Bird, bug, butterfly and a wild variety of photos from Belarus, Cyprus, Finland, Greece, Ireland, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Scotland and Spain by Irish wildlife photographer Patrick J. O'Keeffe and invited guests

Showing posts with label lepidoptera. Show all posts
Showing posts with label lepidoptera. Show all posts

Monday, 1 January 2018

BRIMSTONE BUTTERFLY (Gonepteryx rhamni) [Male] Lullymore West Bog, I.P.C.C. Nature Reserve, Lullymore, Co. Kildare, Ireland



 
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The Brimstone Butterfly (Gonepteryx rhamni) is of the family Pieridae which is in genus Gonepteryx. It occurs in Europe, Asia and parts of northern Africa. The presents of its larval host plants, Alder Buckthorn (Rhamnus frangula) and Common Buckthorn (Rhamnus carthartica) influences its geographic range and distribution. This butterfly can live for up to a year and the flight season is from April to August. It then overwinters as an adult and emerges, after seven months, from hibernation.

Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

Thursday, 1 September 2016

SPECKLED WOOD BUTTERFLY (Pararge aegeria) Akrotiri Peninsula, Crete, Greece


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The Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria) is a butterfly of the family Nymphalidae which is one of three species in the genus Pararge. It is commonly found throughout much of the Palearctic ecozone, but is absent from the colder northern regions.

Monday, 2 November 2015

LARGE COPPER BUTTERFLY (Lycaena dispar) male, Bihar Plain, Furta, Hajdú-Bihar megye, Hungary

 
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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

Monday, 26 August 2013

SILVER WASHED FRITILLARY BUTTERFLY (Argynnis paphia) Clogherhead Village, Clogherhead, Co. Louth, Ireland

 
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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

Monday, 12 August 2013

OLIVE TREE PEARL MOTH (Palpita vitrealis) Cape Clear Island, Baltimore, Co.Cork, Ireland


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The Olive Tree Pearl Moth (Palpita vitrealis) or Jasmine Moth is a micro moth of the family Crambidae which is in the genus Palpita. This widespread species occurs in southern Europe as well as Africa, Asia, Australia and America. The larvae feed on a number of plant species including Olive Trees (Olea europea) and Jasmine (Jasminum officinale). This migratory species has a wingspan of 27–31 mm. In Europe, it is on the wing from June to December and also occurs as a rare but regular migrant further north in Europe, including to coastal locations in southwest Ireland.

Text © Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds.com

Thursday, 6 June 2013

PEACOCK BUTTERFLY (Aglais io) at Broadmeadow Estuary, Swords, Fingal, Co. Dublin, Ireland

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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.
 
 Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

Wednesday, 5 June 2013

GIANT PEACOCK MOTH (Saturnia pyri) Lesvos Island, Greece


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The Giant Peacock Moth (Saturnia pyri) is of the family Saturniidae which is in the genus Saturnia. It occurs in southern and central Europe, parts of North Africa as well as western, central and eastern Asia. This is the largest species of moth found in Europe with a wing span of up to 20cm.

Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds





Sunday, 10 February 2013

HOLLY BLUE BUTTERFLY (Celastrina argiolus) male, Broadmeadow Estuary, Swords, Fingal, Co. Dublin, Ireland


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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

SPECKLED WOOD Pararge aegeria

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