Greenwings: Italian Alps 16-23 June 2022

[David M]

Papilionidae

Hit the jackpot with these. Along with Southern Swallowtail, we got the other two in this group as well (albeit in small numbers), and both Apollo annd Clouded Apollo were sufficiently common to pay lip service to after a couple of days.

47. Clouded Apollo
48. Apollo
49. Scarce Swallowtail
50. Swallowtail
51. Southern Swallowtail

[David M]

Pieridae

One or two good ones, but mid-June isn't really the best time for this group.

Mountain Clouded Yellow had just started emerging:

A Mountain Dappled White was also seen and photographed at Col de la Lombarde:

52. Wood White
53. Orange Tip
54. Mountain Dappled White
55. Black Veined White
56. Large White
57. Small White
58. Green Veined White
59. Mountain Green Veined White
60. Bath White
61. Mountain Clouded Yellow
62. Clouded Yellow
63. Berger's Clouded Yellow
64. Brimstone
65. Cleopatra

[David M]

Nymphalidae - Aristocrats

There were quite a few in this group, the most exciting being the two sightings of Poplar Admiral and the single Camberwell Beauty that put on a good show whilst we were waiting for a cycling roadblock to be lifted:

66. Red Admiral
67. Painted Lady
68. Peacock
69. Small Tortoiseshell
70. Comma
71. Large Tortoiseshell
72. Camberwell Beauty
73. Poplar Admiral
74. White Admiral
75. Southern White Admiral

[David M]

Riodinidae

Still a handful of Dukes about. They were seen on two different days:

76. Duke of Burgundy

[David M]

Nymphalidae - Fritillaries

Whilst Cynthia's was unexpected, there were plenty more to find within this group. Dark Green Fritillaries were very common, whilst later in the week False Heaths started to turn up in good numbers:

There were quite a few Titania's Fritillaries:

Spotted Fritillaries were commonplace, including many resplendent females:

We missed out on Nickerl's, but there was still the odd Glanville about, including this smart individual:

77. Cynthia's Fritillary
78. Silver Washed Fritillary
79. Dark Green Fritillary
80. High Brown Fritillary
81. Niobe Fritillary
82. Queen of Spain Fritillary
83. Lesser Marbled Fritillary
84. Marbled Fritillary
85. Pearl Bordered Fritillary
86. Titania's Fritillary
87. Weaver's Fritillary
88. Scarce Fritillary
89. Marsh Fritillary
90. Glanville Fritillary
91. Lesser Spotted Fritillary
92. Spotted Fritillary
93. False Heath Fritillary
94. Knapweed Fritillary
95. Provençal Fritillary
96. Grison's Fritillary
97. Heath Fritillary

[David M]

Nymphalidae - Erebia

Almond-Eyed Ringlet was very common as its flight period is early June to mid-July:

It was also nice to find a solitary, eponymously named Piedmont Ringlet:

Other than that, just four other members of this group in low numbers:

98. Almond-Eyed Ringlet
99. Piedmont Ringlet
100. Mountain Ringlet
101. Common Brassy Ringlet
102. Bright-Eyed Ringlet
103. Large Ringlet

[David M]

Nymphalidae - Satyrids

Nothing particularly remarkable, but Large Wall Browns were extremely common:

Great Sooty Satyrs were a bit of a surprise; they usually don't emerge until the very end of June or early July.

104. Speckled Wood
105. Wall Brown
106. Northern Wall Brown
107. Large Wall Brown
108. Pearly Heath
109. Small Heath
110. Ringlet
111. Meadow Brown
112. Marbled White
113. Great Sooty Satyr
114. Woodland Grayling
115. Great Banded Grayling

[selbypaul]

Thanks as ever for the comprehensive write up David. The Italian Alps trip is very high on my list of next places to go!

[David M]

Thanks, Paul. It's a beautiful location to stay in if you want to be surrounded by butterflies, though I suspect we won't be able to promise mating alexanor every year.

[Pete Eeles]

Thanks for the summary, David - and a pleasure to be part of the team! One of the best locations I've ever visited!

Cheers,

- Pete

[mattberry]

Enjoyed this summary David. And am particularly envious of the alexanor experience you all had - a species I have yet to see, let alone in cop!

Best wishes,
Matt