Queen of Spain fritillary

[Padfield]

This is not strictly a UK posting, but I think it has UK relevance and interest. In a sunny part of the Rhône Valley today, in the heartland of the Swiss Alps, I saw no fewer than 20 Queen of Spain fritillaries, in all states of repair, courting, sparring, defending territories and generally behaving as though it were a spring day. But it was a bright (and chilly) 3rd Feb. Officially, this species does not survive the Swiss winter, though a few spend the cold months as larvae or chrysalids and generally emerge in March and April. A thriving population at the beginning of February is quite anomalous. Of course, this winter lies well off the graph, even allowing for global warming, but nevertheless I wonder if this is a sign of things to come. If this species extends its winter resident range northwards, and given its strong migrant tendencies, I imagine it will become an increasingly familiar sight in the south of England in decades to come.

For the record, this female clouded yellow, form helice, which had equally little right to be there, was also enjoying the sun.

Guy