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CLICK ON PHOTO TO SEE HIGHER QUALITY IMAGE Click here for detailed species information |
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CLICK ON PHOTO TO SEE HIGHER QUALITY IMAGE Click here for detailed species information The Cleopatra Butterfly (Gonepteryx cleopatra) or simply called Cleopatra is a medium sized butterfly of the family Pieridae which is in the genus Gonepteryx. It occurs in Southern Europe, Northwest Africa as well as Turkey and parts of the Middle East. In Europe, this long lived species is on the wing from April to August. There are 10 subspecies recognised and the subspecies Gonepteryx cleopatra balearica is endemic to the Balearic Islands, Spain. Text © Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds.com The Cleopatra Butterfly is divided into the following subspecies:
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gonepteryx_cleopatra
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CLICK ON PHOTO TO SEE HIGHER QUALITY IMAGE Click here for detailed species information |
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CLICK ON PHOTO TO SEE HIGHER QUALITY IMAGE Click here for detailed species information |
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The Cretan Festoon Butterfly (Zerynthia (Allancastria) cretica) is an Old
World swallowtail butterfly of the family Papilionidae which is in the genus
Allancastria. This endemic species is found only on the Greek island of Crete
but some authorities consider it to be a subspecies of the Eastern Festoon (Allancastria
cerisyi) and give it the
scientific name (Allancastria cerisyi cretica). Having overwintered as a chrysalis, the butterfly emerges from mid-March. The flight season can extend into early June. Eggs are layed on Birthworts (Aristolochiae).Two species occur on Crete which are also the larval food plants, Dutchman’s Pipe (Aristolochia sempervirens) and Cretan Dutchman’s Pipe (Aristolochia cretica) which is endemic to Crete as well as Karpathos.
Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds
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CLICK ON PHOTO TO SEE HIGHER QUALITY IMAGE Click external link here for detailed species information The Large White Butterfly (Pieris brassicae) or Large Cabbage White Butterfly is of the family Pieridae which is in the genus Pieris. It occurs very commonly through out Eurasia and North Africa as well as an introduced species in South Africa. Although larger, it can be confused with the Small White Butterfly (Pieris rapae) which has a much reduced black edge to the upper forewing. Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds
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| CLICK ON PHOTO TO SEE HIGHER QUALITY IMAGE Click here for detailed species information The Greenish Black-tip butterfly (Euchloe charlonia) is found in North Africa, the Middle East and on the Canary Islands. A closely related species, the Spanish Black-tip (Euchloe bazae), first described in 1982, is scarce/vulnerable and is only present in two regions on mainland Spain. On the Eastern Canary Islands (Lanzarote, Fuerteventura and the Chinijo Archipelago) less than twenty species of butterfly occur. Because of the bare arid nature terrain and frequently windy conditions on Fuerteventura Island, butterflies are usually encountered in sheltered valleys and lush gardens. Greenish Black-tip on the other hand tends to favour more open type habitat where photographing it is made all the more difficult by the ever present wind. It is on the wing from December to June. Text © www.rawbirds.com |
| CLICK ON PHOTO TO SEE HIGHER QUALITY IMAGE Click here for detailed species information |
| CLICK ON IMAGE TO SEE HIGHER QUALITY PHOTO Click here for detailed species information |
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| CLICK ON PHOTO TO SEE HIGHER QUALITY IMAGE Click external link here for detailed species information The Peacock Butterfly (Aglais io) is of the family Nymphalidae which is in the genus Aglais. It overwinters as an adult with its wings closed and the dark cryptic under wing pattern help it avoid detection by predators. |
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CLICK ON PHOTO TO SEE HIGHER QUALITY IMAGE Click here for detailed species information The Holly Blue Butterfly (Celastrina argiolus) is a small butterfly in the family Lycaenids which is in the genus Celastrina. It is a widespread species and occurs in North America as well as Eurasia but is absent from the colder northern parts of this range. Up to 14 subspecies are generally recognised. There are two generations and it is one of the earliest blue butterflies to be seen, emerging in late spring. Later in the season, it can be confused with similar coloured species but it has very distinctive black speckling on its under wing. Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds |
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CLICK ON PHOTO TO SEE HIGHER QUALITY IMAGE Click external link here for detailed species information The Cryptic Wood White Butterfly (Leptidea juvernica) is of the family Pieridae which is in the genus Leptidea. |
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CLICK ON PHOTO TO SEE HIGHER QUALITY IMAGE Click here for detailed species information The Holly Blue Butterfly (Celastrina argiolus) is a small butterfly in the family Lycaenids which is in the genus Celastrina. It is a widespread species and occurs in North America as well as Eurasia but is absent from the colder northern parts of this range. Up to 14 subspecies are generally recognised. There are two generations and it is one of the earliest blue butterflies to be seen, emerging in late spring. Later in the season, it can be confused with similar coloured species but it has very distinctive black speckling on its under wing. Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds |
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CLICK ON PHOTO TO SEE HIGHER QUALITY IMAGE Click here for detailed species information The Green-veined White Butterfly (Pieris napi) is of the family Pieridae which is in the genus Pieris. It
commonly occurs in Eurasia as well as North America. This species is on
the wing from March to October, over several generations. There are a number of subspecies recognised. It hibernates during the winter
as a chrysalis.
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CLICK ON PHOTO TO SEE HIGHER QUALITY IMAGE Click external link here for detailed species information The Yellow Legged Tortoiseshell Butterfly (Nymphalis xanthomelas) is of the family Nymphalidae which is in the genus Nymphalis.
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Click external link here to see identification guide to Irish Butterflies The Comma Butterfly (Polygonia c-aibum) is of the family Nymphalidae which is in the genus Polygonia. This common species has a widespread distribution in the temperate regions of Eurasia and North Africa. Formally absent from Ireland, it is only in recent times that it has been
added to the Irish Butterfly List. It was first reliably reported
near Portaferry, Co. Down in August 1997 and again in August 1998. There
were no further reports until 17th August 2000 when there was a fully verified record from the Raven Nature Reserve, Co. Wexford.
Proof of breeding was subsequently confirmed in that area. Over the
last ten years, it has rapidly expanded its range from southeast Co.
Wexford and has now colonised most of southern Leinster as well as
eastern Munster. The larval food plant is mainly Stinging Nettle (Urtica dioica)
and the flight season is from late March to late September, split over
two generations. Having overwintered as an adult, it emerges in late
spring and then after mating, lays its eggs on the larval food plant. The 1st record for
Cape Clear Island, Co. Cork on 14th October 2019 (pers. comm. Jim Fitzharris)
might be an indication of fresh immigration from Britain or Continental
Europe. Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds |
