On the way from Bourail to Noumea, for our 20 min hop to the Isle of Pines, the driver stopped for gas. I was out of the car like a ferret to see what I could find...
I'm pretty sure that this is a male Silver Forget-Me-Not (
Catochrysops panormus) despite the diagnostic costal spot being hardly visible. Although faint, it is in the right place, close to the post-discal band. Unfortunately, I couldn't hang around long enough to get a really good upper shot, but it's still a stunning butterfly.
The Isle of Pines is much more tropical than the rest of NC, with lush green vegetation and, not surprisingly, lots of Pine trees
. We were surrounded by forest, which had nice wide pylon tracks - sunny and perfect for butterflies - had there been any sun.... Sadly, most of our three days were cloudy and/or raining
. During one short sunny spell, I saw a couple more Ulysses Swallowtails but they vanished without pause.
I did see what is probably the plainest of the Delias, the Yellow-spotted Jezebel (
Delias nysa):
Also the lovely Caper White (
Belenois java) - which should be a Delias!
Whilst photographing this last, I got chased off by a very fierce looking islander, who took exception (entirely reasonably) to my being in his bit of forest. Good job it wasn't the nineteenth cent - he'd probably have eaten me....
Last look a Brisbane tomorrow,
Tony M.
!
):
. D'oh!
