
Systematic list - part 17: Butterflies
Swallowtail Papilio machaon (5)
Singles at Siracusa, Granelli, near Capo Murro di Porco, Cava Carosello and Cava Grande del Cassibile. If the range map in my field guide is accurate then Southern Swallowtail Papilio alexanor is restricted to the far NE in Sicily and thus these must have been the more familiar species, but none were seen at rest or well enough to confirm the identification.
Scarce Swallowtail Iphiclides podalirius (5)
Singles at the Valle di Templi at Agrigento and Vendicari, up to 2 daily at Monteluce and at least 1 at Cava Grande del Cassibile.
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Scarce Swallowtail, Monteluce (Vendicari), 29th April |
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Small White Artogeia rapae (1+)
1 at the Valle di Templi at Agrigento. A number of other white butterflies were seen but never at rest and not well enough to confirm the identity – some but not all of these were likely to have been Small Whites.
Orange-tip Antocharis cardamines (6+)
At least 5 at Etna and 1 at Cava Carosello.
Eastern Orange-tip Antocharis damone (2)
2 at Etna on 26th April.
Clouded Yellow Colias crocea (8)
Small numbers recorded at Granelli; also singles near Capo Murro di Porco and at Cava Carosello. Two at Cava Grande del Cassibile included a form helice (Berger's Clouded Yellow Colias alfacariensis was not ruled out for this but it was flying with a normal crocea)
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Clouded Yellow, Cava Carosello, 3rd May |
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Cleopatra Gonepteryx cleopatra (2)
Singles at the Valle di Templi at Agrigento and Palazzolo Acreide.
Brown Argus Aricia agestis (c. 6)
A few butterflies at Cava Carosella appeared to be this species, although the pattern of the underwing of one of them does not match any pictures in the field guide – is this an aberration, geographic variation, or have I just misidentified it?
Common Blue Polyommatus icarus (2+)
Only half a dozen or so blue butterflies seen, mainly at Cava Carosella and Cava Grande del Cassibile. At least 1 at each of those sites was a Common Blue.
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Common Blues, Cava Grande del Cassibile, 5th May (left) and Cava Carosella, 3rd May (right) |
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Red Admiral Vanessa atalanta (1)
1 at Cava Grande del Cassibile.
Painted Lady Vanessa cardui (30+)
The commonest butterfly, at least in the first week – far fewer in the second week.
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Painted Ladies, Granelli, 29th April (left) and Capo Murro di Porco, 4th May (right) |
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Knapweed Fritillary Melitaea phoebe (1)
One near Siracusa on 23rd. This was flying with a second much brighter fritillary of unknown species.
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Knapweed Fritillary, Siracusa, 23rd April |
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Meadow Brown Maniola jurtina (13+)
3 at Portopalo di Capo Passero on 1st May. Subsequently recorded at Cava Carosello, Cava Grande del Cassibile, near Noto and possibly elsewhere.
Small Heath Coenonympha pamphilus (1+)
2-3 including 1 at Cava Carosello.
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Small Heath, Cava Carosello, 3rd May |
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Speckled Wood Pararge aegeria (4)
1 at Riserva Naturale Orientata Biviere di Gela and 3 at Cava Carosella.
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Speckled Woods, Cava Carosella, 3rd May (left) and Riserva Naturale Orientata Biviere di Gela, 28th April (right) |
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Wall Brown Lasiommata megera (3)
1 at Monti Peloritani and 2 at Capo Murro di Porco. An unidentified Wall Brown sp. (possibly Large Wall Brown Lasiommata maera) was at Cava Grande del Cassibile.
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Wall Brown, Capo Murro di Porco, 2nd May - living up to its name |
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Small Skipper Thymelicus sylvestris (2)
1 at Riserva Naturale Orientata Biviere di Gela and 1 near Noto.
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Small Skipper, near Noto, 2nd May
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Small Skipper, Riserva Naturale Orientata Biviere di Gela, 28th April |
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