Desert Orange Tip

[Trik]

Last year during a visit to Andalucia we hoped to photograph Desert Orange Tips, but only found them at one site near the coast which I was unable to access as the path was too steep. This year, however, there has been an eruption and, in late September, we found them in many places inland - even on the lower slopes of Sierra Nevada - all by road/track sides , so easily photographed. I believe that these population explosions happen only every few years, so I guess we were very lucky.

Colotis evagore, male

C. evagore, female

C. evagore, pair

Trik

[Padfield]

Wonderful! I was in Andalucía at the beginning of August and saw just one individual:





I did find an egg, though, so maybe I saw the very beginnings of your September explosion ...



Guy

[Trik]

I think we found them mostly in Granada Province, rather than nearer the coast in Malaga Province, but what a shame you didn't go that bit later, as it seemed that wherever there were capers growing, there was a colony.

Trik

[Lee Hurrell]

Superb! Lovely photos, Trik.

I've been to Andalucia a few times but never seen this species.

Best wishes,

Lee

[David M]

Last year during a visit to Andalucia we hoped to photograph Desert Orange Tips, but only found them at one site near the coast which I was unable to access as the path was too steep. This year, however, there has been an eruption and, in late September, we found them in many places inland - even on the lower slopes of Sierra Nevada - all by road/track sides , so easily photographed. I believe that these population explosions happen only every few years, so I guess we were very lucky.

Nice work, Trik. The more time you spend in the field, the 'luckier' you get!

You're right, they do disperse during favourable weather. In Paul Browning's 'Butterflies of the Iberian Peninsula' it states:

They are known to sometimes breed in the Vega de Granada, nearly 60km from the sea, but are unable to survive the winter there.

[Trik]

One thing in our favour was our guide had found several sites on or not far from his local patch in the weeks before we went there, so we did not have to rely upon serendipity. Lucky for us, as I have little energy (or patience!) for long searches. The colonies weren't large, but it was lovely to see this pretty butterfly doing well in so many places.

Trik