Yellow and orangy

   I don’t know if it’s because we are more observant, or if we just see more butterflies than before, but this summer was rife with discoveries.

   In the field behind the house, I managed to snap this Common Brimstone (Gonepteryx Rhamni). Not an easy feat, as the butterfly is quite small and keeps moving around. Thankfully, it seemed to like this flower ! Its green caterpillar eats Alder Buckthorn, other Buckthorns, and wild shrubs. New adults emerge at the end of August, and then hibernate, only to return with the first rays of February sun. It is said that this butterfly announces the end of winter. 

   The High Brown Fritillary (Argynnis adippe, Nymphalidae family, Heliconiinae sub-family) is of medium size and rather lively. This one was snapped under the Col de la Grande Vache. It flies in one generation between June and August, and then hibernates as a caterpillar in the egg. It lives in humid prairies and grassy slopes.

   The Painted lady (Vanessa Cardui – Nymphilidae family) is one of the most widely spread diurnal butterflies. It’s a migratory species that can be spotted from May to September, over the time of one to three generations. The last one migrates to the South (North Africa) where four generations will pass before the journey back North, which is done in two generations. Not a very long lifespan ! It moves in a group of about 4 or 5 at about 25/30 km/h and can travel 500km in a day. It the biggest migratory butterfly known to man.

   Its wingspan is of 40-70mm. It prefers open land – especially those with thistles. It likes nettle, purples, coltsfoot, burdock, lavender, and circium. Its caterpillar, non irritant, is of a green colour interspersed with black, and with yellow spikes. It eats thistles and nettles.