Libyan Butterflies

[Charles Nicol]

I was looking for books about Libyan butterflies... there do not seem to be any ( books, that is ). however there are some Libyan stamps...

there seem to be a Comma, a Marbled White and a Camberwell Beauty... can anyone identify the others ?



Charles

[Padfield]

Hi Charles. Africa north of the Sahara is covered by Tolman. If you're braving a trip to Libya, will you be hanging around the Mediterranean end or wandering south into the desert?

If these stamps represent what they seem most obviously to be, not all of them seem to be Libyan ... Certainly, I don't think they have Camberwell beauties in Libya!

Top row:
Hipparchia statilinus (tree grayling), Chazara prieuri (southern hermit), Anthocharis belia (Moroccan orange tip), Argynnis pandora (cardinal).
2nd row:
Polygonia c-album (comma), Colias crocea (clouded yellow), Melanargia ines (Spanish marbled white), Charaxes jasius (two-tailed pasha).
3rd row:
Nymphalis antiopa (Camberwell beauty), Euphydryas desfontainii (Spanish fritillary), Spialia sertorius (red underwing skipper), Pieris brassicae (large white).
4th row:
Iphiclides podalirius (scarce swallowtail), no idea really ..., Polyommatus albicans (Spanish chalkhill blue)??, Celastrina argiolus (holly blue).

Guy

[Jack Harrison]

The only butterflies I have ever seen in Libya were [presumably] African Grass Blues (Zizeeria knysna) near the living accommodation on el Adem (Tobruk) airfield. 1960s.

Jack

[Tony Moore]

Hi Jack,

I was also out in Tobruk for a few weeks in 1963 or 4. Remember the officers club overlooking that stunning little bay with the diving platform? Happy days, with or without AGBs

Tony M.

[JohnR]

Hope you weren't responsible for the state of the runway because our undercarriage was damaged on take off and we had to sit in Malta for several days until they flew a new one out from Blighty.

[Charles Nicol]

Hi Charles. Africa north of the Sahara is covered by Tolman. If you're braving a trip to Libya, will you be hanging around the Mediterranean end or wandering south into the desert?

If these stamps represent what they seem most obviously to be, not all of them seem to be Libyan ... Certainly, I don't think they have Camberwell beauties in Libya!

Top row:
Hipparchia statilinus (tree grayling), Chazara prieuri (southern hermit), Anthocharis belia (Moroccan orange tip), Argynnis pandora (cardinal).
2nd row:
Polygonia c-album (comma), Colias crocea (clouded yellow), Melanargia ines (Spanish marbled white), Charaxes jasius (two-tailed pasha).
3rd row:
Nymphalis antiopa (Camberwell beauty), Euphydryas desfontainii (Spanish fritillary), Spialia sertorius (red underwing skipper), Pieris brassicae (large white).
4th row:
Iphiclides podalirius (scarce swallowtail), no idea really ..., Polyommatus albicans (Spanish chalkhill blue)??, Celastrina argiolus (holly blue).

Guy

thanks for that excellent set of IDs Guy !
i was rather puzzled by the Camberwell Beauty as well

i would love to go back to Tobruk ( i lived there 1967/68 ) when the turmoil has abated.

[Charles Nicol]

Hi Jack,

I was also out in Tobruk for a few weeks in 1963 or 4. Remember the officers club overlooking that stunning little bay with the diving platform? Happy days, with or without AGBs

Tony M.

Tony, Jack and JohnR, what a nice surprise to find you have been to Tobruk ! I lived there as a youngster for 18 months in the late 60s.

there is a flickr group here: https://www.flickr.com/groups/1695388@N21/

i do not remember many butterflies, but there were plenty of lizards, chameleons & snakes.

Charles

[Padfield]

Hi Charles. I later discovered the first butterfly is supposed to be a striped grayling, Hipparchia fidia, and the blue I had no idea about is a black-eyed blue, Glaucopsyche melanops. The others were as I guessed. But some are very dubiously Libyan!

http://www.ebay.com/gds/The-beautiful-B ... 753/g.html
http://www.ebay.com/gds/The-beautiful-B ... 146/g.html
http://www.ebay.com/gds/The-beautiful-B ... 165/g.html
http://www.ebay.co.uk/gds/The-beautiful ... 204/g.html

Guy

[Charles Nicol]

Hi Charles. I later discovered the first butterfly is supposed to be a striped grayling, Hipparchia fidia, and the blue I had no idea about is a black-eyed blue, Glaucopsyche melanops. The others were as I guessed. But some are very dubiously Libyan!

http://www.ebay.com/gds/The-beautiful-B ... 753/g.html
http://www.ebay.com/gds/The-beautiful-B ... 146/g.html
http://www.ebay.com/gds/The-beautiful-B ... 165/g.html
http://www.ebay.co.uk/gds/The-beautiful ... 204/g.html

Guy

thanks for the update Guy ! it is an unusual selection. a more distinctively North African choice would be perhaps

http://www.eurobutterflies.com/sp/abdelkader.php

Charles

[Jack Harrison]

http://www.eurobutterflies.com/sp/abdelkader.php

Abdelkader is the name of the [Egyptian] ophthalmic consultant I see (literally).
Dr Abdelkader has some very "sharp instruments" (they don't hurt - honest) and their use has staved off potential blindness. (Wet AMD for the knowledgeable).

Jack

[Charles Nicol]

http://www.eurobutterflies.com/sp/abdelkader.php

Abdelkader is the name of the [Egyptian] ophthalmic consultant I see (literally).
Dr Abdelkader has some very "sharp instruments" (they don't hurt - honest) and their use has staved off potential blindness. (Wet AMD for the knowledgeable).

Jack

Glad you are in good hands Jack