Chris Jackson in Marseilles

Pauline · Post by **Pauline** » Wed May 20, 2020 5:45 pm

Well done Chris! I know from personal experience just how frustrating that can be but nevertheless, still a great sequence of shots there. Thanks for letting us know the outcome

Wurzel · Post by **Wurzel** » Thu May 21, 2020 6:39 pm

Fantastic images even though it caught out - I reckon it waited until you were sleeping

Still a miraculous looking butterfly

Have a goodun and stay safe

Wurzel

David M · Post by **David M** » Thu May 21, 2020 7:15 pm

Sublime stuff, Chris.

I'd be happy just to see an adult of this species, let alone follow the emergence from pupation.

Chris Jackson · Post by **Chris Jackson** » Thu May 28, 2020 5:50 pm

Thanks Pauline, Wurzel and David.

Still on the topic of the Two-tailed Pasha, here is a bit more.

Whereas the overwintering stages of the TTP tend to spread the life cycle out, the summer brood is different.
In the space of 5 days or more the egg stage plays out:

May 23rd. Egg completely yellow = laid less than 24 hours previous.

May 24th. Egg with dark crown.

May 28th at 10 am:

May 28th at 5 pm. The cat eating its egg shell.

May 29th

Chris

Pauline · Post by **Pauline** » Fri May 29, 2020 10:26 am

More great images Chris with interesting details to accompany. Having just spent 50+ hours (on and off) watching the antics of my Dukes I could do with seeing something evolving a bit quicker

. Your posts are a refreshing change to the norm

Wurzel · Post by **Wurzel** » Fri May 29, 2020 6:14 pm

Crickey Chris they're weird looking little things - they remind of the monsters from the Tremors movie

Have a goodun and stay safe

Wurzel

David M · Post by **David M** » Mon Jun 01, 2020 1:44 pm

Amazing how quickly the larva emerges from the date the ovum was laid (it's not exactly the smallest larva either!)

Chris Jackson · Post by **Chris Jackson** » Fri Jun 05, 2020 7:34 pm

Hi Pauline, Wurzel and David. Thanks for your comments. Much appreciated.

Here is a short sequence of Essex Skipper photos from the south of France.
They are much less common down here than Lulworth Skippers. I made the most of overcast conditions to get a decent set.
Hope I've got the ID right.

The diffused black wing borders in these photos appear more distinctive than in Pete's book.
Chris

David M · Post by **David M** » Sun Jun 07, 2020 9:33 am

I find Essex Skippers to be more dusky in the south of France than in the UK, Chris. I guess they'll be emerging over here any day now.

Chris Jackson · Post by **Chris Jackson** » Mon Oct 19, 2020 7:59 am

Thanks David.

After umpteen attempts to capture Swallowtail pupation, and having missed it by a matter of minutes each time through distraction, here it is.
To avoid boredom, I have condensed my sequence here down to one image in five.
This is a European Swallowtail, end of third voltin, so the pupa will over-winter.
The essential part of the sequence lasts less than 10 minutes.
03 October.