Now a Greek Garden Visitor.

The Geranium Bronze butterfly has spread from the western Mediterranean since it was introduced into Europe apparently via imported pelargonium plants from South Africa. When in Greece I now keep an eye out for this butterfly around any geranium plants there may be in the garden of our holiday accommodation.My last Greek encounter with the Geranium Bronze is described in an earlier post. Not surprisingly there were several pelargonium plants in the garden of our villa on Meganisi last week and it was not long before they were paid a visit by this butterfly.

Butterflies on Meganisi.

In fact, butterflies encountered within a short distance of our accommodation within a stones throw of the clifftop village of Spartachori.The Island of Meganisi is situated close to Lefkada in the Ionian Islands off the west coast of mainland Greece.The surrounding landscape is one of massive limestone boulders incorporated into small 'paddocks' where there are stone walls and olive trees.The very rural conditions are supplemented by goats,chickens, and the odd cow.Butterflies are numerous and can be observed flying through the rock strewn groves and along the narrow country lanes and tracks.
The village of Spartachori is perched on a cliff overlooking the bay of Spilia.It is a very traditional and pretty village with narrow streets and picturesque houses.It is also an excellent place to see butterflies.They are attracted to the colourful flowers that cascade from the walls and buildings.The Southern Comma pictured below was seen basking in the warm on a paved street.
Other butterflies recorded in and out of the village were Eastern Dappled White,Painted Lady,Southern White Admiral,Cleopatra,Southern Swallowtail,Clouded Yellow,Scarce Swallowtail,Two-tailed Pasha,Geranium Bronze,Lulworth Skipper,Brown Argus,Wall , and a Large Tortoiseshell observed outside our villa and settling just long enough to be identified before flying on up the lane.

Favourite Find of 2016.

The 2016  butterfly season in the UK has been disappointing with sightings down on recent years.The results of The Big Butterfly Count can be viewed here.I have found this trend too on my forays around the Isle of Wight this year.A noticeable lack of butterfly numbers in the common species that I would expect to see doing well as our summer  had good spells of warm,even hot weather.

I was pleased to see that the Newport town centre White-letter Hairstreaks were back on the elm tree where they were discovered in 2015.Along our southern seaside cliffs the Glanville Fritillaries seem to have had a good season too.

During my two visits to the Greek Islands in 2016 I had the treat of  seeing several Lang's Short-tailed Blues and that import from South Africa,the Geranium Bronze which has now spread all along the Mediterranean coast from Spain to Greece.An unexpected sighting was a colony of Lulworth Skippers among the wild flowers of an olive grove on Greek Island of Lefkada.A rare butterfly in the UK,only seen on the coastal cliff tops of Dorset.

However my favourite find was during May when a trip was made across the Solent to the New Forest in Hampshire to see the beautiful Pearl-bordered Fritillary.Now alas,gone from the Island since 2011 due to a lack of sustainable habitat at its last location in Parkhurst Forest.The particular New Forest inclosure visited on that day was named New Copse and despite the rather cloudy weather there were good numbers of these fritillaries on the wing.The habitat here is well managed  for the needs of the Pearl-bordered.

  

Circus Maximus.

The site of  ancient Rome's chariot racing stadium,Circus Maximus is in the centre of the city between the Palatine and Aventine Hills.It measured over 2000 feet in length and just under 400 feet in width and today is a public park.During a short stay in the city last weekend,I was pleased to see at least eight species of butterfly here as I strolled along the grassy banks of the Circus that in the days of the Roman Empire could accommodate well over 100,000 spectators.Quite a selection of wild plants grow here and they still attract butterflies at this time of year,especially in the warm sunshine that we enjoyed on our visit.

Whites were numerous,such as Bath,Large and Small White,together with several Clouded Yellow that all flew along the slopes searching out the small flowers, while Common Blue,Small Copper,Small Heath,Mallow Skipper,and Geranium Bronze seemed to find their own spot amongst the grass and plants.

The grassy slopes of the Circus Maximus

Villa Garden Visitors.

Although butterfly friendly plants were very limited in the extensive garden of our holiday villa on the Greek Island of Lefkada last week, up to fifteen species were noted either in the garden or passing through it.Fortunately the grounds were sided by olive groves and pasture pens,both with a profusion of wildflowers so there was plenty to interest the butterflies.

The villas vast lawn had patches of clover which attracted Long-tailed Blues and Common Blues while a large fig tree at the front housed a couple of Lattice Browns and Speckled Woods.The former nectared from any damaged half ripe fruits while the Speckled Woods competed for the dappled sunny spots around the base of the tree.A small honeysuckle plant on the porch was favoured by a Southern White Admiral and the magnificent flowering geraniums along the length of the rear veranda were visited by Cleopatra's as well as that Geranium Bronze already mentioned in the previous blog entry.

Pelargonium Princess.

Or sometimes Pelargonium Pest as the Geranium Bronze butterfly is native of South Africa and has an attraction to this plant either cultivated or wild.It is the only food plant of Cacyreus marshalli and was thought to have been accidentally imported to Europe on geraniums in the late 1980's.Since then it has spread and  a few years ago was recorded on the Greek Island of Corfu.Well now it has progressed to Lefkada somewhat south of Corfu as I witnessed last week when I observed a female egg laying  in the garden of our holiday villa.