We came across these butterflies in large numbers amongst the most wonderful show of spring flowers in Darling. Its appearance, season, locality and profusion suggests this is the Boland Brown.
Monday, March 28, 2011
Melampias huebneri
Darling, September 2004
We came across these butterflies in large numbers amongst the most wonderful show of spring flowers in Darling. Its appearance, season, locality and profusion suggests this is the Boland Brown.
We came across these butterflies in large numbers amongst the most wonderful show of spring flowers in Darling. Its appearance, season, locality and profusion suggests this is the Boland Brown.
Plettenberg Bay, October 2006
The last five posts were butterflies we saw on that lovely visit to Glenda and Graeme in 2006. Our favourite walks: Kranshoek Harkerville Forest, the Robberg, and de Vasselot reserve: Nature's Valley. Thank you Glenda and Graeme.
Looking out from the Kranshoek walk. The Cape Fold mountains falling into the sea.
The Bottom of Witsand, Robberg (September 2004.)
Friday, March 25, 2011
Mylothris sp.
Plettenberg Bay October 2006
We found this Dotted Border (I think the Common), blown about in the sea breeze in the scrub while we were walking along the Blue Rocks, Natures Valley.
We found this Dotted Border (I think the Common), blown about in the sea breeze in the scrub while we were walking along the Blue Rocks, Natures Valley.
Cassionympha cassius
Plettenberg Bay October 2006
We came across this butterfly in a forest clearing overlooking a magnificent view of Natures Valley. I have presumed it to be the Rain Forest Brown, a butterfly that can be sometimes be found in large numbers at Ferncliffe, but only occasionally in the NBG or at home.
We came across this butterfly in a forest clearing overlooking a magnificent view of Natures Valley. I have presumed it to be the Rain Forest Brown, a butterfly that can be sometimes be found in large numbers at Ferncliffe, but only occasionally in the NBG or at home.
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Dixeia charina
Plettenberg Bay October 2006
The African Small white. These were photographed on our Groot River walk, deVasellot, above Natures Valley. The underside shows the typical grey-green irroration of the WSF. We also came across more on the Robberg. Apart from one doubtful one, I have no record of this butterfly from Pietermaritzburg.
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Vanessa cardui
Plettenberg Bay: October 2006
The Painted Lady. Despite its almost cosmopolitan occurrence, it is not all that common in Pietermaritzburg. On this visit to Plettenberg Bay we witnessed a large migration: as a Parks board official mentioned: "all the way he had travelled from Uniondale." Mandy also commented that on her way up to us from Cape Town that she had driven through it: lots of road kill!
One was ovipositing on a Cape dandelion (Arctotheca calendula) one of its many food plants: I was lucky enough to find the egg.
See also Vanessa cardui (2)
The Painted Lady. Despite its almost cosmopolitan occurrence, it is not all that common in Pietermaritzburg. On this visit to Plettenberg Bay we witnessed a large migration: as a Parks board official mentioned: "all the way he had travelled from Uniondale." Mandy also commented that on her way up to us from Cape Town that she had driven through it: lots of road kill!
One was ovipositing on a Cape dandelion (Arctotheca calendula) one of its many food plants: I was lucky enough to find the egg.See also Vanessa cardui (2)
Monday, March 21, 2011
Pontia Helice
Plettenberg Bay; October 2006
Despite its wide distribution, the Meadow White is uncommon in the Pietermaritzburg area: I have only two records from here, one in the garden and the other at Bisley. We came across it frequently on our visit to Plettenburg Bay, one even settled on Merle's shirt while we were walking.
The top a female from Groot River walk, deVasselot, Tsitsikamma National park, Nature's Valley. The second a male from the bottom of Witsand, Robberg, and the bottom (underside) from the scrub along Blue Rocks, again Nature's Valley.
Despite its wide distribution, the Meadow White is uncommon in the Pietermaritzburg area: I have only two records from here, one in the garden and the other at Bisley. We came across it frequently on our visit to Plettenburg Bay, one even settled on Merle's shirt while we were walking.
The top a female from Groot River walk, deVasselot, Tsitsikamma National park, Nature's Valley. The second a male from the bottom of Witsand, Robberg, and the bottom (underside) from the scrub along Blue Rocks, again Nature's Valley.
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