African Monarch in flight
Painted Lady on Lavender
African Monarch
Female Diadem.
Photographed 11/ 12/ 13/5/19
Ark
Category: Butterflies
It Fluttered By
Female Diadem
Male Diadem
Ark.
Photographed this afternoon
Common Diadem
Alternate common name: Diadem
Afrikaans common names: Blouglans (male), Na-aper (female)
Wingspan: ♂ 60–65 mm ♀ 70–80 mm
Notes: Male is a strong fl ier and is territorial on hilltops and in forest
clearings. Sexes dimorphic, distinctive. Polymorphic females are mimics of
all forms of the unpalatable African Monarch. Prefers wooded country and
often visits gardens and fl owers.
Flight period: Year-round, peak late summer.
It fluttered by
If you want to attract the right kind of diner you have to ensure you lay on the right food.
African Monarch lunches on Lavender.
30th April
It Fluttered By
Long Tailed Blue (I think).
All snapped earlier this month.
Ark
It Fluttered By
Tiny African Blue (Gaika Blue) takes a breather yesterday on the lavender.
Ark
It fluttered by. Second Wave
The cross-country migration of the Brown Veined White is into its second phase and for the past couple of days the garden has once again been experiencing wave after wave of these butterflies as they head north.
This one I photographed yesterday afternoon.
Ark
It Fluttered by.
Grassveld Sylph, Metisella malgacha perches on some lavender. Photographed this morning.
Ark.
A quick dash …
… of colour.
Zebra Blue
Gazanias
Common Diadem
Broad Bordered Yellow
Crimson Speckled Footman.
Strelizia
Mocker Bronze
California Poppy
Black Striped Hairtail
Air Plant
Meadow White.
Ark
It Fluttered by
Citrus Swallowtail.
I spotted it through the shed door (yesterday) and managed a single shot before it was over the back wall and gone!
And I noticed this on a fresh leaf of the Lemon Tree by the pond this morning – first laval stage of the Swallowtail.
It looks like bird poop for a reason!
Ark.
It fluttered by ….
And on the subject of migration … I mentioned to Brian the other day that the Brown Veined Whites (Belenois aurota) have begun their annual trek up through South Africa .
A bit further north past our spot they make a right turn and head for Mozambique. I think this is where their journey ends, so in effect it’s not really a migration as their flight is a one way trip.
Anyway, they originated in the South West – Kalahari and begun arriving at our spot two days ago.
As they arrive on the property many seem to park off for a bit of refreshment on the lavender I planted last year.
Their numbers depend on the usual climactic factors – rain, drought etc, but whatever the weather the fairly stately butterfly procession will continue for a day or two more, and they pause on their journey every now and then to lay eggs.
And as with any large ‘migration’ of this nature there are opportunists at every turn.
A gravid Mantis found on the Lavender.
Some Butterflies are fortunate, and get to continue their journey.
Some aren’t so lucky.
Ginger eyeing the arrivals.
On the Lemon Verbena. No predators here.
Ark.
Macro Monday
Painted Lady
The only regular almost year-round butterfly visitor to the Ark’s Spot.
Here one parks off on a Spring Onion for some refreshment .
Ark.
It fluttered by too …
As we are talking Monarch on the previous post. Here are a few before I toddle off to bed.
Ark
It Fluttered By
Painted Lady on Succulent
Ark.
It Fluttered By.
It fluttered by too. Spotted Joker
Byblia ilithyia or more commonly known as the Spotted Joker.
Photographed today, after lunch
I have only ever seen this butterfly once before, some two years ago, so after being rather pleased with myself for managing a shot of the Monarch my heart skipped a beat when the wife noticed this flitting among the gazanias. ”Look, there’s a Painted Lady,” she said pointing.
Oh no it’s not! says I. Keep your peepers fixed on it, and I dashed to my office for the camera.
On my speedy return It hadn’t moved …
I managed two shots and then … gone.
Ark.
