www.ukbutterflies.co.uk

I'm just back from a fortnight photographing the birds (when they are showing) and butterflies (when the birds are hiding) in Goa. I've managed to identify most of the butterflies I met using "A Photographic Guide to Butterflies of Goa" but a few have me stumped. If anyone can identify the pictures below I'd be very grateful.

Thanks in advance,

David

Hi David,

Here are my initial thoughts:

3398: Glassy Tiger (Parantica aglea)
3375: Plain Tiger (Danaus chrysippus)
3179: Glassy Tiger
2839: Unknown
2626: Grey Count (Tanaecia lepidea)
2606: Grey Count underside

Cheers,
Vince

Hi David,

Here are my first suggestions:

1 A Pierid - Aporia or Delias (do a Google image search for Aporia agathon, which is very similar) EDIT: see next post: it's a Common Wanderer
2 Plain Tiger (Danaus chrysippus)
3 One of the Glassy Tigers (Parantica)? Perhaps Dark Glassy Tiger (Parantica agleoides)
4 Female Great Eggfly (Hypolimnas bolina)
5 Grey Count (Tanaecia lepidea)
6 Grey Count (Tanaecia lepidea)

Guy

My post crossed with yours, Vince, because I was spending a long time trying to pin down that first Pierid (the body and legs rule out a tiger, I think)! Without huge success, I must add.

Correction: I've tracked down the Pierid (the first one) - it's a female Common Wanderer, Pareronia valeria.

See http://www.nerdybirders.com/html/butter ... derer.html

Guy

Fantastic, thank you so much. This forum is always so helpful and now I'm going to push my luck if I may - but it will clear my desk as it were. The first is another Goan that I missed and the other 2 were taken in the French Pyrenees last September. I'm thinking one is a fritillary but not Queen of Spain (?) and the other is in such a bad way that I haven't a clue. Fancy helping a little more?

Thanks again and best wishes,

David

padfield wrote:....... Vince.....that first Pierid (the body and legs rule out a tiger, I think)!

Yes quite right. I completly failed to notice the lack of spots on the body!

3396 looks like another Glassy Tiger though

Cheers,
Vince

Agreed!

For the European ones, I'd suggest the first is a female Niobe fritillary (Argynnis niobe), and the second a woodland grayling (Hipparchia fagi). Because it is worn and rather faded, that last identification comes with even less confidence than the species normally inspires!!

Guy

Lovely pics which bring back memories of my own trip to Goa in 2006. Sadly, this was before my obsession with butterflies was reawakened, but I do remember there being hundreds and hundreds of them practically everywhere, which isn't surprising given the lush vegetation and warm but fairly humid climate.

Many thanks to all who have helped me. The butterflies in Goa were more numerous and exciting than the birds in many ways, it was a wonderful experience. There were also huge numbers of dragonflies, do you know of any similar sites to this that might help with identifying them? I've Googled it but haven't yet found anything like this forum - Thanks again!

dragnil wrote:Many thanks to all who have helped me. The butterflies in Goa were more numerous and exciting than the birds in many ways, it was a wonderful experience. There were also huge numbers of dragonflies, do you know of any similar sites to this that might help with identifying them? I've Googled it but haven't yet found anything like this forum - Thanks again!

There are quite a few on here who are pretty good with dragonfly ID, so it may be worth posting your shots.

Thanks, David, I've been looking at various sites but there's no substitute for experience so here are a few. Thanks in advance for any help.
David

Hi Dragnil

I can confirm the Pied Paddy Skimmer this is a male Neurothemis tullia. This one I found along jungle paths.
The bright red dragonfly looks like Crocothemis servilla which I have called Scarlet Darter but Ruddy Marsh Skimmer is an equally good name. We found these in the paddyfields.
The Fulvous Forest Skimmer looks very purple red compared to ones I have photographed that are more of a brick red colour but the markings look the same so I think you are correct in this case. These again were found along jungle paths.
Picture 5 I think is Orthetrum sabina called the Slender Skimmer by some. I photographed these on some muddy jungle paths in Goa.
I have no idea on 2 as it is a little silhouetted and I am not sure on picture 3 although it is very similar to Keeled Skimmer.

Hope this helps a little.