CFB

[Lee Hurrell]

Hi Colin,

I love the backlit Cleopatra. That was the first overseas species I remember seeing, in Italy when I was 12. With the two mating on a pupal case, (very nice shot) notice the difference in eye colour between the sexes!

Enjoying your reports.

Best wishes,

Lee

[CFB]

Hello Lee,

Thanks a lot for your comments.

Is the eye of the female always that clear, or was there an invisible smiley at the end of your sentence?

Best regards,
Colin

[Lee Hurrell]

Hi Colin,

I'm afraid I don't know, I just noticed it in your photo. I wonder if Brimstones are the same?

Best wishes,

Lee

[CFB]

Once more this morning I went to see my Spanish Festoon larvae. I found three, on three different Aristolochia pistolochia plants. My photo shows a larva which was actually moving, as opposed to staying still and/or eating.

While searching for more larvae, I saw a single Marbled Skipper:

There are still loads of Satyrium species dashing around, including this Ilex Hairstreak with a couple of bits missing from its wings:

A lovely female Silver-washed Fritillary allowed herself to be photographed:

Other Fritillaries seen included Marbled, Heath (in great quantities), Knapweed and Spotted. There seemed to be fewer Adonis and Provence Chalkhill Blues, but still many Pearly Heaths.
--
Colin

[CFB]

Once again I went to see the Spanish Festoon larvae. I only saw one this morning . And the Black-veined White ova still haven't hatched .

In places, particularly those with brambles or scabious, there were incredible numbers of butterflies. But as a rule they kept chasing each other so they were difficult to photograph. But I did get this Marbled Fritillary:

There were a few Adonis Blues:

But I was surprised to see a couple of Common Blues as I don't think I have seen any so far this month:

In addition, there were loads of Cleopatras, and quite a lot of Silver-washed Fritillaries. I saw one valesina, but she flew away and I never saw her again.
--
Colin

[CFB]

This morning I went along the Chemin du Bruguet, where I photographed a Silver-washed Fritillary valesina for the first time this year. She was amongst the scabious plants together with several other Silver-washed Fritillaries and many Cleopatras.

Nearby, in another clump of scabious was a Marbled Fritillary also in the company of Cleopatras.

Further on I found a Marbled White, probably form procida. It took many shots to get an acceptable photo due to the bright white and the dark black colours working against me.

--
Colin

[David M]

Wow. That's a mightily impressive Marbled White, Colin.

[CFB]

Thanks, David, I'm glad you liked it .
--
Colin

[David M]

I think 'Marbled Black' would be more apt.

[Chris Jackson]

Hi Guys,
Personally I prefer the valesina, it looks silvery and "ghostly". Its not every day you get a photo like that, Colin.
I am back in Leicester for 1 week, and I have to look very hard to find butterflies - not an easy hobby here!!
Chris

[Lee Hurrell]

First wow - Valensina
Second wow - Marbled Frit
Third wow - Marbled White

Wonderful!

Best wishes,

Lee

[CFB]

Thanks for the comments Chris and Lee.

Have a nice time in Leicester, Chris. My dad was born there, but I have never been there.

Just a short walk this morning from home down a path to and alongside our local quarry. I had hoped to see Dingy Skippers which I have frequently seen down there, but which I haven't seen this year. I didn't see any, but I did see my first Queen of Spain Fritillary of the year. I don't think they get as far as Marseille do they, Chris. I was lucky to get such a sharp photo, as it was quite windy which caused the scabious on which it was installed to be in almost perpetual motion.

The only other photo that I kept is that of a Lang's Short-tailed Blue. And the only reason I'm keeping it is that I very rarely see them in June. I see them mainly in October to January!

There were lots of Cleopatras which, in places along the narrow path, almost got walked on.
--
Colin

[CFB]

This morning I walked along to Roche d'Ardy again via the Pont des Dones. I found two Spanish Festoon larvae. The Black-veined White ova are still ova, and it looked as if they have been attacked by many very small spiders .

On the way back I took another backlit photograph of a male Cleopatra. Once again the number of Cleopatras seen was incredible, with up to four on the same plant.

There were many Silver-washed Fritillaries including a few valesina. Here is an underside to go with Thursday's upperside. You can see where it got the Silver-washed part of its name from.

There were also many Meadow Browns. I'm sure this one must be a hispulla as it's identical to the drawing in T&L.

--
Colin

[CFB]

This morning I went to Terme Blanc at Biot. This is a hill composed of volcanic rock, as a result of which it has vegetation differing from most of the surrounding area. And with this vegetation, the numbers and species of butterflies is also different. At this time of the year one can generally see Southern Gatekeepers and Great Banded Graylings. Also, even though there are no Arbutus unedo trees, there are usually one or two Two-tailed Pashas at the top of the hill. My aim was to see my first Southern Gatekeepers and Great Banded Graylings of the year.

I succeeded . I saw at least twenty Great Banded Graylings. Generally they are seen on rocks or on bushes, but this one fancied a scabious:

I only saw a few Southern Gatekeepers, all males:

I didn't see any Two-tailed Pashas however , even though I saw them there on 19 June last year.

P.S. Another False Ilex Hairstreak from the garden:

--
Colin

[Chris Jackson]

Good sightings Colin. Its true that you have to change environment to catch the different species - the Southern Gatekeeper and Great Banded Grayling have been around near Marseilles and Vitrolles for more than 3 weeks now. I am returning to Marseilles from Leicester tomorrow - I'm really chuffed because I saw a Ringlet here this afternoon - something I won't see in Marseilles!!
Cheers, Chris

[CFB]

Today in the Parc de la Brague I saw my first Small Tortoiseshell since May 07 2012 .

It was amongst these scabious plants in the company of very many Cleopatras, several Silver-washed Fritillaries including a valesina and some Meadow Browns:

Later on I saw a Swallowtail, with most of its right-hand tail amputated:

--
Colin

[Chris Jackson]

So it seems to be holding true then Colin, this year is exceptional for Small Tortoiseshells in the South of France. I have even seen 3 together in my garden which was very surprising.
I still havn't seen a Silver-washed Fritillary yet.
I am now back from Leicester, so I will be out again at lunchtime today with my eyes open.
Chris

[CFB]

Three Small Tortoiseshells together in your garden is certainly surprising, Chris.

This morning I visited my Spanish Festoon larvae. I saw three of them on two of my usual three Aristolochia pistolochia plants. I assume that this larva is one that I've previously seen. It's getting quite fat.

--
Colin

[CFB]

After some early rain I managed to get out this morning. I saw the usual selection of butterflies, but what impressed me most was this minute (about 20 mm. wingspan) moth. It is probably a Common Purple and Gold Moth (Pyrausta purpuralis):

There were several Marbled Whites, but they generally flew away at my approach. This one was a bit more helpful:

There were also quite a few Silver-washed Fritillaries including this female:

Apart from that there were still plenty of Cleopatras, False Ilex Hairstreaks and Blue-spot Hairstreaks.
--
Colin

[CFB]

I went for a shortish walk in the Parc de la Brague this morning. It was sunny and hot, but big clouds were starting to gather.

Marbled Whites now seem to be in greater numbers than Cleopatras, though perhaps False Ilex Hairstreaks are in even greater numbers, but as they are less noticeable, they don't appear to be so numerous.

My favourite patch of scabious was still populated by many butterflies, but I only saw one female Large Skipper:

And to my surprise there was a solitary Great Banded Grayling. We must have spent ten or so minutes together, perhaps helped by clouds between us and the sun encouraging it to stay there.

--
Colin