SPAIN EARLY 2017.

[David M]

I'm intrigued by the blue suffusion around the thorax.

I've never seen this in agestis.

[Padfield]

I'm intrigued by the blue suffusion around the thorax.

I've never seen this in agestis.

It's only the hairs though, that appear blue - there are never blue scales. Fresh agestis will show this too but even after a day or two they start losing hairs and the effect is less.

Guy

[David M]

Thanks, Guy. Although I haven't ever seen that I will bear your comments in mind in future.

[LancsRover]

Wednesday 29th March 2017, 20C+
Desert De Les Palmes P.N.
At the beginning of the nature park there is a large gravel car park with chipping of the local red stone with area's of wild flowers and grasses, I spent an enjoyable couple of hours chasing 13 different species of butterfly in the hot mid-day sun.
Butterflies as follows:
Bath White 4+,
Small White 10+,
Large White 10+,
Black-eyed Blues 10+,
Clouded Yellow 6+,
Cleopatra 3,
Red Admiral 2,
Provence Orange Tip 2,
Swallowtail 2,
Wall Brown 10+
Speckled Wood 4+
Green Hairstreak 2,
and a Mallow Skipper.
Photos on next report,

Russ

[LancsRover]

Large White oviposit, actually on a quiet part of the car park.
Eggs coming every 10 seconds or so, it looked very hard work, lifting her abdomen up to the leaf.
Never seen a Large White oviposit before, it was amazing.

Russ

[LancsRover]

The car park area.

[LancsRover]

Some of the butterflies seen at the car park area.

Russ

[Chris Jackson]

Hi Russ,
That's a very interesting series of photos of the Large White ovipositing.
As for the Provence Orange Tip, I'll take your word for it - they should be emerging near me in a matter of days.
Your purple flowers are I think, and quite appropriately so, Spanish Lavendar (Lavendula stoechus).
Chris

[LancsRover]

Cheers Chris for comments and ID, that's definitely a Prov. Orange Tip , I'll get a better photo later this week if I get down to Desert De Les Palmes.

Russ

[LancsRover]

Thursday 30th March 2017, sunny 20c.
A visit to the dry river bed next to the campsite in search of the Plain Tiger. I've only photographed one PT in the last 2/3 weeks, I've seen a few more but they have been on a mission. At first there wasn't anything flying just a couple of "Whites", but eventually 2 Plain Tigers appeared at the same time, one ovipositing in the deep grass, they are very graceful b/f's and can cover great distance in seconds.

Russ
Photos to follow(I hope)

[LancsRover]

Plain Tiger pics.

[LancsRover]

Plain Tiger and Humming-bird Hawk-moth pics.

[LancsRover]

Plain Tiger fields.

[LancsRover]

A short trip to the PN sierra D'Irta, for Provence Orange Tip, 2 or 3 seen but still no photo's
Butterflies seen:
Provence Hair streak, looking worn now,
Spanish Festoon(new out)
Swallowtail,
Speckled Wood,
Western Dappled White,
Black-eyed Blues,
Wall Brown.

Russ

[essexbuzzard]

Some good sightings there, Russ. I'm a bit jealous of those Plain Tigers!

Interesting you say the Spanish Festoons are new out there, for they were common in Gibraltar,over two week ago.

[LancsRover]

Hi Essexbuzzard, thanks for your comments, sorry I confused you over the Spanish Festoon, what I meant was that it looked brand new, I actually saw my first SF on the 10th March, which was early for the northern Spain, sorry I confused you.
I see you enjoyed yourself at Gibraltar , I must get down there next year.

Cheers Russ

[essexbuzzard]

That's no problem, Russ. It doesn't take much to confuse me . I would definitely recommend Gibraltar,but you seem to be having a pretty good time there! Loving the images...

[LancsRover]

Wednesday 5th April, warm sunny day, 21c.
My last trip to PN Desert De Les Palmes before leaving for home this weekend.
I went to the usual car park area but after a full circuit of the monasteries(old & new) road, I stopped at the dry terraced car park under the small fort at the other end, where I found a 5 Spot Burnet and numerous Swallowtails fighting just below the fort(which is being renovated).
List of butterflies seen on both car parks:
Large White,
Small White,
Bath White,
Green H/S,
Black-eyed Blue,
Spanish Festoon,
Red Admiral,
Speckled Wood,
Wall Brown,
Provence Orange Tip(still on pic. )
Swallowtail and
one shot of a new Painted Lady, hopefully on it's way to England with a few thousand of it's mates,
and a
5 Spot Burnet moth.

Russ

[Mikhail]

The burnet is Zygaena lavandulae the Broom Burnet or Zygène de la badasse !

M.

[LancsRover]

Well spotted M, I see the white collar now, this Burnet isn't in BC, UKB or UKMoths.
I thought you were having a laugh with the name "badasse"
Cheers Russ