Marseilles and South of France 2018

[David M]

That's still a pretty good result, Chris, but why is it that imagoes emerge from pupae out of sight of human eyes?

Good to see it got to its final flight stage. Here's hoping it leads a productive life.

[Chris Jackson]

13th September
South of France

This is bit of a continuation from some of the story lines on page 6.
Next to my workplace this year I have witnessed (or at least I think I have), all three generations of Southern White Admiral.
This colony is based on two clumps of honeysuckle - Lonicera implexa.
Here we have two eggs on the honeysuckle which apparently stem from the 3rd generation, and should produce the caterpillars that will hibernate in their 3rd instar. Well ... that's the theory. I'll keep an eye on things.

Cheers,
Chris

[Charles Nicol]

13th September
South of France

This is bit of a continuation from some of the story lines on page 6.
Next to my workplace this year I have witnessed (or at least I think I have), all three generations of Southern White Admiral.
This colony is based on two clumps of honeysuckle - Lonicera implexa.
Here we have two eggs on the honeysuckle which apparently stem from the 3rd generation, and should produce the caterpillars that will hibernate in their 3rd instar. Well ... that's the theory. I'll keep an eye on things.

reducta32 eggs1 and 2 3rd generation on Lonicera implexa Vitrolles olive grove 13Sep18 (1).JPG

Cheers,
Chris

Bonne chance with your Sylvains Azurés

[David M]

Nice work, Chris. You've done well with these in 2018.

Please keep us informed as to how they get on.

[Chris Jackson]

Thank you Charles and David,

Here is today's instalment.
Wednesday 19th September
Behind my workplace one of the Southern White Admiral (3rd generation?) eggs has hatched. I must have missed it by a matter of minutes because the cat was still eating its egg shell.

On honeysuckle:

Reminder of eggs from last week:

Cheers,
Chris

[David M]

Great timing, Chris, although I have to say the little creature looks extremely exposed and vulnerable on the tip of that leaf.

[Chris Jackson]

Thanks David,

Here is the next stage. It almost looks like a circus act.
Refer to the 3 photos above for the start of the sequence.
Today in the south of France, two Southern White Admiral 3rd generation cats 2nd instar on Lonicera implexa.

Context photos from the olive grove behind my workplace. The long grasses are very dry now.
We are still having temperatures right in the very south, of 16°C min. and 25°C max., but the colder weather is descending upon us.

Chris

[David M]

Fabulous, Chris. You're right about the 'double act'. It's almost like they're deliberately choreographing their antics!

They've made short work of those leaves in their brief lives thus far and I hope they will continue to prosper and pupate when the time comes.

Meantime, it's good to see your patch looking almost normal after the devastation wreaked a little while back.

[Chris Jackson]

Thanks David.

Hi Folks,
Mid November and the mild weather is hanging on by its nails here right on the south coast of France.
Today, overcast with southerly winds, we had a lo of 15°C and a hi of 20° or so.
This week it has been rainy but mildish, nonetheless.
The only BFs that can be seen still flying are 'whites' and Red Admirals.
Now is the time for the last generation of Large Whites to hole up for the winter and today I spotted a few of the last Large White cats and a number of those that have already pupated for the last time this year.
In Marseilles :
5th instar Large White cat:

Large White pupa:

Chris

[David M]

Highs of 20c?? Oh, you poor creature, Chris!

Nice to see what late autumn has to offer in southern France. I daresay you've only 10 weeks till you can expect your first butterfly of 2019?

[Chris Jackson]

..... it's good to see your patch looking almost normal after the devastation wreaked a little while back ...

That's true David, this is what it looked like 2 years ago

[Chris Jackson]

Hi Folks,
South of France 17th November

To conclude my Southern White Admiral saga from further up.

Here in my local park I have discovered a Southern White Admiral hiberculanum on Lonicera implexa (Honeysuckle).
The leaf stalk / branch attachment has been reinforced with silk thread.

Here we can see the 3rd instar Leminitis reducta caterpillar in its hiberculanum on Lonicera implexa

Here is the context in the Parc des Bruyères in Marseilles. The honeysuckle plant in question is growing out of the rock wall on the RH side of the path in the foreground :

Chris

[David M]

Excellent find, Chris, and I hope you can keep track of this (and others) during the winter.

Thanks for the 'before and after' images of your patch. There sure has been a recovery!

[Padfield]

Brilliant photos and observations, Chris. I am relying on you for my winter fixes now! It's especially interesting to see the reducta through its early stages. I've found a few eggs and caterpillars of this species but it doesn't - didn't - fly close enough to me for regular check-ups.

Guy

[Chris Jackson]

Thanks David, I hope winter will be short. I'm already looking forward to next year's early species.

Thanks Guy for your encouraging words.
Truly flattering coming from yourself.
I will try and keep observations coming when I can.

Hi Folks,

South of France, November:
There has been a bit of Red Admiral activity going on down here over the last week or so.
In the south of France I am used to seeing this species fly throughout the winter, however I have never become intimate with the R.A. early stages.
I now seem to have discovered a breeding ground close to my workplace.

In local public gardens we have Parietaria officinalis and Urtica sp. growing side by side.
The R.A. appears to lay indifferently on both.
If someone can confirm plant IDs that would be nice.

Here is the context. The 2 host plants are found in good numbers at the foot of this slope:

R.A. egg on Parietaria officinalis:

R.A. egg on Urtica sp.:

R.A. caterpillar (2nd instar) on Urtica sp. with 2 other eggs:

R.A. caterpillar (1st instar) on Urtica sp.:

R.A. resting in the sun after an egg laying spree. All the host plants are peppered with eggs:

R.A. caterpillar overwintering tent on Urtica sp.:

To be continued, I hope.
Chris