Butterflies

Photographed in the Tea Gardens at Kaziranga

Photographed in the Tea Gardens at Kaziranga

The Plain Tiger (Danaus chrysippus) is one of only two Danaid butterflies to be seen in Europe. It is mainly found on the Canary Islands, but was common in one valley in north Mallorca feeding on flowers of a species of Milkweed. The plant is not native to Europe and looked a bit like Asclepias physocarpa. It seems likely that both the plant and butterfly are well established in this valley!

Male Common Blue Butterfly (Polyommatus icarus), sunning itself at the farm above Le Côte.

The Yellow Sailer (Neptis ananta) is very common. It 'sails' with its wings held horizontally with an occasional flick.

Photographed in the tea gardens in Kaziranga. The Common Castor (Ariadne merione) is a member of the Nymphalidae and is named Castor because its caterpillar feeds on the Castor Oil Plant (Ricinus).

Not certain of the species - probably Dark Evening Brown (Melanitis phedima). As its name suggests, it flies in deep woodland in the evening - not a sun-lover.

(Hypolimnas bolina)

The Red Helen (Papilio polytes) is a species of swallowtail butterfly. Its caterpillar feeds on the leaves of a number of shrubs, including cultivated Citrus. Kaziranga