Chris Jackson in Marseilles

[Charles Nicol]

glad that your Pasha caterpillar is doing well in the garden.

ermm how about a name....

Sasha the Pasha

( both male and female )

[David M]

glad that your Pasha caterpillar is doing well in the garden.

ermm how about a name....

Sasha the Pasha

Maybe 'Gnasher' given how much these huge things eat, Charles!

[Chris Jackson]

Hi Charles and David,

Sasha the Gnasher has done a bunk, unless he is well hidden !!
He's going to find that its a cruel world out there, out of his tree.

However, here is an update on the cats on Mallow in my garden.
Notice how the colouring of the Painted Lady cats varies although they are the same size. Different instars?
Painted Lady cat 29 mm long today (7 days ago it was 7 mm long):

Painted Lady cat 30 mm long today (7 days ago it was 12 mm long):

Mallow Skipper cat 19 mm long today:

Chris

Thanks to feedback from Vince, both my PL cats are 5th instar

[Wurzel]

Interesting shots shots - I'm not far enough into my copy of 'Eeles' yet to help out with whether they're different instars

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[Pauline]

Hi Chris

Really enjoying your diary. Pity the TTP went AWOL. Re Painted Lady variation it's worth taking a look at this report which hi-lights variation:

viewtopic.php?f=37&t=9757

If link doesn't work its in Board Index - Species specific forum - general - Painted Lady early stages. Well worth a look. Makes a change me giving you something to do

[David M]

Looks like you've got something to concentrate on after the butterflies down your way have disappeared, Chris!

Good luck with it. I'll watch out for your updates with interest.

[Charles Nicol]

hehehe maybe Gnasher has run off with your Swallowtail caterpillar....


well done on the success of the Mallow project so far

[Chris Jackson]

Thanks Wurzel, Pauline, David and Charles for your comments.

After Sasha Gnasher the Pasha going AWOL from the Strawberry Tree in my garden, now this week my two Painted Lady cats 5th instar 30 mm long wandered off (to pupate no doubt) away from my Mallow nursery. So no photos of Painted Lady pupation this time. I had a good look but couldn't find them anywhere. My provisional amateur conclusion is that 30 mm is pupation size for PL cats.

However, at the moment in Marseilles we still have a lo of 12°C and a hi of 23°C.
Today a Painted Lady laid at least 7 eggs directly on my Mallow nursery. The PL alternated between nectaring on buddleia which is still just about in flower, and zooming over my potted Mallow.

Here is the potted Mallow:

One of the PL eggs laid today 27 October:

On the same Mallow plant, one of my Mallow Skipper cats, now 26 mm long:

Here is the Mallow Skipper tent, dangling precariously (reminding us we should not saw the branch we are sitting on):

Chris

[David M]

...at the moment in Marseilles we still have a lo of 12°C and a hi of 23°C...

I admire your commitment, Chris. That Mallow Skipper tent is of particular interest. Keep us updated!

[Charles Nicol]

glad your Mallows are popular with the local butterflies !

will you be able to bring them indoors if it gets wintry ?

[Chris Jackson]

glad your Mallows are popular with the local butterflies ....
will you be able to bring them indoors if it gets wintry ?

Hi Charles, here we are in mid February and in the south of France on the coast it has not really dropped below 6°C at night at all this winter so far. A cold spell must not be ruled out. I will keep an eye out for my Mallow Skipper cats when it gets a bit warmer.
Chris

[Chris Jackson]

The latest from the south of France.
This mild winter seems to have brought things forwards.
Today's sighting of a Green Hairstreak on my local patch would seem to indicate that the season is running 2 weeks ahead compared with an "average" year.
Here, perched on Mediterranean buckthorn :

It flitted over on to a neighbouring Strawberry tree and alighted next to a Two-tailed Pasha cat that I would never have spotted otherwise :

The TTP cat is at shoulder height in this Strawberry tree :

The cat is already 35 mm long which seems to me well advanced for the month of February.

Saturday 15 Feb.
Morning : First Geranium Bronze of the year in my garden, which should soon start taking care of my neighbour's geraniums tee hee hee.

Afternoon : First Large Tortoiseshell of the year on the outskirts of Marseilles :

Chris

[Wurzel]

Some great sightings Chris - especially nice to see as I sit in Wales with storm Dennis the Menace rampaging outside

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[David M]

The latest from the south of France.
This mild winter seems to have brought things forwards...

Nice to see your array of early spring species, Chris.

Even better to hear how things are running a little ahead this year. My last two trips to the Pyrenees in late May have been difficult due to successive 'late' seasons. Hopefully this forthcoming one will be more in keeping with normal conditions, or even a touch in advance, which will make my life easier!

[Chris Jackson]

Hi Wurzel and David,
I was unsure of whether my first sighting of a Green Hairstreak two weeks back was announcing the start of its flight period down here.
I think that today I can confirm that the GH flight period is well underway as I saw conservatively approximately 7 individuals flying / battling over a distance of 100 metres in my local park.
Here is the same individual on two different plants - the integrity of its hairs would indicate that it is quite fresh.
On Ulex parviflorus :

On Euphorbia characias :

If there was a prize for the butterfly that knew how to strike only one single pose, I think the GH would get it .
Chris

[Wurzel]

They are the masters of the 'side on with antennae at a jaunty angle' shot Chris - a bit Derek Zoolander and Blue Steel Lovely shots We're heading to the Grand Causses the second week of August this year - I don't suppose you've any idea of things I should look out for in particular?

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[Chris Jackson]

Hi Wurzel,
I'm no expert regarding Les Grands Causses. Keep your eyes open though, you're bound to see something out of the ordinary. An unexpected Cupido, Araschnia, Lycaena, ...

Today in the south of France temperatures have reached around 23°C. It is very easy to see Large White, Large Tortoiseshell, Cleopatra, Green Hairstreak, Red Admiral ...

My Mallow Skipper cats are waking up a little too early.
This cat is 17 mm long.

But the host plant has not started growing yet - this could lead to a survival problem.

On my local patch, Large Tortoiseshell seems to put in an appearance earlier and earlier each year. Usually around 19th March, or exceptionally 03 March, but now end of February. Here on the trunk of a lime tree.

In the defensive position.

But also benefitting from the nectar of vibernum flowers.

Chris

[Wurzel]

Cheers Chris - I'll keep em peeled I hope the Mallow Skippers make it through, fingers crossed Must be great to see the Large Torts

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[David M]

Wow! 23 degrees! That must be unusual even at your latitude for February, Chris? No wonder there are plenty of butterflies on the wing.

Do I recognise that tree? Isn't that the one which your early Large Tortoiseshells seem to covet every year?

[Chris Jackson]

.... Must be great to see the Large Torts .... Wurzel

Hi Wurzel,
Now, mid March, Large Torts are commonplace and I must admit I am stopping taking photos of them this year because things are speeding up with spring around the corner. In the south of France the season is dynamic and you have to be on the ball. Each species has its photo slot and you must go with the flow to make sure that you are not overtaken by events. See below for the latest.
Cheers, Chris.