The boozing butterfly is a Two-tailed Pasha or Foxy Emperor (Charaxes jasius). Not seen in the UK as its range is too far south. Its feed plant is the Strawberry tree, Arbutus unedo, which is part of the original flora of this region.
A year ago I asked what’s happening to the oaks round these parts. Suddenly around June, the leaves all seem to turn brown and take on a skeletal look. Last year I thought it might be fungal because I couldn’t see evidence of insects, but now that we’re here full time and have the benefit of catching it in the act of happening, this year it’s clear that it’s not.
Despite searching on Google for oak leaf miners and the like, so far I’ve been unable to identify this pest. Anyone?
Addendum: Thanks to Miguel (comment below) I’ve discovered that this pest is the Oak Flea Beetle (Altica quercetorum). I’ve also noticed that, like many plants subject to insect attack, water stress plays a part. The oaks in wetter parts of the quinta have far less damage, or even none, while the ones in the driest areas have the most damage.
Butterflies again! The profusion and variety of them here is a continual delight. I’ve been trying to capture this one (on camera) for a few weeks now. Today one obligingly posed for me on a grapevine. The Scarce Swallowtail (Iphiclides podalirius), so called because it is in the UK, though apparently not here as I’ve spotted several.
The number and variety of butterflies on the quinta is growing every day.
Wall Brown (Lasiommata megera).
Discovered by Helen while digging up the middle terrace to prepare vegetable beds for planting. A Marbled Newt (Triturus marmoratus). These mainly terrestrial members of the Salamander family apparently navigate by the stars to find their way back to their breeding pools. Here it must be right at the southernmost extent of its range.
Mediterranean house gecko (Hemidactylus turcicus) on the underside of the roof tiles in the casinha. There’s a colony of around 5 of them. This one’s regrowing its tail.
Pirates of the Caribbean anyone?
Some of the wildflowers on the quinta in late June/early July. Portuguese common names from Flora Digital de Portugal.
Succisa pratensis, Devil’s bit scabious; Erva de São José; Escabiosa; Escabiosa de raÃz troncada; Escabiosa dos brejos; Escabiosa mordida; Mordida do diabo; Morso diabólico; Morso do diabo; Morte do diabo; RoÃda do diabo
Butterflies everywhere, particularly the Iberian Marbled White (Melanargia lachesis) which is very numerous here. The butterflies dance in pairs around your feet as you walk the terraces. I also came across several Meadow Browns (Maniola jurtina), a Queen of Spain Fritillary (Issoria lathonia), a Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta), a Peacock (Inachis io) and a Swallowtail (Papilio machaon).
(See what happens when it rains? Nothing to do but run the computer batteries down.)
Does anyone know what’s happening to the oaks around these parts? I was concerned to see so much leaf browning when I came back to the quinta this time, and have noticed it on a lot of other oaks in the area. A neighbour said it happened last year too. Whatever it is, it looks fungal. It seems to extend all the way up to the N17 with some really dead looking trees round Coja.
This is mostly a post from my other blog, made over two years ago now, which I got reminded of yesterday while upgrading the blog to WordPress software (about time! … a case of the cobbler’s bairns …). Since the publicity being given to the disappearing bees doesn’t appear to have moved on much at all from how it was then, I think it’s worthwhile repeating the post, with some updates, here.
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