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I'm intrigued by the blue suffusion around the thorax.

I've never seen this in agestis.

David M wrote:I'm intrigued by the blue suffusion around the thorax.

I've never seen this in agestis.

It's only the hairs though, that appear blue - there are never blue scales. Fresh agestis will show this too but even after a day or two they start losing hairs and the effect is less.

Guy

Thanks, Guy. Although I haven't ever seen that I will bear your comments in mind in future.

Wednesday 29th March 2017, 20C+
Desert De Les Palmes P.N.
At the beginning of the nature park there is a large gravel car park with chipping of the local red stone with area's of wild flowers and grasses, I spent an enjoyable couple of hours chasing 13 different species of butterfly in the hot mid-day sun.
Butterflies as follows:
Bath White 4+,
Small White 10+,
Large White 10+,
Black-eyed Blues 10+,
Clouded Yellow 6+,
Cleopatra 3,
Red Admiral 2,
Provence Orange Tip 2,
Swallowtail 2,
Wall Brown 10+
Speckled Wood 4+
Green Hairstreak 2,
and a Mallow Skipper.
Photos on next report,

Russ

Large White oviposit, actually on a quiet part of the car park.
Eggs coming every 10 seconds or so, it looked very hard work, lifting her abdomen up to the leaf.
Never seen a Large White oviposit before, it was amazing.

Russ

The car park area.

Some of the butterflies seen at the car park area.

Russ

Hi Russ,
That's a very interesting series of photos of the Large White ovipositing.
As for the Provence Orange Tip, I'll take your word for it - they should be emerging near me in a matter of days.
Your purple flowers are I think, and quite appropriately so, Spanish Lavendar (Lavendula stoechus).
Chris

Cheers Chris for comments and ID, that's definitely a Prov. Orange Tip , I'll get a better photo later this week if I get down to Desert De Les Palmes.

Russ

Thursday 30th March 2017, sunny 20c.
A visit to the dry river bed next to the campsite in search of the Plain Tiger. I've only photographed one PT in the last 2/3 weeks, I've seen a few more but they have been on a mission. At first there wasn't anything flying just a couple of "Whites", but eventually 2 Plain Tigers appeared at the same time, one ovipositing in the deep grass, they are very graceful b/f's and can cover great distance in seconds.

Russ
Photos to follow(I hope)

Plain Tiger pics.

Plain Tiger and Humming-bird Hawk-moth pics.

Plain Tiger fields.

A short trip to the PN sierra D'Irta, for Provence Orange Tip, 2 or 3 seen but still no photo's
Butterflies seen:
Provence Hair streak, looking worn now,
Spanish Festoon(new out)
Swallowtail,
Speckled Wood,
Western Dappled White,
Black-eyed Blues,
Wall Brown.

Russ

Some good sightings there, Russ. I'm a bit jealous of those Plain Tigers!

Interesting you say the Spanish Festoons are new out there, for they were common in Gibraltar,over two week ago.

Hi Essexbuzzard, thanks for your comments, sorry I confused you over the Spanish Festoon, what I meant was that it looked brand new, I actually saw my first SF on the 10th March, which was early for the northern Spain, sorry I confused you.
I see you enjoyed yourself at Gibraltar , I must get down there next year.

Cheers Russ

That's no problem, Russ. It doesn't take much to confuse me . I would definitely recommend Gibraltar,but you seem to be having a pretty good time there! Loving the images...

Wednesday 5th April, warm sunny day, 21c.
My last trip to PN Desert De Les Palmes before leaving for home this weekend.
I went to the usual car park area but after a full circuit of the monasteries(old & new) road, I stopped at the dry terraced car park under the small fort at the other end, where I found a 5 Spot Burnet and numerous Swallowtails fighting just below the fort(which is being renovated).
List of butterflies seen on both car parks:
Large White,
Small White,
Bath White,
Green H/S,
Black-eyed Blue,
Spanish Festoon,
Red Admiral,
Speckled Wood,
Wall Brown,
Provence Orange Tip(still on pic. )
Swallowtail and
one shot of a new Painted Lady, hopefully on it's way to England with a few thousand of it's mates,
and a
5 Spot Burnet moth.

Russ

The burnet is Zygaena lavandulae the Broom Burnet or Zygène de la badasse !

M.

Well spotted M, I see the white collar now, this Burnet isn't in BC, UKB or UKMoths.
I thought you were having a laugh with the name "badasse"
Cheers Russ