Iranian Butterfly -2003

 

 

In year 2003, Iranian Post issued five stamp set of butterfly series and moth series. Total stamps are issued are 7 (seven)  stamps.

On May 14, 2003, they issued two stamps feature Argynnis Paphia, and Issoria Lathonia

Argynnis paphia is a common and variable butterfly found over much of the Palaearctic ecozone – Algeria, Europe, temperate Asia and Japan.

 

The Silver-washed Fritillary (Argynnis paphia) was in decline in the UK for much of the 1970s and 1980s, but seems to be coming back to many of its old territories.

The Silver-washed fritillary butterfly is deep orange with black spots on the upper side of its wings, and has a wingspan of 54–70 mm, with the male being smaller and paler than the female. The underside is green, and, unlike other fritillaries, has silver streaks instead of silver spots, hence the name silver-washed.

 

The Queen of Spain Fritillary (Issoria lathonia) is a butterfly of the family Nymphalidae.It occurs throughout the Palaearctic from North Africa to Japan.It is distinctly migratory in Western Europe, in Central and South Europe.

 

 

The adult is a strong flyer, and may be found anywhere but forests. Flight time is between March and October, size is between 38 mm and 46 mm, and is usually found at altitudes between sea level and 2700 m .

Butterflies of Wallis & Futuna

 

The Post of Wallis & Futuna Islands issued a set of two stamps feature the endemic butterflies species,  Papilio montrouzieri and Danaus pumila on  June 28,  2005 .

Papilio montrouzieri is a species of swallowtail butterfly from the genus Papilio that is endemic to New Caledonia. General description is scale up to 10 cm and metallic blue on top of the wings.Distributed in Grande Terre and the Loyalty Islands in New Caledonia. Their habitat are in harvested forest like : Pine Peak, Port Wooded.

Danaus pumila , The Least Tiger (Parantica pumila) is a species of butterfly in the Danainae subfamily. It is found in New Caledonia and Vanuatu.

Butterflies & Moths III–Jersey

 

Global climate change is thought to be the cause of a remarkable number of French and southern European species of butterflies and moths spreading north and being recorded in the Channel Islands and the UK. Some are vagrants in ones and twos but others have become established in Jersey  during the past decade.

Following the previous of butterflies stamp series, Jersey Post issued the third stamp set of butterflies and moths on May 08, 2012. The issue comprise of 4 single postage stamps, 3 stamps in one souvenir sheet and two set of  First Day Cover. The species featured on stamps are Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing or Noctua fimbriata, Painted Lady or Vanessa cardui, Merveille du Jour  or Dichonia aprilina , Queen of Spain Fritillary or  Issoria lathonia , Large Emerald or Geometra papilionaria , Red Admiral or Vanessa atalanta .

Butterflies of Gambia

Gambia Post issued the beautiful stamp set features butterflies of their country on December 30, 2009. The issues are  one miniature sheet consist of six postage stamps and one set of four postage single stamps.

The miniature sheet depicted species Abadima Acraea, African common white, Cream-bordered Charaxes and African Caper white, Large spotted Acraea, Tiny Orange Tip. Meanwhile single stamps are depicted species Elegant acraea, Bamboo Charaxes, Green-veined Charaxes and Pink acraea.

Top arrays from left to right:

Abadima Acraea or Acraea pseudegina. Acraea pseudegina is a butterfly of the Nymphalidae family which has a wingspan reaching about 45–55 millimetres . In this quite variable species the uppersides of the forewings are usually smoky black, with some black spots. Fringes are black except on the inner margins of both wings where they are yellowish. The uppersides of the hindwings have brick-red colour. An irregular row of nine spots shown by transparency from the underside crosses the descale area of the wings. The underside is similar to the upperside, but there is a series of black marking on the edge of the hind wings.

African Common White or Belenois creona. The African Common White (Belenois creona) is a butterfly in the family Pieridae which found in the Afrotropic ecozone.The wingspan is 40-45 mm. Sexes are dimorphic.Uppersides are white with black or brown marginal borders and veins in forewing apex.Females have broader dark upperside borders on both wings. Underwings are yellow during wet season.

Cream-bordered Charaxes or Charaxes epijasius. Charaxes or The Rajah and Pasha butterflies, also known as Emperors in Africa, make up the huge type genus of the brush-footed butterfly subfamily Charaxinae, or leafwing butterflies. Charaxes are tropical Old World butterflies, with by far the highest diversity in sub-Saharan Africa, a smaller number in South and Southeast Asia, and a single species (Charaxes jasius) in Europe. They are generally strong flies and very popular among butterfly collectors.

Bottom arrays from left to right:

African Caper White or Belenois aurota. The African Caper White (Belenois aurota) is a small to medium-sized butterfly of the Family Pieridae, that is, the Yellows and Whites, which is found in South Asia and Africa. In Africa, it is also known as the Brown-veined White, and is well-known during summer and autumn when large numbers migrate north-east over the interior.Wing expanse of 44–62 mm.

Large spotted Acraea or Acraea zetes. The Large spotted Acraea or Acraea zetes is a butterfly of the Nymphalidae family . The Nymphalidae is the true butterflies which distributed worldwide, especially rich in the tropics. Adults of some groups are the longest-lived butterflies, surviving 6-11 months. Adult feeding behavior depends on the species, where some groups primarily seek flower nectar while others only feed on sap flows , rotting fruit, dung, or animal carcasses. Males exhibit perching and patrolling behaviors when seeking mates. Egg-laying varies widely, as some species lay eggs in clusters, others in columns, and others singly. Caterpillar appearance and behavior vary widely.

Tiny Orange Tip or Colotis evagore. The Tiny Orange Tip (Colotis evagore) is a butterfly of the Pieridae family. It is found in the dry parts of tropical Africa, northern Africa, southern Spain, and southwest Arabia.The wingspan is 28–35 mm in males and 28–38 mm in females. The adults fly from February to August depending on the range.The larva feed on Maerua, Capparis and Cadaba species.

Elegant Acraea

Elegant Acraea or Acraea egina is a butterfly of the genus of brush-footed butterflies (Acraea) in the family of Nymphalidae.The food plants of their caterpillars are usually Urticaceae or, like in most Heliconiinae, Passifloraceae. Some feed on other plants, such as Fabaceae, "Flacourtiaceae" or Violaceae. Their preferred species contain cyanogenic glycosides, which make the larvae and adults poisonous to predators.

Bamboo Charaxes, Charaxes bouveti

The Bamboo Charaxes or Charaxes bouveti is a butterfly of the family Nymphalidae which its larvae feed on Bamboo. Wingspan is around 6cm. Behavior similar to other Charaxes.

Green-veined Charaxes, Charaxes candiope

The  Green-veined Charaxes (Charaxes candiope) is a butterfly of the family Nymphalidae which found in most of Subsaharan Africa.The wingspan is 45–55 mm in males and 50–60 mm in females. The basic colour of the upperside wings is tawny or orange tawny, with a basal area slightly paler or pale ocher yellow. The unscaled veins and the coastal edge of forewing are green. The hindwings have a sub marginal black band with a series of tawny ochers or whitish interstitial spots. The undersides of the forewings are clayish, slightly ochers, while the hindwings are sepia colour.

Pink Acraea, Acraea caecillia

Acraea caecillia  is a butterfly of the family Nymphalidae which have distinctive appearance are ground colour brownish red, hindwing margin and forewing apex blackish, both wings with small black spots.

Butterflies of Aruba - 2011

The Postal Administrative of Aruba issued the stamp set featured the butterflies species on the first of December 2011. The issues are consist of ten postage stamps. The species depicted are Lycaena heteronea austin, Diaethria neglecta, Lycaena lapidicola, Pyrrhogyra edocla, Anartia amarthea amarthea, Anglais urticae, Morpho aega, Junonia coenia coenia, Dione juno juno.

The Blue Copper (Lycaena heteronea) is a butterfly of the Lycaenidae family. It is found in the western Canada and USA.The males of this species have a bright blue upper-side with faint black spots. The females are greyish brown, with prominent black spots and a blush of orange. The under-side in both sexes is white with black dots.The unique colour of this copper has led to speculation on its convergent evolution with blues. Lycaena heteronea austin feeds as a larva on the same food-plants as blues in the genus Euphilotes.The wingspan is 26–33 mm. Adults are on wing from April to August.

Diaethria neglecta

Diaethria is a brush-footed butterfly genus found in the Neotropical Ecozone, ranging from Mexico to Paraguay. Diaethria neglecta occurs from Panama to Bolivia. The "89" or "88" numerals which appear on the underside hind-wings of this species are present in all of the dozen members of the genus Diaethria, but vary in colour, thickness and shape according to species. 

The butterflies often frequent human dwellings, and are considered a sign of good luck by many communities. The upper-sides are blackish, marked on the forewings with a diagonal band of metallic blue or green. In some species this colour is repeated on the hind-wings in the form of a sub-marginal band.

 

Lycaena lapidicola

Lycaena lapidicola or Coppers are members of the Family Lycaenidae. They are found in sunny, open habitats throughout the temperate zone, with 50 species found in Eurasia and North America. 

Coppers typically have upper wing surfaces that are iridescent purple or red-orange, but some North American species are blue, brown, or gray. Males perch and interact with other males while awaiting receptive females. Most species have a single brood and overwinter as eggs or as first instar caterpillars within the egg. The caterpillars feed on leaves of host plants , which in North America are docks, knotweeds, buckwheat, cinquefoils, gooseberries, currants, or red berry .

 

Pyrrhogyra edocla

Pyrrhogyra edocla is a pretty butterfly from Neotropic ecozone (South America). The first description was in 1848 by Doubleday. The wingspan is about 5.0 – 6.0 cm. This butterfly is a member of the family Nymphalidae. Pyrrhogyra edocla is black and white. The underside has red stripes. Pyrrhogyra edocla can be found from Mexico to Brazil.

Anartia amarthea amarthea.

The Brown Peacock or Scarlet Peacock (Anartia amathea) is a species of nymphalid butterfly, found primarily in South America. The type locality is probably Surinam, and the species is found from Panama to Argentina; Grenada, Barbados, Antigua. Larval host plants are mostly include the families Acanthaceae and Labiatae.

Anglais urticae.

The Small Tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae) is a well-known colourful butterfly.It is found in temperate Europe, Asia Minor, Central Asia, Siberia, China, Mongolia, Korea and Japan. This is a species often found in gardens. The caterpillars feed on stinging nettles, as do those of several Nymphalidae butterflies.

The adult is striking, with its dark body and red and yellow wings, which have a row of blue dots around the rear edge. The under-wings are dull, which helps to conceal stationary or hibernating individuals. When threatened, resting individuals rapidly open their wings, presenting the dramatic display of colours. This can frighten away young or inexperienced birds.

Morpho aega
The Aega Morpho (Morpho aega) is a Neotropical butterfly found in Paraguay, Argentina and Brazil. Morpho aega is a species group which may be composed of several species. The larvae feeds on Gramineae.

Junonia coenia coenia.

This butterfly has a distinctive pattern and slightly scalloped wing margins. On the upper-side, all four wings have a large and a small eyespot, the large one on the forewing in a contrasting white band across the wing tip, and there are two orange bands near the costa at the base of the forewing. The underside is paler and the upper-side features are repeated. Females are noticeably larger than males. The wingspan is range 37 to 45 mm.

Junonia coenia coenia

The Common Buckeye (Junonia coenia) is a butterfly in the family Nymphalidae. It is found in southern Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, and Nova Scotia and all parts of the United States except the northwest, and is especially common in the south, the California coast, and throughout Central America and Colombia.

Its habitat is open areas with low vegetation and some bare ground. This species and its relatives were placed formerly in the genus Precis. Adults feed on nectar and also take fluids from mud and damp sand. Males perch on bare ground or low plants, occasionally patrolling in search of females, but they are not territorial. The caterpillars are solitary and feed on the foliage, flowers, and fruits of the host plant. 

Dione juno juno

The Juno Silverspot, Juno Longwing, or Juno Heliconian (Dione juno) is a species of butterflies of the subfamily Heliconiinae in the family Nymphalidae found from southern USA to South America.

Butterflies of Botswana

Botswana Post  has issued the butterfly stamp set on the first of November 2007. The issue  comprises of 14  postage stamps that depicts respectively species of Scarlet tip, Dwarf blue, Mimmosa Saphire, Bushveld Orange-tip,African Monarch,Common Black-eye,Brown Playboy,Sapphire, Apricot Playboy, Blue Pansy,Black-striped Hairtail,Natal Barred Blue, and Foxy Charaxes.
 

Scarlet Tip

The Crimson Tip or Scarlet Tip (Colotis danae) is a small butterfly of the Family Pieridae .Wing expanse of 45–50 mm in males and 48–52 mm in females.The butterfly is found in open to wooded savannah areas of Eastern Southern Africa from King Williams Town in the Eastern Cape through to the Limpopo province in wherever its foodplant, Cabada termitaria, Cabada natalensis and Maerua angolensis are found. The insect flies throughout the year with a dry and wet season form being recognized. It flies fairly fast, feeding frequently and is best seen earlier in the morning when it is cooler and they sit warming themselves up.

Dwarf Blue

The Dwarf Blue (Oraidium barberae) is a butterfly of the Lycaenidae family which prefers savanna or grassed areas. It is found in South Africa and Zimbabwe. In South Africa it is found from the West Cape, north to Namaqualand, the North Cape and east to the East Cape and the Orange Free State as well as northern KwaZulu-Natal. It is the smallest butterfly in Africa!

The wingspan is 10-15 mm for males and 12-18 mm for females. Adults are on wing continuously depending on the rainfall, with peaks usually occurring from September to November and from February to April.The larvae probably feed on Exomis axyrioides. 

 

Mimosa Sapphire

The Mimosa Sapphire (Iolaus mimosae) is a butterfly of the Lycaenidae family. It is found in southern Africa.

The wingspan is 26-31 mm for males and 30-32 mm for females. Adults are on wing from September to March with a peak from October to November. There are one or more generations per year.The larvae feed on Moquinella rubra, Plicosepalus kalachariensis and Tapinanthus dicrous.

 

Bushveld Orange-tip

The Bushveld Orange Tip   or Colotis pallene is a butterfly of the Pieridae family. It is found in the southern Africa.

The wingspan is 28–35 mm. The adults fly year-round, peaking in late summer and autumn.The larva feed on Capparis species.

African Monarch

Danaus chrysippus, known as the Plain Tiger or African Monarch, is a common butterfly which is widespread in Asia and Africa. It belongs to the Danainae ("Milkweed butterflies") subfamily of the brush-footed butterfly family, Nymphalidae. It is a medium-sized, non-edible butterfly, which is mimicked by multiple species.

Common Black-eye

The Common Black-eye (Leptomyrina gorgias) is a butterfly of the Lycaenidae family. It is found in southern Africa.The wingspan is 18.5–29 mm for males and 25–32 mm for females. Adults are on wing year round with peaks in November and March.The larvae feed on Kalanchoe, Crassula and Cotyledon species.

 

Brown Playboy

The Brown Playboy (Deudorix antalus) is a butterfly of the Lycaenidae family. It is found in Africa (including Madagascar) and south-west Arabia.

The wingspan is 22-34 mm for males and 22-40 mm for females. Adults are on year round with peaks from September to October and from March to May. The larvae feed on the fruit of a wide range of plants.

 

Sapphire

The Southern Sapphire (Iolaus silas) is a butterfly of the Lycaenidae family. It is found in South Africa, from the Name Karoo in the East Cape, then along the eastern littoral from Addo Elephant to Somerset East and Bedford, along the coastal Savannah and Lowland Forest into KwaZulu-Natal.

The wingspan is 32–37 mm for males and 34–41 mm for females. Adults are on wing year round in warmer areas and from September to January in the southern part of its range.The larvae feed on Moquinella rubra, Erianthemum dregei and Loranthus usuiensis.
 

Large Blue Emperor

The Large Blue Emperor,  or  Charaxes bohemani is a butterfly of the family Nymphalidae. It is found in southern Africa.The wingspan is 65–75 mm in males and 78–95 mm in females. Their flight period is year-round.

 

Larvae of Charaxes bohemani feed on Afzelia quanzensis, Brachystegia spiciformis, Julbernardia globiflora, Lonchocarpus capassa, Dalbergia nitidula, Scotia brachypetala, and Xeroderris stuhlmanni.

 

Apricot Playboy

The Apricot Playboy (Deudorix dinochares) is a butterfly of the Lycaenidae family. It is found in South Africa, Madagascar, Zimbabwe, eastern Africa and south-west Arabia. In South Africa it is found from northern KwaZulu-Natal to Swaziland, Mpumalanga, the Limpopo Province, the North West Province and Gauteng.

The wingspan is 24-30 mm for males and 26-32 mm for females. Adults are on the wing year round with peaks from September to October and from March to May.

The larvae feed on the fruit of a wide range of plants such as; Combretum species , Burkea species , Syzygium species , Gardenia species ,  Acacia species ,  Prunus and Ximenia species , etc

Blue Pansy

Blue Pansy or Junonia orithya is a nymphalid butterfly with many subspecies occurring from Africa, through southern and south-eastern Asia, and in Australia.  In southern Africa it is known as the Eyed Pansy as the name Blue Pansy refers to Junonia oenone.

The adults occur in open areas, often sitting on bare ground. This species has a stiff flap and glide style of flight and maintains a territory; driving away other butterflies that may enter it.

Black-striped Hairtail

The Black-striped Hairtail (Anthene amarah) is a butterfly of the Lycaenidae family. It is found in tropical Africa and Arabia (up to Aqaba).

The wingspan is 21-26 mm for males and 23-29 mm for females. Adults are on wing year round, with a peak in summer.The larvae feed on Acacia species, including Acacia karroo, Acacia sieberana and Acacia gerrardii.

Natal Barred Blue

The Natal Bar or Natal Barred Blue (Cigaritis natalensis) is a butterfly of the Lycaenidae family. It is found in South Africa, from the East Cape along the coast to KwaZulu-Natal, Swaziland, the Orange Free State, Mpumalanga, Gauteng, the Limpopo Province, the North West Province and part of the North Cape. It is also present in Botswana.

The wingspan is 25-32.5 mm for males and 26.5-34 mm for females. Adults are on wing year round with peaks from September to October and from March to May.The larvae feed on Canthium inerme, Clerodendron glabrum and Ximenia caffra.

Foxy Charaxes

The Two-tailed Pasha or Foxy Emperor (Charaxes jasius) is a butterfly which occurs in the Mediterranean region and Africa.The wingspan is 65–75 mm in males and 75–90 mm in females. Flight period is year-round.The host plant of the caterpillars is the strawberry tree Arbutus unedo.

Butterflies in Gibraltar

On 4th April 1997, Gibraltar Post  issued the stamp set features  Anthocharis Belia Euphenoides,  Charaxes Jasius,  Vanessa Cardui and  Iphiclides Podalirius . The issuance presented  in one souvenir sheet consist of 4 postage stamps which depicts butterfly species and have background picture of flower plant.

 Anthocharis Belia Euphenoides – 23p

This lovely little butterfly , known as the Moroccan orange tip, Anthocharis belia, subspecies euphenoides.  It is found over much of Spain, southern France and parts of Italy and Switzerland, in a single brood that varies enormously in time of emergence. In Gibraltar it flies from mid-February and in the Pyrenees it is still flying at the end of July.

Charaxes Jasius  - 26p

Charaxes jasius or The Two-tailed Pasha or Foxy Emperor  is a butterfly which occurs in the Mediterranean region and Africa.Its wingspan is 65–75 mm in males and 75–90 mm in females. Flight period is year-round. The host plant of the caterpillars is the strawberry tree Arbutus unedo.

The species occurs  usually at low levels amongst hills in Mediterranean France, Portugal and neighboring Spain, most Mediterranean islands from the Balearics to Cyprus, Greece and Italy and coastal Balkans. North Africa where it is predominantly coastal.

Vanessa Cardui –30p

Vanessa Cardui or The painted lady butterfly travels around 1000 miles in its life. Its wing span is 2 inches. The painted lady caterpillar is black with spiked skin.

Vanessa Cardui is found on every continent except Antarctica and South America. It is widely distributed in the world ranging from North America, Asia and Europe to the North sub arctic.

This butterfly has a strange pattern of flying in a sort of screw shape and very active. It has a swift flight but is very attracted to flowers. Larvae feed on Asteraceae spp., including Cirsium, Carduus, Centaurea, Arctium, Helianthus, and Artemisia spp.

Iphiclides Podalirius – 1,20 GBP

Iphiclides podalirius or  The Scarce Swallowtail is widespread throughout Europe with the exception of the northern parts. Its range extends northwards to Saxony and central Poland and eastwards across Asia Minor and Transcaucasia as far as the Arabian peninsula, India, and western China.

Iphiclides podalirius is a Palearctic swallowtail butterfly found in gardens, fields and open woodlands.The food plant includes hawthorn bushes. The caterpillars spin little pads on leaves and grip them firmly.

The Scarce Swallowtail is getting rarer as the blackthorn bushes are being cleared. In some years the Scarce Swallowtail is quite abundant. It is considered Rare-Endangered and protected in some provinces of Austria and of status Indeterminate throughout Europe.

Butterflies of Antigua

On October 30, 1975, Antigua Post released the butterfly stamp set comprised of one souvenir sheet and 7 postage stamps features species of butterflies, like : Eurema elathea, Danaus plexippus, Phoebis philea, Marpesia petreus Thetys, Papilio Polydamas , and Vanessa Cardui.

Eurema Elathea is a butterfly of genus Eurema,   in the family of Pieridae. Its occurs from the USA to Paraguay, and is also present on most Caribbean islands.

 

The upper-side forewings of male Eurema elathea are yellowish, with a broad blackish-brown apex, and a broad straight blackish bar along the inner margin ( dorsum ). The hind-wings of the male are white, with a broad dark brown border.

This butterfly breeds in disturbed semi-open forest edge habitats, which may include roadsides, riverbanks, secondary forest and farmland. It occurs at altitudes between sea level and about 1800m.

Eurema Elathea is usually encountered as colonies of several dozen individuals, which can be seen fluttering slowly amongst low herbage in disturbed forest edge habitats.Both sexes nectar at low growing flowers and at Lantana bushes. Males of this butterfly do not normally mud-puddle or visit sandbanks.

 

Danaus plexippus or The Monarch butterfly  is a milkweed butterfly (subfamily Danainae), in the family Nymphalidae. It is perhaps the best known of all North American butterflies.

The Monarch butterfly is famous for its southward migration and northward return in summer from Canada to Mexico and Baja California which spans the life of three to four generations of the butterfly.

Its wings feature an easily recognizable orange and black pattern, with a wingspan  around of 9 centimetres . The upper side of the wings is tawny-orange, the veins and margins are black, and in the margins are two series of small white spots. The fore wings also have a few orange spots near the tip. The underside is similar but the tip of the fore wing and hind wing are yellow-brown instead of tawny-orange and the white spots are larger.

Phoebis philea or The Orange-barred Sulphur  is a species of butterfly found in the Americas including the Caribbean.There are two to three generations per year in Florida and one in the northern part of the range with adults on wing from mid to late summer.

The species habitat is in tropical scrub, gardens, fields, and forest edges. The species eats nectar from red-colored plants.The larvae feed on Cassia species.The wingspan is around 75 mm.

Marpesia petreus Thetys  or Ruddy Daggerwing, is a species of butterfly of the Nymphalidae family. It is found in Brazil north through Central America, Mexico, and the West Indies to southern Florida.

 

The wingspan is around 80 mm and generally found at tropical dry forest regions.Larvae feed off the following plants,  Anacardium occidentale (marañon) and Ficus citrifolia, meanwhile Adult butterflies feed off the following plants, Eupatorium sp,  Mikania micrantha, Cordia sp,  Croton sp and Lantana sp.

Eurema proterpia or The Tailed Orange  is a North and South American butterfly in the family Pieridae.This species may be found from mid-July to early January in Arizona, from August to November in Texas, and all year round in Mexico.

The upper side of the wings is orange with a variable amount of black along the fore wing costa. The wing veins are lightly marked with black in summer individuals, and winter individuals have no black veins. Males reflect UV light on their upper sides, and some females can be white. The underside of the wings varies depending on the season.The wingspan measures around 35 mm.

Papilio Polydamas or Battus polydamas is a butterfly of the family Papilionidae.This butterfly flies from April to November in three generations in the north of its range, throughout the year in several generations in the tropics. The larvae feed on Aristolochia species.

Papilio Polydamas is mainly present in open woods and in abandoned fields and areas.The wingspan is around 110 mm without the tail. The upper-side of the wings is black with a broad sub-marginal band formed by large yellow spots. The undersides of the forewings have the same pattern, while the hind wings have a sub-marginal row of red drawings.

Vanessa cardui is a well-known colourful butterfly, known as the Painted Lady.  Its close relative to the Australian Painted Lady (Vanessa kershawi, sometimes considered a subspecies) ranges over half the continent.

Other closely related species are the American Painted Lady (Vanessa virginiensis), and the West Coast Lady (Vanessa annabella).

The species is resident only in warmer areas, but migrates in spring, and sometimes again in autumn. It migrates from North Africa and the Mediterranean to Britain in May and June.

Larvae feed on Asteraceae spp., including Cirsium, Carduus,Centaurea, Arctium, Helianthus, and Artemisia spp.

Butterflies of Luxembourg

 

On 27 September 2005, Luxembourg Post issued the stamp set features butterflies species which composed of three postage stamps. The issued stamps depicted species Swallowtail, Silver-washed fritillary, and Chalk-hill blue with different nominal face value.

 

Swallowtail (Papilio machaon)

The Swallowtail is among the most spectacular and largest of butterflies found in Luxembourg.The Swallowtail or Papilio machaon is species  of Papilionidae family.  The wings of the female can reach more than 9 cm in size. It is in the tropics that one most frequently sees the Papilioninae sub-family.

 

Mostly in springtime, the butterflies search for higher ground to carry out their famous “hill topping”, a type of nuptial flight that allows them to find a partner.

 

The flamed variety is an even rarer species that populates northern Europe. Two and sometimes three flights from April to September.

 

Hosts of Swallowtail’s caterpillar are various types of umbellifers. Pepper saxifrage, wild and garden carrots. The adult caterpillar of the swallowtail is easily recognizable by  its yellowish green dominant color  with transverse black bands highlighted with points of orange.

 

 

Silver-washed Fritillary (Argynnis paphia)

 

The Silver-washed fritillary or Argynnis paphia is a relatively common butterfly in Luxembourg and as species of sub-family Nymphalinae. It is encountered in summer on sunny forest paths where it enjoys gypsywort.

 

The males are a luminous orange colour while the females are darker with greenish coloration. The females eventually become entirely green.

 

The Silver-washed fritillary flight in once   from June to August. The host of caterpillar are  varieties of violets and meadowsweet.

 

 

Chalk-Hill Blue (Lysandra coridon)

The chalk-hill blue  or Lysandra coridon is  among the varieties of butterflies  most frequently encountered and as a species of Lycaenidae family . They are found in almost every country area, primarily on the dry limestone pastures. The period of flight is once from July to August.

 

The males are known by their light whitish blue colouration while the females are brown with orange points on the lower edge of their back wings. In Luxembourg, it is the most recognizable argus butterfly and the host of caterpillar is Hippocreppis, a genus of ornamental plants in the family Fabaceae.

Hong Kong Butterflies II

 

Hong Kong Post released the butterfly stamp series on June 14,  2007. The issue stamps has depicted species Faunis eumeus, Prioneris philonome, Polyura Nepenthes, Acraea issoria, and Tajuria maculata.

 

The Faunis eumeus or large Faun is butterfly distributed  ranges from Assam to North Myanmar, the Shan States, Indo China, southern Yunnan, South China and Hong Kong.

Upperside of males and females is forewing maroon, with a very broad, oblique, preapical. Hindwing brown, shading to dark maroon anteriorly.Underside is maroon-brown.

 

This species is  belong to the Morphinae sub family of the Brush-footed butterfly family and quite widespread and can be found throughout the warmer months. 

 

 

 

The eggs are quite small, grey and spherical with ribbing.  The butterfly can be found in deep shade on open forest floor, resting on leaf humus.

 

 

Prioneris philonome or Redspot Sawtooth is a small butterfly of family Pieridae and found in Asia.This butterfly has distinctive such as the hind-wing basal two-third yellow, with a small red basal patch. The vein are prominently darkened.

 

Prioneris philonome is a forest butterfly may be seen in open spaces near water courses, gathering at moist spots or puddles in the company of other pierid species or papilionids. The males  are usually seen in one's and two's imbibing mineralised moisture from damp sand or gravel, often in the company of Appias lyncida, Eurema hecabe and other yellow Pieridae.

 

Prioneris are robust and powerful flyers, but nervous in nature. If disturbed they have a habit of instantly dashing off, only to resettle a few feet away, and if followed they then go back to their original feeding place.

 

Polyura Nepenthes is recorded to cover a vast area from Burma. Laos, N. Vietnam, Thailand and Central to Southern China.

Polyura nepenthes  relatively large in size among other species of the same genus. It is a strong flyer with striking white creamy colour in flight suffused with black margins on the forewings.

 

The two sexes of Polyura nepenthes do not fly low apart from feeding and tend to settle again and again on the same point high up in the trees. They will always fold their wings when they are not in flight.

 

 

The female is generally larger in comparison but resembles the other sex in appearance with the exception that the male has a totally white abdomen whereas the female is white and black beneath. Both sexes do not visit flowers and prefer rotten fruits, sap from trees in particular those of the citrus ones and animal dungs. They are found near streams and sometimes quite territorial.

 

In fact, Polyura nepenthes appear to be a new comer to Hong Kong. They appear to have flown into Hong Kong from the Mainland China in the last couple of years and have bred locally throughout Hong Kong.

 

Tajuria maculata , also known as the Spotted Royal, is a widespread oriental butterfly and ranges from the central Himalaya and northeastern India to South China, Indo-China, peninsular Malaysia and Borneo.

Tajuria maculata is a medium-sized Lycaenid. Wings of male have slightly shiny blue center, suffused with white towards the edge, and enclosed all round with a black margin. In females, most of the shiny blue is replaced by white, so that only a small amount of blues remains in the base of each wing.

 

 

The underside of both sexes is white, covered with irregular black spots. There are two prominent black spots at each hindwing tornus, adjacent to the two tails. Females are generally larger and broader than males.

Its flight is swift and erratic. It tends to fly around its host plant and will not wander far. It usually settles on the upperside of leaves and is usually easy to reach.

 

There was no sighting records of the butterfly feeding at flowers or at puddles.The butterfly is only recorded in two separate locations in Hong Kong in recent years, namely in Pok Fu Lam on the Hong Kong Island and Tai Po Kau in the New Territories.

 

 

Acraea issoria or The Yellow Coster,  is a small, leathery-winged butterfly, species of genus Acraea. Acraea is a genus of brush-footed butterflies (family Nymphalidae) of the subfamily Heliconiinae. It is common in Guangdong, north of the border.

It feeds on a variety of food plants notably Boehmeria novea  Gaudich of the Urticaceae family.

 

Recently, the butterfly has been seen in many places namely in Hok Tak and Chuen Lung. 

Most species of Acraea assembled  here are restricted to the African region, but some are found in India, Southeast Asia, and Australia.

 

 

A recent trip to Chuen Lung on 12th April 2003 by Yiu Vor and P.C. Lee had revealed a large population already established in Chuen Lung.  There were more than one hundred pupae and caterpillars on the Boehmeria along the bank of the stream behind the tea house.

 

The food plants of their caterpillars are usually Urticaceae or, like in most Heliconiinae, Passifloraceae.  Their preferred species contain cyanogenic glycosides, which make the larvae and adults poisonous to predators. The aposematic coloration of the adults announces this, and some species are mimicked by less noxious butterflies.