Well, it's all snow again now, and much too cold even for the hardy Swiss butterflies, Chris!cjackson wrote:Guy, your Swiss butterflies are a hardy lot. In the Mediterranean you can give them all the sun possible, but if its no more than 13°C, like today, they just won't come out.
Chris
I'm still popping over the the Papiliorama every so often, and still see new species every time (probably five today). We've commented before that they don't seem to have Lycaenids in these butterfly houses, but I was really quite excited, in a zooy kind of way, to see a stunningly beautiful hairstreak today, Eumaeus toxea:
This is a Mexican species that is very occasionally seen in Texas. The very similar Eumaeus atala, which is now apparently thriving in Florida, where it was formerly rare, is distinguished by the red of the abdomen extending to the upperside too. I was lucky to get a distant upperside shot, making it possible to confirm the species. I saw three or four altogether but only that one ever opened its wings.
I will never go on a Saturday again - there were far too many people. It was really nice to see them enjoying the butterflies so much, though, so I don't regret going this once.
Guy