 |
CLICK ON PHOTO TO SEE HIGHER QUALITY IMAGE Click here for detailed species information |
 |
CLICK ON PHOTO TO SEE HIGHER QUALITY IMAGE Click here for detailed species information |
 |
CLICK ON PHOTO TO SEE HIGHER QUALITY IMAGE Click here for detailed species information |
 |
 |
| CLICK ON PHOTO TO SEE HIGHER QUALITY IMAGE
Click external link here for detailed species information
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
|
 |
| 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 Eurasia as well as North America but is absent from the colder northern parts of this range. 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. It is on the wing up to late July. There are 14 subspecies generally recognised which are sub divided geographically into four groups as follows:
Text © www.rawbirds.com HOLLY BLUE BUTTERFLY [Male] (Celastrina argiolus) Broadmeadow Estuary, Swords, Fingal, Co. Dublin, Ireland
CLICK ON PHOTO TO SEE HIGHER QUALITY IMAGE
Male Holly Blue Butterfly seen here on Lesser Celandine (Ficaria verna)HOLLY BLUE BUTTERFLY [Female] (Celastrina argiolus) Broadmeadow Estuary, Swords, Fingal, Co. Dublin, Ireland CLICK ON PHOTO TO SEE HIGHER QUALITY IMAGEFemale Holly Blue Butterfly seen here on Whitethorn (Crataegus monogyna) |
 |
CLICK ON PHOTO TO SEE HIGHER QUALITY IMAGE Click here for detailed species information |
 |
| The above male Common Blue Butterfly was photographed on Fuerteventura, The Canary Islands, Spain |
 |
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
|
 |
CLICK ON PHOTO TO SEE HIGHER QUALITY IMAGE
Click here for detailed species information
The Large Copper Butterfly (Lycaena
dispar) is of the family Lycaenidae which is in the genus Lycaena. Its main strong hold is south western Asia and south eastern Europe. In addition there are
isolated populations in France, Holland, Germany, Italy, Finland,
Latvia, Lithuania, Kaliningrad and Poland. It is found in damp areas near lakes,
canals, rivers and in fens where its larval food plants Docks (Rumex) occurs, this includes Water Dock (Rumex hydrolapathum), Curled
Dock (Rumex crispus) and Broad
Leaved Dock (Rumex obtusifolius). Formally bred Britain (in
East Anglia, England but became extinct by 1851), subsequent reintroductions failed to permanently re-establish it. There were also a number of attempts to establish a population in Ireland but to no avail and the last report was in 1953. Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds |
 |
CLICK ON PHOTO TO SEE HIGHER QUALITY IMAGE
Click here for detailed species information
|
 |
CLICK ON PHOTO TO SEE HIGHER QUALITY IMAGE
Click here for detailed species information
|
 |
CLICK ON PHOTO TO SEE HIGHER QUALITY IMAGE Click here for detailed species information The Common Blue (Polyommatus icarus) is a small butterfly in the family Lycaenidae. It occurs throughout the temperate regions of Europe (including The Canary Islands) Asia and North Africa. In Europe, it is absent from Iceland, the Atlantic islands of Madeira and the Azores. As its name implies it is one of the most widespread and commonly encountered blue butterflies in the Palaerarctic region. In 2005, it was discovered breeding in Mirabel, Quebec, Canada and it has since increased its distribution there. In southern Europe, it is on the wing from late March to early November but it has a shorter flight (May to September) season in the northern parts of its range. 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 |
| CLICK ON IMAGE TO SEE HIGHER QUALITY PHOTO Click here for detailed species information |
| CLICK ON PHOTO TO VIEW HIGHER QUALITY IMAGE Click here for detailed species information |
The Silver-washed Fritillary Butterfly (Argynnis paphia) is of the family Nymphalidae which is in the genus Argynnis.
This very large species occurs throughout the temperate regions of the
Palearctic. In Britain, it is found in the southern half of England and
Wales. It has a very scattered distribution in Ireland.
Eggs are laid in tree crevices close of it's larval foodplant Common Dog-violet (Viola riviniana). The larvae hatch in August and immediately hibernate. They emerge the following April and then feed on the foodplant. Pupation occurs during May and the adult flight season is from July to late September.
Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds |
| CLICK ON PHOTO TO SEE HIGHER QUALITY IMAGE Click here for detailed species information |
