Larva ID please

[CFB]

Could someone please identify this larva. It was seen this morning in the Alpes-Maritimes at about 200 metres altitude. I assume it is a butterfly larva but I suppose it could be a moth larva.

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Colin

[Mikhail]

Most likely the burnet moth Zygaena transalpina.

M.

[CFB]

Thanks a lot Mikhail. Is this one, seen a couple of years ago, a Zygaena transalpina? I really must find out how to distinguish between the different Burnet moths in my area. I seem to have labelled most of them (except this one) Zygaena filipendulae.

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Colin

[Mikhail]

Looks right for transalpina to me. Red spots smaller and more widely spaced than filipendulae. You might find this useful:http://www.lepinet.fr.

M.

[CFB]

Thanks again, Mikhail.

I also found http://www.fleetingwonders.com/burnet-i ... on-key.php.
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Colin

[Padfield]

Hi Colin. I'm glad you found Fleeting Wonders. I've met Philippe Bricaire several times in Switzerland and France - he is a very good lepidopterist and photographer, devoted to butterflies and a thoroughly nice person.

If you want to splash out on books, two that are very helpful for Zygaenids are Vol. 3 of Leraut's Moths of Europe (http://www.napeditions.com/en/19-papill ... les-1.html), which is superbly illustrated, though it only covers the adults, and Vol. 2 of Les papillons et leurs biotopes, available from Pro Natura (https://www.le-shop.pronatura.ch/index. ... es-ii.html). Unfortunately, this only includes the Swiss species but it covers the early stages in detail, with excellent pictures.

Needless to say, I'm sure Mikhail is right about your caterpillar and adult being transalpina.

Guy

[CFB]

Thanks for the information, Guy.

Fleeting Wonders is indeed an excellent site.

For no other reason than that it's a bit unusual, I'm attaching a photo taken this morning with the underside spots of a Common Blue showing through to the upperside.

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Colin

[Lee Hurrell]

What a lovely photo!

Lee

[CFB]

Thanks, Lee.
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Colin

[Chris Jackson]

Excellent photo of the Common Blue Colin.
I'm so out of luck - a week ago in Marseilles the weather was a bit iffy and on-and-off, then my job got in the way of butterflying at lunchtime, now I'm half way through 1 week's holiday in Evian-les-bains (on the banks of Lac Léman between France and Switzerland) where its either cold with grey skies, or raining, or getting ready to rain, and I havn't seen a BF for a whole week.
I'm not far from Guy in Switzerland, just round the corner and over the border. You need a lot of patience to put up with this continental weather . I had intended to write a report on the butterflies of Evian, but I just can't see myself even starting it now!! I could do a photo-report on the ducks swimming in the rain on a cold lake. I can't wait to go back home to the Med.
Will keep you all informed if the weather gets better between now and Friday - peu de chance!
Cheers, Chris

[Padfield]

I feel for you Chris. When it's grim here it's grim, and at the moment it's grim.

You could always do a day trip to Martigny for some culture: http://www.gianadda.ch/wq_pages/fr/expo ... /index.php

Guy

[David M]

Thanks for the information, Guy.

Fleeting Wonders is indeed an excellent site.

For no other reason than that it's a bit unusual, I'm attaching a photo taken this morning with the underside spots of a Common Blue showing through to the upperside.

I think they all show the undersides through the forewings if you catch the light correctly, Colin.