Re: French Pyrenees 24 May - 2 June 2016
Posted: Tue Jun 07, 2016 9:53 pm
So, if it's not Spanish Fritillary then there can only be one contender for the number 1 spot.
I have craved an audience with this species for many years now, and I almost felt like crying when I finally saw it in flesh and wing.
It ticks all the boxes - it's beautiful, it's rare, it's precious, it's a habitat specialist and is hard to find....
1. Violet Copper
Here's a male underside view:
...and an upperside:
If anything, the females are even more attractive with their more striking violet-beaded borders:
I don't think I've ever felt so humble to enter into the domain of a single butterfly species. Granted, their favoured terrain isn't human-friendly - boggy, grassy, damp areas in the middle of nowhere (a bit like Large Heath in the UK). However, like all Coppers, once you've found them, they are welcoming and accommodating, with the insects keeping to their preferred spots and rarely straying far. What's more, with so few other species around in these places, they don't get accosted too much so their little 'niche' works very well for them.
A real highlight and a moment I shall never forget.
I have craved an audience with this species for many years now, and I almost felt like crying when I finally saw it in flesh and wing.
It ticks all the boxes - it's beautiful, it's rare, it's precious, it's a habitat specialist and is hard to find....
1. Violet Copper
Here's a male underside view:
...and an upperside:
If anything, the females are even more attractive with their more striking violet-beaded borders:
I don't think I've ever felt so humble to enter into the domain of a single butterfly species. Granted, their favoured terrain isn't human-friendly - boggy, grassy, damp areas in the middle of nowhere (a bit like Large Heath in the UK). However, like all Coppers, once you've found them, they are welcoming and accommodating, with the insects keeping to their preferred spots and rarely straying far. What's more, with so few other species around in these places, they don't get accosted too much so their little 'niche' works very well for them.
A real highlight and a moment I shall never forget.