www.ukbutterflies.co.uk

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Colin

I think that's a close encounter with a TTP ...

If I'm right, what a great encounter!

Guy

Looks pretty robust, so Two-Tailed Pasha is a good call.

Could it be Poplar Admiral?

Your answer is correct Guy. The encounter took place on the top of a hill, in fact what used to be a volcano in the dim and distant past. This is the only site I know where I have a very good chance of seeing a TTP or two. Needless to say, the TTP was hill-topping, even though there weren't many other butterflies around.
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Colin

Any more images, CFB?

David M wrote:Any more images, CFB?

David,

I assume your post crossed Guy's, and you wanted some more clues

Well it's too late for more clues, but here, just for you , are two more photos of the same individual.
This morning I saw at least two, probably three and possibly four Two-tailed Pashas around some fig trees with plenty of ripe figs on them which presumably attracted them. But no photos, they were too high up.
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Colin

Hi Colin,
Great photos of a magnificent butterfly. This may be a good year for the TTP as I myself have seen about 5 or 6 in the Marseille region this year whereas over the last 2 years it has remained a rather fleeting and mythical BF for me. I cannot beat your open-wing shot, for the moment!!
Chris J

And then, this afternoon there was one on the (very small) fig tree in our garden:
David will probably say "stop rubbing it in" or something.
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Colin

CFB wrote: David will probably say "stop rubbing it in" or something.

No. I just want to stab you!

Hi Colin,
I popped out this morning to the outskirts of Marseille to try and rival your open-wing shot. This was the result - there is still room for improvement though. The weather conditions are good at the moment and we can't be far off the peak of the TTP season. Its a good year.
Regards to all from Marseilles, Chris.

Pashas find alcohol irresistible, which is why they are attracted to rotting fruit. I have described the bait we use and their behaviour on my jasius page. When they appear, keep perfectly still until they are fully occupied when they can be approached very closely and are much less nervous than usual.

On the other hand, only once have I seen one with open wings.

From what I've read, ethanol is a particularly attractive bait for this species. I know very little about its lifestyle though. Does it hibernate as an imago (which would go some way to explaining its voracious late season appetite)?

i thought you might like to see my Pasha movie:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/captaincatkin/10168954953/

it was taken in Corfu in 2007

There were plenty around. Impressive!
Chris

cjackson wrote:There were plenty around. Impressive!
Chris

Merci Chris !

I took plenty of stills at the same location too... http://www.flickr.com/groups/445735@N24/

Charles

Good stuff, Charles! That brought back happy memories!

Guy

padfield wrote:Good stuff, Charles! That brought back happy memories!

Guy

Glad you liked my Pasha collection Guy

There was also that one at St Guilhem le Désert...