chris

[Chris Jackson]

Hi Folks,
20th May, South of France, temperatures in the mid 20s.
Just a very quick local update to tell you that Meadow Brown is flying down here, as is Spanish Gatekeeper.
Here is what I think is the summer form of c-album, f. hutchinsoni :

My first sighting this year of P. bathseba :

.... stay tuned, I may have a little surprise after tomorrow.
Chris

[Tony Moore]

Terrific stuff, Chris.

Wasps and solitary bees when building their nest do not use smell to locate it but sight.

And thanks, Sylvie, for your reply. It perfectly explains a puzzling observation.

Tony M.

[Chris Jackson]

Hi Folks,
We are in the middle of the Clouded Apollo flight period down here in the South. This protected subspecies is in danger of extinction and fortunately the remainder of the colony is in a place with difficult access.
Parnassius mnemosyne cassiensis:

Here is its context:

I also saw my first Turquoise Blue of the year:

And here a pair of Little Blues:

This plant does not have chlorophyll:

Neottia lives in symbiosis with the fungus Rhizoctonia, and is found in beech forests.

Chris

[CFB]

Chris,

That's a beautiful photo of a Clouded Apollo.
--
Colin

[Chris Jackson]

Thanks Colin

Hi Folks,
A small selection of what can be seen today in the South of France.
Exceptionally in my garden today I saw a Queen of Spain Frit. - this is very rare - it must be a vagrant.

I saw a male and female Provence CHB in my local park:

Now is the period for S. esculi (False Ilex Hairstreak):

Silver-studded Blue:
Female

Male

More excitement to follow I hope.
Chris

[Chris Jackson]

Hi Folks,
With one thing and another I have little butterfly time this year. However here is a brief view of what is on show this week in the South around Marseilles.
Perhaps the most pertinent - Brintesia circe (emergence is right on time in my sector):

S. spini:

S. esculi:

C. dorus:

P. bathseba (many individuals now looking worn):

P. argus:

can someone comment on this one please - aberrant female with blue scales ?

Female P. argus on Sainfoin:

C. argiolus - female:

A bientôt,
Chris

[Chris Jackson]

Hi Folks,
A public holiday in France today (same in Blighty I believe).
In the extreme west of the Var, I managed to get some quality butterfly time today (short but with results).
One life tick and one year tick.
Life tick => Twin-spot Fritillary :
(a devil to photograph - maximum patience required)

Year tick => Niobe Fritillary:

Mazarine Blue (not Osiris - thanks Guy for the correction) male uppers and unders :

What a nice day. If every day could be the same.
Work tomorrow
Chris