Santorini report

[55bloke]

We're recently back from a week on the stunning Greek Island of Santorini. I wasn't sure what to expect in the way of butterflies (see my question thread elsewhere) In the event, there were quite a lot of butterflies about, but of a limited number of species. I saw no Nymphalids at all, and no Swallowtails. Also, no moths bigger than the micro species, and perhaps because of that, no bats! Butterfly photography wasn't the number 1 priority of the visit, but did manage to get shots of all the species I actually saw! Here they are:-
The most obvious species were the Sulphurs/Yellows, very obvious in flight, but they vanish instantly when they land, unless you're paying VERY close attention!



A female nectaring

Quite pleased with this in-flight shot - the only way you'll ever see the upper surfaces.

Next commonest were various Skippers:
Think this is a Dingy- and it's the only one I saw.

I'm not much good at telling one Skipper from another, so no real idea what this tiny little beauty is!

Or these!




Spotted this little blue, and then noticed the bush-cricket nymph just bellow it, so got both in shot.

Then got a closer shot.

This is clearly a closely related species.

and here it is, wings open

A different species


Spotted this Wall on the last day!

Lots of Large Whites about (same species as in the UK?) but didn't see any other Whites.

Finally, a couple of pupae seen within a couple of feet of each other on the same wall.

[Pete Eeles]

Some suggestions:

1 Clouded Yellow
2 Clouded Yellow
3 Clouded Yellow
4 Clouded Yellow f. helice
5 Clouded Yellow (male)
6 Mallow Skipper
7 Essex Skipper ?
8 Lulworth Skipper
9 Lulworth Skipper
10 Lulworth Skipper
11 Lulworth Skipper
12 Long-tailed Blue
13 Long-tailed Blue
14 Lang's Short-tailed Blue (female)
15 Lang's Short-tailed Blue (female)
16 Common Blue
17 Common Blue
18 Wall (female)
19 Large White (female)

Cheers,

- Pete

[Padfield]

Hi 55 bloke!

It looks as if you had a good time! You certainly got some good pictures.

Note that your fourth picture down is an excellent picture of form helice - the white form of the female clouded yellow.

Your first skipper is mallow skipper (Carcharodus alceae) and the others are Lulworth (Thymelicus acteon).

The first blue is long-tailed (Lampides boeticus) and the next a female Lang's short-tailed (Leptotes pirithous). The third blue in the series (two pics of each) is common blue (Polyommatus icarus).

Guy

[Padfield]

Our posts crossed, Pete (well, the website did tell me there was another post, but I chose to ignore its warning!).

I'd go for male Lulworth rather than Essex for that first orange skipper, but I wouldn't start a fight over it!

Guy

[Pete Eeles]

Pure guess - and influenced by someone who once told me that Essex was like a Small Skipper that had been crushed! I guess this applies to Lulworth too

Cheers,

- Pete

[55bloke]

Wow, we're on the ball tonight guys!! Thanks for the comments, much appreciated. We did have a great week, and Santorini really is as advertised- an absolute must see!