Butterflies of Var, Southern France

[Padfield]

In passing, the US name for this butterfly is, I think, Morning Cloak. I wonder if the cloak-like pose of the CB I posted earlier (wings rather folded back) influenced its US name?

I think it's the mourning cloak...

Guy

[Paul]

Is'nt it MoUrning cloak ,cos it's dark as in funereal, and also as you say looks cloak like

Also I totally agree that Spotted Frit underside IS spectacular (especially in your photos )

[Roger Gibbons]

I always thought it was MoUrning Cloak, but when I checked in Tolman & Lewington it said Morning Cloak (at least I thought it did; I am in the UK and my T&L is still in France, so can’t check this at the moment). The pose in the photo would make the name MoUrning Cloak more appropriate (not that I have seen a lot of Mourning Cloaks recently).

Guy’s Violet Coppers are really stunning. I visited a site in the Jura a few days ago specifically to see them fresh (the ones I saw there last year had lost most of their violet scales) and was not disappointed. Although it was 12C all day, a brief half-hour of weak sun brought them all out, usually glued to their larval hostplant Bistort, and some were still very fresh. The underside is absolutely stunning too. It is a butterfly worth making a very long trip just to see.

A male (20466):

A female (20481):

An underside (possibly male) (20522):

Still on the copper theme, I also visited an area of damp meadows near Lyon and was privileged to see a dozen or so magnificent Large Coppers. Here is a female underside (20304) and an upperside (20353).

Lafranchis’ ID book published in 2004 says it occurs at Woodwalton Fen where it was reintroduced. I know there was an unsuccessful attempt at reintroduction there some 20 or so years ago, but has there been a later (successful?) attempt?

[Pete Eeles]

Nice shots Roger!

I always thought it was MoUrning Cloak, but when I checked in Tolman & Lewington it said Morning Cloak (at least I thought it did; I am in the UK and my T&L is still in France, so can’t check this at the moment). The pose in the photo would make the name MoUrning Cloak more appropriate (not that I have seen a lot of Mourning Cloaks recently).

Definitely Mourning Cloak. Take a look here:

http://www.twinrosesdesigns.com/Cloaks% ... 0Sale.html

and look at the ... er ... chap ... wearing a "Black Wool Full Circle Mourning Cloak". The black cloak with a white fringe is where antiopa gets its American name from, I believe.

Lafranchis’ ID book published in 2004 says it occurs at Woodwalton Fen where it was reintroduced. I know there was an unsuccessful attempt at reintroduction there some 20 or so years ago, but has there been a later (successful?) attempt?

A later attempt - yes (not sure of exact dates) - successful - no. I believe the consensus is that the species requires a much larger landscape that originally thought in order to sustain a viable population.

Cheers,

- Pete

[Paul]

Beautiful photos Roger, some day I will make that long journey, I hope

[Matsukaze]

Plenty of butterflies to be seen in Haut-Var in mid-May. Green Hairstreak and Small Blue, in particular, were putting on a good show, to the extent where on occasions it was difficult to walk down the street without treading on them...

On a visit to a site where I saw Spring Ringlet last year, several were to be seen, spread over some distance across the hillside and apparently enjoying a good season.

Coming across Spanish Festoon was a pleasant surprise:

Chequered Blue has to be one of my favourite butterflies, with its striking underwing pattern.

[Matsukaze]

A few butterflies from mid-May I couldn't convincingly ID. Can you folks help?

Green-underside Blue?

Glanville Fritillary? (no underside, I'm afraid)

A different Glanville fritillary?

This is a Boloria, but which one?

[Matsukaze]

A couple of Pyrgus - I think both are malvae:

This moth was high in the hills, near an expanse of limestone pavement.

[Padfield]

Hi Matsukaze,

The Boloria/Clossiana fritillary is euphrosyne (pearl-bordered) and the skipper is Spialia sertorius (red-underwing skipper).

I agree with your other IDs.

Guy

[Matsukaze]

Thanks Guy. Red-underwing skipper is supposed to be tiny, isn't it? That would fit with these two examples.

[Roger Gibbons]

Here are a few of my favourites from this year:

Safflower Skipper: beautiful curvature of the forewing, looks very aerodynamic

Grison’s Fritillary: I like this small fritillary and saw it in France (in huge numbers) for the first time this year. Previously I had only seen it in Switzerland.

Comma: an exceptionally pale female, seen at an altitude of 1900 metres. Orange Tips were also flying at this altitude in mid-July.

Queen of Spain Fritillary: this shot almost catches the silvery mirrors. I see them regularly in the Alpes in small numbers, but at this site I could have counted 25.

Lesser Purple Emperor: there is absolutely nothing “lesser” about this species. It is a magnificent flyer and a great performer, being less camera-shy than its more revered cousin.

In one small location last week I was lucky enough to see all four Admirals – Red, White, Southern White and Poplar. The last-named is the undisputed king of all European butterflies in my opinion.

[Lee Hurrell]

Simply stunning Roger!

Cheers

Lee

[Michaeljf]

The shot of the Lesser Purple Emperor is absolutely amazing. I'm completely jealous of the species and the fact you've currently got sunshine as well

You didn't get any shots of the Poplar Admiral you'd like to share?

[Paul]

Fantastic..... what stunning creatures, and photos.

[Padfield]

Wonderful photos, Roger!

Because I wasn't sure about Spain dates I didn't reply to an e-mail from you months ago. I cancelled Spain because the cat was ill, so please do call me if you're in the Alps now and coming my way.

I agree about poplar admiral - but what elusive butterflies! I think they live in the canopy, surveying territories of acres and acres of forest, looking down on us gravity-bound creatures with haughty disdain and just occasionally stooping to circle us and show off before floating effortlessly up to the canopy again.

Guy

[Charles Nicol]

Am off to France tomorrow.

Not far from Var.

Charles

[Roger Gibbons]

I did manage to get some photos of the Poplar Admiral (we saw three individuals) although photography was difficult because it is a very large and dark butterfly, extremely nervous, and I had other people with me and they would not have appreciated me scaring it off trying to get better photos.

It was one of over 60 species seen at this one small location (within 100m). Tim (Cowles) has done a full write-up in his web diary.

[FISHiEE]

Great images and info. Those Popular admirals are stunners!

[Pete Eeles]

Awesome images Roger!

For those that are interested, Tim's diary is at:

http://felixthecatalog.tim.pagesperso-o ... y_year.htm

Cheers,

- Pete

[Roger Gibbons]

I have put up some of my highlights from 2010 so far, here:
http://www.butterfliesoffrance.com/2010 ... s_grid.htm

I have also experimented with a few highlights in 1920 pixel width, although I am not sure how many people have monitors of this resolution:
http://www.butterfliesoffrance.com/2010 ... s_1920.htm

Roger