www.ukbutterflies.co.uk

Came across this image via the EBG identification service the other day. I was so taken with it I asked the photographer (Alan Draper) if I could post it on UKB and he agreed.

I don't think I've ever seen an image of both a male Clouded Yellow and a female of the helice form with wings open simultaneously.

Might be one for the species specific pages.

Taken last week in Menorca:

Very nice!

Cheers,

- Pete

Excellent photo.
Exceeds my best blurred attempts.
I can acknowledge the combination of skill / opportunity / presence in the field, necessary.
Well done Alan Draper.
Chris

PS
Managed to find a photo of a male C. alfacariensis flirting with female C. crocea f. helice in my archives - shame it was blurred Chris

Good Shot, it shows how males of Bergers and Pale CYs are similar colour to helice females, but the Black Border always gives helice away. I found my Male Pale Clouded Yellow in 1996 thinking it was an helice at a distance at first, when it was male it had to be one of the others.

The flower that pair are using is Nemesia “Rhubarb and Custard”.

I bought a couple of plants in the spring (circa £6 each!!!) but they have now flowered three times after cutting back. I grew them in the shade but next time will try full sunlight as clearly they attract butterflies.

Meanwhile, I have potted up my two plants and am attempting to overwinter in my cold greenhouse. It isn’t strictly a “greenhouse” but a large old brick shed. I have just had the corrugated iron roof replaced with translucent material and this seems to be working well. Night time minima are 2C to 4C higher than outside. The night just gone was clear with a touch of grass frost. Minimum outside air temperature +1C. In the “greenshed” minimum was +5C.

PS. I have never seen an open-wing Clouded Yellow

Jack

The flower in the top picture is Lantana camera, which isnt as hardy as L. montividensis which we have in White and Pink.

Agree the flower is a Lantana not a Nemesia. I've grown it in the Uk + not a butterfly attracted to it but in warmer parts of the world can be a magnet.

Though tender so tends not to survive outside in the UK apart from places like the Isles of Scilly. In warmer parts of the world it can be an invasive pest.

I was wrong. But it is amazing how such am apparently incompatible colour combination actually works so well with both Nemesia and Lantana.

Jack