Cyprus butterflies

April 29-May 5, 2014:

Not having had any rain during he winter everywhere was very dry and the dragonflies and orthoptera had especially suffered with numbers very low. Butterflies were reasonably frequent and several species were seen.

 

Brown Argus at Smygies

 

 Clouded Yellow - Polis

 

Cyprus Meadow Brown - Polis

 

Eastern Dappled White - Kensigton Cliffs

 

 

Grass Jewel, the smallest European butterfly at Kedares

 

Hermit - near Anarita

 

 

Long-tailed Blue - Smygies and Aspro dam

 

Lulworth Skipper - Kouklea

 

Millet Skipper near Kouklea

 

Swallowtail near Kouklea

 



Cyprus butterflies - 2013

May 4-9, 2013:
Several species were already on the wing in the very hot weather:

Lesser Fiery Copper (Lycaena thersamon), male, near Kidasi

Hermit (Chazara brizeis) near Anarita

Clouded yellow (Colias crocea) at Polis

Long-tailed Blue (Lampides boeticus) near Panagia (top) and close to the Evretou dam

Mallow Skipper (Carcharodus alceae) at Polis

Millet Skipper (Pelopidas thrax) near Kouklea

Lulworth Skipper (Thymelicus acteon) at Polis

Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) at Polis

BUTTERFLY: Lulworth Skipper (Thymelicus acteon), Nata, Cyprus

May 6, 2010:
The water-splash at Nata is a well-known spot for migrant birds which come down to drink there. On this occasion there was no bird of note but several butterflies were seen along the track-side including Swallowtails, Clouded Yellows and this single Lulworth Skipper perching in typical Skipper fashion with its wings partly open.



In Britain, the Lulworth Skipper only occurs in south Dorset at more or less the northern limit of its European range. Further south it is much more common and it extends southwards through the Mediterranean into north Africa. The larvae feed on various species of grass.



(Above) a rather faded Clouded Yellow (Colias crocea) photographed at Asprokremnos on the same day.