A foreign butterfly
A foreign butterfly
Can anyone name this very poor snap that I took in the Garden of Gethsemane a couple of weeks ago?
Re: A foreign butterfly
I'd suggest the Common Zephyr Blue (Leptotes pirithous), which occurs all around the Med and Eastwards to the Himalaya. Have a look at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leptotes_pirithous for more info and photos.
Mike
Mike
Re: A foreign butterfly
Thanks. I had got as far as a blue but since my 1970 edition of Higgin's and Riley's Field Guide appears not to list that species I came to a grinding halt.
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Re: A foreign butterfly
Hello John,
In my Higgins and Riley Field Guide (1977) it is listed as Syntarucus pirithous or Lang's Short-tailed Blue. Currently near to me in the Alpes-Maritimes there are dozens of them wherever there are Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) plants. Well probably not today as it is cloudy, and much, much colder than previous days
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Colin
In my Higgins and Riley Field Guide (1977) it is listed as Syntarucus pirithous or Lang's Short-tailed Blue. Currently near to me in the Alpes-Maritimes there are dozens of them wherever there are Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) plants. Well probably not today as it is cloudy, and much, much colder than previous days
![Sad :(](./images/smilies/icon_sad.gif)
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Colin
Re: A foreign butterfly
Must admit, I thought it was LSTB when I first saw it.CFB wrote:
In my Higgins and Riley Field Guide (1977) it is listed as Syntarucus pirithous or Lang's Short-tailed Blue.
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Re: A foreign butterfly
All spot on! I think Mike meant 'zebra' rather than 'Zephyr'. Certainly, the closely related Leptotes plinius, which I have been seeing in India over the last few days, is commonly called a zebra blue, and it's not difficult to see why:
![Image](http://www.guypadfield.com/images2012/plinius1202.jpg)
This genus of migratory butterflies flies from the Mediterranean to the Antipodes.
Guy
![Image](http://www.guypadfield.com/images2012/plinius1202.jpg)
This genus of migratory butterflies flies from the Mediterranean to the Antipodes.
Guy
Guy's Butterflies: https://www.guypadfield.com
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The Butterflies of Villars-Gryon : https://www.guypadfield.com/villarsgryonbook.html
Re: A foreign butterfly
Yes - a slip of the tongue - or typing finger.padfield wrote:I think Mike meant 'zebra' rather than 'Zephyr'.
Mike