Butterflies of the Pyrenees

Some of the butterflies encountered on a family camping trip to the Huesca Pyrenees in late July-early August.

[Text to follow. Some IDs tentative]

Pyrgus alveus centralhispaniae / P. armoricanus ?, Torla, 21 July

Argynnis pandora, Torla, 21 July

Apatura iris, Torla, 21 July

Parnassius apollo, río Ara above Bujaruelo, 22 July

Hesperia comma, Valle de Otal, 23 July

Lasiommata maera, Valle de Otal, 23 July

Polyommatus escheri ? ♂, Valle de Otal, 23 July

Pyrgus sp. Valle de Otal, 23 July

Lysandra cordon, Valle de Otal, 23 July

Argynnis paphia, Valle de Otal, 23 July

Polyommatus escheri ? ♂, Valle de Ordesa, 24 July

Plebicula dorylas ♀, río Ara above Bujaruelo, 25 July

Nymphalis antiopa, Lac d'Orédon, 29 July

Lycaena vigaureae, Lac d'Orédon, 29 July

Brassy Erebia sp cf gorgone, Ibón de Plan, 31 July

Ibón de Plan, 31 July

Melitaea phoebe occitanica & Zygaena filipendulae, Revilla, 1 Aug

Melanargia galathea, Revilla, 1 Aug

Iphiclides feisthamelii, Laguna de Pineta, 3 Aug

Six-spot Burnets emerge on Chapel Green, Rocklands

The most favourable day for insects so far this year: a mostly sunny morning, with temperatures pulling above 22°C by midday. Over the last weeks or so, Six-spot Burnet Zygaena filipendulae caterpillars have been leaving off feeding on the Bird's Foot Trefoil Lotus corniculatus to climb up the stems of taller grasses to pupate. Today there were several caterpillars, three pupae and the first adult of the year.

The Common Knapweed Centaurea nigra has just come into flower and, in addition to the burnets, there were single of several species of butterfly: Essex Skipper Thymelicus lineola, Large Skipper Ochlodes sylvanus, Meadow Brown Maniola jurtina and Small Tortoishell Aglais urticae.

Large Skipper Ochlodes sylvanus

After seven spikes in 2014, the Bee Orchids are absent this year. However, a Common Spotted Orchid Dactylorhiza fuchsii - a new species for the green - compensates.

Common Spotted Orchid Dactylorhiza fuchsii

Butterfly Conservation's Big Butterfly Count

Once again this year, I've been taking part in Butterfly Conservation's Big Butterfly Count. The best location so far has been Great Hockham Hills and Holes (today largely planted with exotic pines). A broad patch of grass and flowers at the first bifurcation of the track held 14 species of butterfly and day-flying moth:-

♂ Common Blue Polyommatus icarus, Great Hockham Hills and Holes.

Silver Y - 1
Six-spot Burnet - 1
Blackneck - 1, a local moth
Small Skipper - several
Essex Skipper - several
Large White - 1
Green-veined White - 2
Common Blue - 1
Small Tortoiseshell - 1
Peacock - 2
Comma - 1
Gatekeeper - 3
Meadow Brown - 5
Ringlet - 7