False Heath Fritillary Melitaea diamina prefers damper habitats than Heath Fritillary (athalia) even though it shares food plants (Plantago etc). It is widespread but local in the Alps. Hindwings are always darker than forewings @europebutterfly.bsky.social
Despite the summer showers, these beauties are out and about at the slightest flash of sun. I’m leading more Swallowtail tours tomorrow and Wednesday and there may still be a place left on Weds for any lastminute fairy-folk! @greenwingstours.bsky.social
These days, you may have seen many Painted Ladies (Vanessa cardui) 👀🦋
But did you know they make an extraordinary journey of more than 10,000 km between Africa and Europe, across successive generations? 🌍
🔗 Download the poster here: catalanbms.org/en/recursos/
Another fantastic day on the @greenwingstours.bsky.social tour of Northern Greece, with some very special butterflies seen, including Lesser Fiery Copper, Map, Yellow-banded Skipper and Blue Argus; hard to choose a favourite given all we've seen. What a wonderful part of the world!
Ah, good to know. Many thanks
One of my favourite butterflies of the Alps is the Sooty Copper Lycaena tityrus. Unlike many Lycaenids the male is plain brown and the female (shown) is more well marked. Never abundant, always indicates a good habitat! @europebutterfly.bsky.social
Trip to Greenscombe wood on the edge of the Tamar today for the endangered heath fritillary. Fantastic wood looks managed well & 30 plus fritillary seen. Huge thanks to @andrewpbf.bsky.social with his info wouldn't of found it otherwise !!. 6 spot fly best birds seen. #UKBirding #Cornwallbutterflys.
Link to English version butterfly-monitoring.net/sites/defaul...
Heath Fritillaries from today's @bc-cornwall.bsky.social field trip to Greenscoombe Wood. Currently, the only Cornish site for this rare and lovely butterfly, following a successful reintroduction.
Dispatch from French alps: Geranium Argus Eumedonia eumedon always hangs out around its food plant Geranium, here buried deep getting nectar. Can be distinguished by the dumbel shaped white stripe on underside. Uppers plain brown. @europebutterfly.bsky.social
