The MGS Forum

Gardening in mediterranean climates => Wildlife in the garden (birds, butterflies, and how to attract them) => Topic started by: JTh on July 22, 2012, 08:58:18 AM

Title: Butterflies on Oenothera speciosa
Post by: JTh on July 22, 2012, 08:58:18 AM

My oenotheras seem to be very attractive to butterflies and moths, especially the hummingbird moths. Today another colourful butterfly was flying very quickly from one flower to the next, so it was difficult to get a decent photo of it  before it disappeared. I don't know which one this was, does anybody recognise it?

Title: Re: Butterflies on Oenothera speciosa
Post by: Alisdair on July 22, 2012, 09:29:46 AM

A lovely photo of the swallowtail, Papilio machaon.

Title: Re: Butterflies on Oenothera speciosa
Post by: MikeHardman on July 22, 2012, 11:46:47 AM

Agreed - very nice, Jorun

Title: Re: Butterflies on Oenothera speciosa
Post by: Alice on July 22, 2012, 06:22:15 PM

Beautiful. They do seem to be somewhat nervous in flight.

Title: Re: Butterflies on Oenothera speciosa
Post by: JTh on July 22, 2012, 09:22:23 PM

Thank you, all of you, I suspected it was a swallowtail, but I was not sure which one. They are quite common here, but they don't stop for very long.