No. 21 Cyprus Butterflies and Moths - an initial look

 

[Remember to click on a photograph to enlarge the image]

During the spring, summer and autumn of 2020 I have been keeping an eye out for any butterflies or moths that have caught my interest. I am sure that we are all familiar with some of the larger species of butterflies that we see in gardens, parks and other vegetated spaces (including the golf course), but trying to identify the smaller and less familiar species can be quite a challenge. Photography is obviously a great help in the process, though catching individuals at rest or feeding (particularly the smaller species) requires good fortune and a fair amount of patience. 

Many people wonder what the difference is between butterflies and moths. The main differences are:

• butterflies have club-shaped antennae, while moths have feathery or other shaped antennae;
• butterflies are only active during the day, whilst moths are generally nocturnal (though by no means exclusively);
• butterflies generally rest with their wings closed, opening them periodically to absorb heat from the sun; moths generally rest with their wings open.

Butterflies and moths are the only insects whose wings are covered in small scales. The scales display various colours and are fixed to the wing membranes in rows, giving the distinctive identification patterns. The scales exist on both the upper and lower sides of the wings, which allows the two surfaces to be differently patterned. Male and female butterflies often exhibit different wing patterns.

Cyprus has some spectacular species of butterflies, not all of which are found in more Northern European countries. There are over 50 species of butterfly found here and, apparently, over 1000 species of moth. The following pictures show some of the species that I have been able to photograph this year, mostly in Secret Valley and Ayia Varvara, but there are many that I have yet to see. 

Butterflies range in size from the rather small (wingspan of <25mm to 40mm ), through medium (40mm  to 50mm) to large (>50mm to >65mm). In order to show the details of the smaller species it is necessary to enlarge the photographic image, which makes the butterfly look larger than it actually is. As an indication of scale I think of the Small White as medium size, the Common Blue as small, and the Clouded Yellow and Swallowtail as large.

Small White, male

The Small White (photo above) is a very common butterfly found throughout Europe. In Cyprus it can be seen flying throughout the year. It invariably lands with wings in the closed position.

Common Blue, female

The Common Blue is a small species, with wingspan of up to 32 mm. The sexes are distinct, the female (above) being brown on the upper side while the male (below) is pale blue.

Common Blue, male

Common Blue - male. Wing underside

Common Blue, male approaching female

The Painted Lady (below) is a large butterfly up to 65mm wingspan and strikingly coloured, initially similar to a Red Admiral. The sexes are very similar, and it often rests with the wings open. This is the butterfly that migrated from Lebanon and Israel in millions throughout Europe last summer. The underside of the wings are also attractively coloured.

Painted Lady, topside

Painted Lady, underside

Some of the smaller butterflies can reveal very intricate patterns when the photographs are enlarged. The Mallow Skipper (below) is one such example, and other members of the family show similar characteristics of mostly brown or yellow colouration, with large heads and a somewhat moth-like appearance.

Mallow Skipper

Millet Skipper

Another small butterfly (wingspan 25-35mm) that is rather more spectacular in its colouring is the Lesser Fiery Copper. The very bright orange-red colour is present in both sexes, but the male lacks the black spots on the forewing that the female exhibits. The undersides of the wings are similar to that of the Common Blue but with an orange colouration at the outer edges.

Lesser Fiery Copper, female

Lesser Fiery Copper, female underside

Lesser Fiery Copper, male

Lesser Fiery Copper, male underside

Another small butterfly that is seemingly always feeding on our garden Solanum bushes is Lang's Short-tailed Blue. The naming is from the short tails on the hind wings. Many butterflies exhibit these tails, but their presence can vary during the year in some species.

Lang's Short-tailed Blue, female

 

The Large Wall Brown is, despite its name, a medium sized butterfly with a wingspan of 40-45mm. The sexes are very similarly coloured. This butterfly is generally only found on the western side of Cyprus - possibly due to the more upland terrain at this end of the island.

Large Wall Brown, female

The Clouded Yellow is a medium sized butterfly (wingspan 40-50mm) that occurs throughout Cyprus, Europe, the Middle East and North Africa. It is difficult to photograph as it constantly flies between food plants, and when it settles it is always (in my experience) with closed wings. The upper side of the wings is a strong yellow/orange colour in the male, but paler in the female. In shade the resting butterfly can be easily mistaken for a leaf.

Clouded Yellow, male

The Swallowtail is a large butterfly (wingspan 65-80mm) that is one of the most spectacular, common, and easily identified of all the Cyprus butterflies. It is also found throughout the Middle East,  North Africa, Asia, North America and most of Europe (including the UK). The sexes are very similar, with vivid yellow wings that are distinctively marked with black, blue and red patterns. The obvious 'tails' on the wings give rise to its common name.

Swallowtail, with hairy thorax and head

Swallowtail. Note the distinct 'tails' on the wings

A Note on Cyprus Moths

There are thought to be over a thousand different species of moths on Cyprus. Identification of many of these species can be very difficult as so many of them are very small, dull coloured, and hard to even find or see. The only examples I have been able to photograph this year are shown below, all of which are diurnal (rather than nocturnal) species. Identification has therefore been via the internet - which is very time consuming - as there is no readily available reference book that I have yet found.  

Crimson Speckled Flunkey (Utetheisa pulchella)

Pale Shoulder Moth (Acontia lucida)

The Vestal (Rhodometra sacraria)

If anyone has knowledge of a suitable reference book on moths, I would be very grateful!

All photographs by Trevor Fordham

15 November 2020