www.ukbutterflies.co.uk

Well done with the egg laying shots, Chris. This is the time of year (when there aren't that many adult butterflies around) to indulge oneself in this kind of behaviour and I only wish we had such opportunities here in the UK with the kinds of species you see routinely in your part of Europe.

What's next on the agenda for you?

David M wrote: ... "What's next on the agenda for you?"

This is next on the agenda for me David:

Nothing special here - C. rubi has now been around for 4 weeks in my local Parc des Bruyères in Marseilles: This isn't bad - A. euphenoides couple seen today. I saw 1 male on 3 females at dusk. A good sighting. I get decent photos 1 year out of 4. Up to now, my favourite photo of the year E. crameri, I believe - at roosting time : T. ballus male - no cop shots this year: First A. agestis of the year: Chris

You are very much understating your achievements there, Chris. In fact, had you posted this set of images 3 years ago I think you'd have been delirious!

A Provence Hairstreak along with a superb dual image of male and female euphenoides.

A mighty fine effort if I might say so!

Agreed - that euphenoides male and female shot is fantastic!

Hi Chris,

It seems like your season is way ahead of mine - we have been here for a week and it was only two days ago that we could even do a butterfly trip because of the rain. I did see a single male ballus yesterday at my favourite site (David will know) and it was immaculate but didn't wait for a photo. Other than that, very little (only crameri, polyxena, euphenoides), and almost no flowers out yet.

I'll have another look there tomorrow.

Roger

Thanks David and Pete for your kind words,
I hope your season will get a boost very soon.

Hi Roger,
Temperatures should be picking up from today, and the sun should be out tomorrow, so there is hope for you.

The season is gaining pace now. Taking into account the lateness in the appearance of the Southern Festoon down my way, at lunchtime I went to a Spanish Festoon site and found at least 6 individuals, and the host plant is visible.
1st individual 2nd Host plant - Aristoloche pistoloche Context for the colony Cheers, Chris

South of France
17th April

The latest sighting this lunchtime when I visited the Southern Festoon site was a male Common Blue The Southern Festoon is still flying and these Southern Festoon eggs are now 7 days old Context for the Southern Festoon Chris

Thanks for the habitat shots, Chris. I note that polyxena favours grassier areas. Do you ever see these species flying together at all?

David M wrote: ... I note that polyxena favours grassier areas. Do you ever see these species flying together at all?

Hi David,
I have no fixed ideas on habitat for the two Zerynthia sp., I am still near the bottom of the learning curve. I have read that they can fly together, but not on any sites in my area.
The basic idea is that the host plants, A. rotunda, grows in damp water-side conditions, and A. pistoloche, grows in well-drained scree-type environments. However these conditions can coexist.
This month I am living a privileged moment where at work I can alternate lunchtimes between a Z. rumina site and a Z. polyxena site, both with host plants, eggs and adults, 10 minutes in one direction and 15 minutes in the other.

Today I popped over to the Z. rumina site and found eggs on Aristoloche pistoloche: A view of the host plant: The context near Vitrolles, Bouches du Rhône: An adult, today:

South of France, 19th April

Today we went up our local hill where there have been historical reports of Spring Ringlet.
This hill is mostly in the département of the Var but sits partially in the Bouches du Rhone (BdR).
We saw 13 individuals, and they were all, to within a few tens of meters, administratively speaking, in the Bouches du Rhone.
Roger Gibbons may appreciate the significance of this fact - for once the Bouches du Rhone is "keeping up with the Jones's", its richer neighbour, the Var.
Also seen, a Small Tortoiseshell, which for me in the BdR is considered exotic.
Spring Ringlet: This is the context: Also seen, a Small Tort, my first sighting in 2 years: And on the way back down, a Nettle Tree Butterfly: Chris

Hi Chris,

Are you sure these are really BdR epistygne? They look very much like Var specimens that have been blown westwards by strong winds. Only joking!

They are great shots - very fresh and they have actually stopped for you. I have seen a few but very rarely have they stopped. I plan to visit my epistygne location in Northern Var early next week.

The ballus we saw yesterday were quite fresh, so it seems that the season is about two weeks later than usual here.

Roger

Very envious of your epistygne there Chris! Lovely shots. This species is rapidly ascending towards the top of my "most wanted" list of French butterflies that I have yet to see...
I may have to consider a trip out to your part of the world this time next year!
Regards.
Pete

I love those epistygnes - they are like clockwork butterflies, flying direct and level with their wings in continuous motion till the mechanism runs out and they drop to the ground. The site I know them from must be a late one as they fly well into May there.

You lucky thing Chris, having both species of Festoons so close by. I have seen the Spanish Festoons often enough, but the Southern is on my wish-list.

Matsukaze describes epistygne flight habit perfectly ,I soon gave up chasing them across the slopes were they were flying so sat on a chair in front of some dandelions I just waited,this paid of and I did manage some acceptable shots, a very tricky subject if you can find them.
http://jamesgibbs6929.zenfolio.com
See more here ,Springtime in Provence
http://jamesgibbs6929.zenfolio.com/p509395131#h89be3826

Hi Roger,
I would agree that most of the species I am seeing up to now are between 10 days and two weeks late compared with last year.

Hi Pete,
If you want to see E. epistygne, I think that timing may be an important factor, and possibly be prepared to do a bit of hill walking

Hi Chris,
My recent sightings were at 9.00 am local time, and in relatively cool conditions high up.
The butterfly dropped to the ground regularly for a couple of photos.
After 10.30 am, and slightly warmer, there were many more individuals up and flying and hardly stopping.

Hi Essex,
Down here, for Southern (followed by Spanish) Festoons, you need to be around from the end of March and into April, or in the case of this year, everything has been put back 10 days.

Hi James,
I see you have a nice selection of E. epistygne photos. Given the environment where they like to fly down my way (rocky), it is difficult to chase after them, at the risk of a twisted ankle

Cheers, Chris

Hi Folks,
Here is bit of a catch up from last week-end.
With a sudden rise in temperature, a few more species have appeared.
These were seen in the extreme west of the département of the Var.

Brown Hairstreak caterpillar on Prunus spinosa. This is from the eggs that we found last winter, and is part of a "forgotten" colony that had not been prospected or reported on for nigh on 20 years: A bit of context: Black-eyed Blue: Green-underside Blue: Small Heath: Berger's Clouded Yellow: Female Orange Tip laying on Arabis saggitata: The egg: Glanville Fritillary: Weaver's Fritillary: And a bit more context for all of that: Cheers,
Chris

24th April - South of France

A trip over to my Southern Festoon site during the lunch break allowed me to get one further step into their life cycle.

Today, 4 caterpillars on Artistoloche rotunda: Their empty coriums: These same eggs on 10th April: The female laying these eggs on 10th April: The context: Chris

Chris,
I am really enjoying your reports. It is almost as good as being there!
Well done on the Brown Hairstreaks, and great to see the developing Festoon caterpillars.
There is very little butterfly activity here in SE Scotland at the moment, although we are now up to 8 species for the county. Sadly, I have only seen two so far, but that has to change over the next few days.

You have your hands full now, Chris. There's a huge amount going on in your neck of the woods, seemingly.

Well done with your epistygne, which will probably be one of the last French species I'll get to see.