Jura France 2012

[Charles Nicol]

I have just booked 3 weeks camping near Dole in the Jura.
Does anyone know about the papillons in the area ?
I am staying close to the Foret de Chaux.

Thanks in advance

Charles

[Charles Nicol]

Am looking on the internet & have so far found these:

"Forest of Chaux

Just east of Dôle. An extensive forest with possible species including:-

Large tortoiseshell, Camberwell beauty, Map, Black-veined white and White admiral."

[Padfield]

When exactly are you going, Lee [EDIT: Charles!!]?

At that low altitude I would expect lesser purple emperor to be double brooded (though I have never visited the region, so I might be wrong), in which case it will be an August butterfly. It is quite common in most large forests in France. You shouldn't count on seeing the hibernators, like large tortoiseshell and Camberwell beauty, because the summer broods are much harder to see than the spring broods - but there is a good chance all the same. Camberwell beauties have a strong preference for areas near water (though in dispersal mode this is less crucial). I have seen them on walks around forest lakes in July in Bavaria. Map butterflies are quite likely - I have bumped into them quite frequently in France and where you find them you often see a lot.

If you have transport, take a day trip (or more) to the Jura proper, where mid-altitude Erebia species are likely to be flying. Hay meadows and other areas with tall grasses in the region may well produce dryads.

Lowland France is good throughout August, with second broods of many things flying. I think the trick is to explore as many different habitat types as you can in your three weeks.

I've never spent any length of time in the Jura, so I'll stop rattling on and let someone who knows the area give better advice. I'm sure you'll make lots of discoveries and look forward to hearing how it turns out.

Guy

[Charles Nicol]

Thanks for your help Guy.
I am going on Friday from Cambridge. There is a brand new service to Jura from Cambridge airport... only 79 Euros one way !!
The Forest of Chaux is crisscrossed with a network of streams with several unique species of fish & insect. That sounds promising for the Camberwells !!
It seems terra incognita for british butterfly explorers... i will do my best to record the inhabitants.

All the best

Charles

[Charles Nicol]

The pics are on flickr:

http://www.flickr.com/groups/2003712@N25/

So far i have seen one new species:

this was a wonderful find in a flower meadow

Will post more next week

Charles

[Charles Nicol]

I have seen quite a few species of blue...perhaps an expert would like to have a go at identifying them ?

The first one is a bluish snake

Charles



I have been looking out for large butterflies in the forest... a few tantalising glimpses so far

[Padfield]

Hi Charles. The snake is a magnificent grass snake. Lovely shot!

The blues are, in the order of the pictures, Adonis, common, short-tailed, LOTS of short-tailed, common, short-tailed, common.

I love short-tailed blues, at least partly because they are not really that common in much of western Europe now. In Switzerland, the Provençal short-tailed blue is much commoner and also rather plainer.

Keep them coming!

Guy

[Charles Nicol]

Thanks for the expert help with the blues Guy !!

The short_tails were having a lively mud party.... i counted 11 together.

The snake has a large bulge half way down... either a large meal or some baby snakes ?

Since my last update have made some exciting discoveries... a Map and a [Lesser] Purple Emperor. Pics below.

At first i thought the Map was a very small White Admiral; it took a while for the centime to drop.

The [L]PE was sitting on some bracken for a few seconds before drifting up to the oak canopy... just time for a quick photo.

Am still looking out for the Large Tortoiseshell and Camberwell Beauty.

Charles

[Padfield]

I hope I'm not being a wet blanket in saying that looks like a purple emperor, not a lesser, to me! The underside hindwing white of a lesser purple emperor is much less well defined and the eyespot on the forewing always more visible. Since lesser is generally more common, it shouldn't be a disappointment ...

It also looks like a female. Did you see any glimpses of purple to indicate otherwise?

Guy

PS - yes, summer brood maps are just like mini white admirals - until you see them close, that is.

[JKT]

that looks like a purple emperor, not a lesser, to me!

Indeed. The tooth in the white band in the hindwing is quite clear. I don't think A. ilia has that at all.

[Charles Nicol]

thanks Guy & JKT ...never mind !! i am pleased with the Empress

today i saw a Great Banded Grayling close up... had previously seen brief glimpses.

will send more pics when flickr working again

Charles

[Charles Nicol]

Here are some recent pics:

i was delighted with the Great Banded Grayling.

Could anyone suggest the species for the Blues please ?

All of the dingy skippers have disappeared since about a week ago.

Charles

[Charles Nicol]

this is a typical forest track.... the surface is loose gravel & there are regular potholes. they are dead straight north-south & you can often see for a mile in each direction.

there is a strip of at least 3 metres of vegetation between the tracks and the trees and this is where the butterflies are seen. Quite often they are sunning themselves on the track; this is typical of the Maps.
Most of the forest streams have dried up in the Summer but there are quite a few ponds etc

Charles

[Padfield]

Hi Charles. Great banded graylings are wonderful butterflies, aren't they? Swooping around, huge and bouncy...

The first blue is a female holly blue. If you look carefully, you can just make out the broad upperside borders of a summer brood female (though that is not the identifying feature, which is more the shape of the wings and the slightly elongate shape of the spots). This species is very fond of nectaring on hemp agrimony.

The next is a common blue. Here, the spot in the cell is the giveaway. No similar species at that kind of altitude have it (higher up, Eros blue has a cell spot).

Guy

[Charles Nicol]

Thanks for your continuing help with the blues Guy !!

I have seen some probable Purple Hairstreaks but too high/fast to photograph.

Charles

[Charles Nicol]

Have now left Jura & am on way to Carcassonne

Plenty more photos to come

including another snake

& Fiery Copper underside

No new species but hopefully will find some in the Midi


Charles

[Padfield]

Fiery copper would be pretty special from the Jura! But I am looking forward to the underside to confirm that it is a large copper you have posted further up the page. If so, it is a great find in itself. The alternative is scarce copper (ironically, much commoner), which does occasionally show those black discal marks - but yours certainly looks like large copper.

I don't do jealousy, but if I did, now would be when!

Guy

[Charles Nicol]

I never thought i would make you jealous Guy

If you want the exact location i am happy to oblige

Have just eaten a fabulous moules marinières in Carcassonne

... saw a few hawkmoths up in the Cité earlier

Things are looking good here !!

Charles



pics to follow shortly

[Charles Nicol]

Here are the undersides of two separate Coppers

Also a fritillary in a tree

And an interesting moth

And a snake

[Padfield]

Lovely large coppers, Charles! Although the species is widespread in France it is local and many populations are rather small, so you did well!

Guy