Quinta wildlife #9
June 6th, 2010. Post by WendyButterflies 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.

Also encountered a Silver-washed Fritillary this morning (Argynnis paphia), but it wasn’t quite so obliging in posing for the camera. This butterfly was striking for how large it was. About the same size as the swallowtail.

Lots of Marsh Fritillaries (Euphydryas aurinia) about at the moment, as might be expected from the number of caterpillars we hosted.


I also saw a Spanish Festoon (Zerynthia rumina) last month, but didn’t have the camera on me.
Tags: Argynnis paphia, butterflies, Euphydryas aurinia, Iphiclides podalirius, Marsh Fritillary, Pear-tree Swallowtail, Sail Swallowtail, Scarce Swallowtail, Silver-washed Fritillary, Spanish Festoon, Zerynthia rumina

July 9th, 2010 at 7:25 am
beautiful, I always fall for butterflies, xxx Roger
July 9th, 2010 at 7:27 am
problem with all swallowtails is: they do not sit still. Best is to breed them and wait til they come out of their puppae, and then they cannot fly yet, and you shoot along….