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The Butterfly Gîte

- a holiday cottage for naturalists in Ariège, Pyrénées

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About Ariège
Ariège Butterflies

 

 

Ariège has confirmed records of 165 species of butterfly (see list) and another 30 that are either recorded but require confirmation or have no existing records but are likely to be present based on their presence in adjacent departments and the existence of suitable habitats in Ariège (see "possibles" list).

Ariège has, until recently, been much less well studied than other parts of the Pyrenees: many new species have been discovered by visiting naturalists in recent years and further exciting discoveries are likely.

The history of butterfly study in Ariege (by Vladimir Nabokov & William Fassnidge) is recounted in a Powerpoint show (best viewed in Internet Explorer): view or download Powerpoint

The best books for butterflies of the region are "Les Papillons de jour de France..." by Tristan Lafranchis (see full book details) and "Butterflies of Europe" by the same author (which is much better than the Tolman Collin's Guide - see full details)

The butterfly gite also comes equipped with a Robinson (mains) & a Heath (portable) moth trap plus a range of other insect collecting nets and traps. It has a diverse moth fauna that has been studied by Dr Paul Waring (published in the AES Bulletin) and many other visitors to the gite.
 
Family
Latin name
English name
HESPERIIDAE Erynnis tages Dingy skipper
HESPERIIDAE Carcharodus alceae Mallow skipper
HESPERIIDAE Carcharodus lavatherae Marbled skipper
HESPERIIDAE Carchorodus flocciferus Tufted marbled skipper
HESPERIIDAE Spialia sertorius Red-underwing skipper
HESPERIIDAE Pyrgus malvae Grizzled skipper
HESPERIIDAE Pyrgus armoricanus Oberthür's grizzled skipper
HESPERIIDAE Pyrgus alveus Large grizzled skipper
HESPERIIDAE Pyrgus serratulae Olive skipper
HESPERIIDAE Pyrgus cirsii Cinquefoil skipper
HESPERIIDAE Pyrgus onopordi Rosy grizzled skipper
HESPERIIDAE Pyrgus andromedae Alpine grizzled skipper
HESPERIIDAE Pyrgus cacaliae Dusky grizzled skipper
HESPERIIDAE Carterocephalus palaemon Chequered skipper
HESPERIIDAE Heteropterus morpheus Large chequered skipper
HESPERIIDAE Thymelicus sylvestris Small skipper
HESPERIIDAE Thymelicus lineola Essex skipper
HESPERIIDAE Thymelicus acteon Lulworth skipper
HESPERIIDAE Hesperia comma Silver-spotted skipper
HESPERIIDAE Ochlodes venatus Large skipper
LYCAENIDAE Hamearis lucina Duke of Burgundy
LYCAENIDAE Thecla betulae Brown hairstreak
LYCAENIDAE Quercusia quercus Purple hairstreak
LYCAENIDAE Satyrium acaciae Sloe hairstreak
LYCAENIDAE Satyrium ilicis Ilex hairstreak
LYCAENIDAE Satyrium w-album White-letter hairstreak
LYCAENIDAE Satyrium pruni Black hairstreak
LYCAENIDAE Satyrium spini Blue-spot hairstreak
LYCAENIDAE Callophrys rubi Green hairstreak
LYCAENIDAE Lycaena phlaeas Small copper
LYCAENIDAE Lycaena helle Violet copper
LYCAENIDAE Lycaena virgaureae Scarce copper
LYCAENIDAE Lycaena tityrus Sooty copper
LYCAENIDAE Lycaena alciphron Purple-shot copper
LYCAENIDAE Lycaena dispar Large copper
LYCAENIDAE Lycaena hippothoe Purple-edged copper
LYCAENIDAE Leptotes pirithous Lang's short-tailed blue
LYCAENIDAE Lampides boeticus Long-tailed blue
LYCAENIDAE Cacyreus marshalli Geranium bronze
LYCAENIDAE Celastrina argiolus Holly blue
LYCAENIDAE Everes alcetas Provençal short-tailed blue
LYCAENIDAE Everes argiades Short-tailed blue
LYCAENIDAE Cupido osiris Osiris blue
LYCAENIDAE Cupido minimus Little blue
LYCAENIDAE Glaucopsyche alexis Green-underside blue
LYCAENIDAE Glaucopsyche melanops Black-eyed blue
LYCAENIDAE Maculinea alcon Alcon blue
LYCAENIDAE Maculinea rebeli Mountain alcon blue
LYCAENIDAE Maculinea arion Large blue
LYCAENIDAE Pseudophilotes baton Baton blue
LYCAENIDAE Cyaniris semiargus Mazarine blue
LYCAENIDAE Plebicula dorylas Turquoise blue
LYCAENIDAE Agrodiaetus escheri Escher's blue
LYCAENIDAE Polyommatus amandus Amanda's blue
LYCAENIDAE Agrodiaetus thersites Chapman's blue
LYCAENIDAE Polyommatus icarus Common blue
LYCAENIDAE Lysandra coridon Chalk-hill blue
LYCAENIDAE Polyommatus eros Eros blue
LYCAENIDAE Lysandra bellargus Adonis blue
LYCAENIDAE Lysandra hispana Provence chalk-hill blue
LYCAENIDAE Agriades glandon Glandon blue
LYCAENIDAE Pseudaricia nicias Silvery argus
LYCAENIDAE Aricia agestis Brown argus
LYCAENIDAE Aricia artaxerxes Northern brown argus
LYCAENIDAE Eumedonia eumedon Geranium argus
LYCAENIDAE Plebejus argus Silver-studded blue
LYCAENIDAE Plebejus idas Idas blue
NYMPHALIDAE Pararge aegeria Speckled wood
NYMPHALIDAE Lasiommata petropolitana Northern wall brown
NYMPHALIDAE Lasiommata maera Large wall brown
NYMPHALIDAE Lasiommata megera Wall brown
NYMPHALIDAE Lopinga achine Woodland brown
NYMPHALIDAE Coenonympha glycerion Chestnut heath
NYMPHALIDAE Coenonympha arcania Pearly heath
NYMPHALIDAE Pyronia bathseba Spanish gatekeeper
NYMPHALIDAE Coenonympha pamphilus Small heath
NYMPHALIDAE Pyronia tithonus Gatekeeper
NYMPHALIDAE Aphantopus hyperantus Ringlet
NYMPHALIDAE Maniola jurtina Meadow brown
NYMPHALIDAE Erebia euryale Large ringlet
NYMPHALIDAE Erebia manto Yellow-spotted ringlet
NYMPHALIDAE Erebia epiphron Small mountain ringlet
NYMPHALIDAE Erebia triaria De Prunner's ringlet
NYMPHALIDAE Erebia gorgone Gavarnie ringlet
NYMPHALIDAE Erebia cassioides Common brassy ringlet
NYMPHALIDAE Erebia hispania Spanish brassy ringlet
NYMPHALIDAE Erebia pronoe Water ringlet
NYMPHALIDAE Erebia lefebvrei Lefebvre's ringlet
NYMPHALIDAE Erebia neoridas Autumn ringlet
NYMPHALIDAE Erebia oeme Bright-eyed ringlet
NYMPHALIDAE Erebia sthennyo False dewy ringlet
NYMPHALIDAE Erebia pandrose Dewy ringlet
NYMPHALIDAE Erebia meolans Piedmont ringlet
NYMPHALIDAE Melanargia galathea Marbled white
NYMPHALIDAE Melanargia lachesis Iberian marbled white
NYMPHALIDAE Melanargia occitanica Western marbled white
NYMPHALIDAE Brintesia circe Great banded grayling
NYMPHALIDAE Minois dryas Dryad
NYMPHALIDAE Arethusana arethusa False grayling
NYMPHALIDAE Chazara briseus Hermit
NYMPHALIDAE Neohipparchia statilinus Tree grayling
NYMPHALIDAE Hipparchia semele Grayling
NYMPHALIDAE Hipparchia alcyone Rock grayling
NYMPHALIDAE Hipparchia fagi Woodland grayling
NYMPHALIDAE Charaxes jasius Two-tailed pasha
NYMPHALIDAE Apatura ilia Lesser purple emperor
NYMPHALIDAE Apatura iris Purple emperor
NYMPHALIDAE Argynnis paphia Silver-washed fritillary
NYMPHALIDAE Argynnis pandora Cardinal
NYMPHALIDAE Mesoacidalia aglaja Dark green fritillary
NYMPHALIDAE Fabriciana adippe High brown fritillary
NYMPHALIDAE Fabriciana niobe Niobe fritillary
NYMPHALIDAE Issoria lathonia Queen of Spain fritillary
NYMPHALIDAE Brenthis hecate Twin-spot fritillary
NYMPHALIDAE Brenthis daphne Marbled fritillary
NYMPHALIDAE Brenthis ino Lesser marbled fritillary
NYMPHALIDAE Boloria pales Shepherd's fritillary
NYMPHALIDAE Boloria napaea Mountain fritillary
NYMPHALIDAE Proclossiana eunomia Bog fritillary
NYMPHALIDAE Clossiana selene Small pearl-bordered fritillary
NYMPHALIDAE Clossiana euphrosyne Pearl-bordered fritillary
NYMPHALIDAE Clossiana dia Violet fritillary
NYMPHALIDAE Limenitis camilla White admiral
NYMPHALIDAE Limenitis reducta Southern white admiral
NYMPHALIDAE Nymphalis antiopa Camberwell beauty
NYMPHALIDAE Nymphalis polychloros Large tortoiseshell
NYMPHALIDAE Aglais urticae Small tortoiseshell
NYMPHALIDAE Inachis io Peacock
NYMPHALIDAE Vanessa atalanta Red admiral
NYMPHALIDAE Vanessa cardui Painted lady
NYMPHALIDAE Polygonia c-album Comma
NYMPHALIDAE Araschnia levana Map
NYMPHALIDAE Melitaea cinxia Glanville fritillary
NYMPHALIDAE Melitaea diamina False heath fritillary
NYMPHALIDAE Melitaea phoebe Knapweed fritillary
NYMPHALIDAE Melitaea didyma Spotted fritillary
NYMPHALIDAE Mellicta athalia Heath fritillary
NYMPHALIDAE Mellicta deione Provençal fritillary
NYMPHALIDAE Mellicta parthenoides Meadow fritillary
NYMPHALIDAE Euphydryas aurinia Marsh fritillary
PAPILIONIDAE Parnassius apollo Apollo
PAPILIONIDAE Parnassius mnemosyne Clouded apollo
PAPILIONIDAE Zerynthyia polyxena Southern festoon
PAPILIONIDAE Iphiclides podalirius Scarce swallowtail
PAPILIONIDAE Iphiclides feisthemelii Spanish swallowtail
PAPILIONIDAE Papilio machaon Swallowtail
PIERIDAE Leptidea sinapis Wood white
PIERIDAE Leptidea reali Real's wood white
PIERIDAE Aporia crataegi Black-veined white
PIERIDAE Pieris brassicae Large white
PIERIDAE Pieris rapae Small white
PIERIDAE Pieris mannii Southern small white
PIERIDAE Pieris ergane Mountain small white
PIERIDAE Pieris napi Green-veined white
PIERIDAE Pontia daplidice Bath white
PIERIDAE Pontia callidice Peak white
PIERIDAE Anthocharis cardamines Orange tip
PIERIDAE Anthocharis euphenoides Provence orange tip
PIERIDAE Euchloe crameri Western dappled white
PIERIDAE Euchloe simplonia Mountain dappled white
PIERIDAE Colias phicomone Mountain clouded yellow
PIERIDAE Colias alfacariensis Berger's pale clouded yellow
PIERIDAE Colias crocea Clouded yellow
PIERIDAE Gonepteryx rhamni Brimstone
PIERIDAE Gonepteryx cleopatra Cleopatra

 
Family
Latin name
English name
Comments
DANAIDAE Danaus chrysippus Plain tiger known from departements to west
DANAIDAE Danaus plexippus Monarch possible as vagrant
HESPERIIDAE Carcharodus boeticus Southern marbled skipper known from adjacent departements
HESPERIIDAE Syrichtus proto Sage skipper known from all surrounding departements
HESPERIIDAE Pyrgus foulquieri Foulquier's grizzled skipper ? Old record
HESPERIIDAE Pyrgus carthami Safflower skipper records from all surrounding departements
LYCAENIDAE Tomares ballus Provence hairstreak very unlikely: was present in one neighbouring departement
LYCAENIDAE Laeosoppis evippus Spanish purple hairstreak known from just over border in Pyrenees orentales
LYCAENIDAE Satyrium esculi False ilex hairstreak probably present, needs confirmation - may be confused with ilicis
LYCAENIDAE Callophrys avis Chapman's green hairstreak likely to be present in eastern Plantuarel
LYCAENIDAE Scolitantides orion Chequered blue from all surrounding departements
LYCAENIDAE Plebicula nivescens Mother-of-pearl blue Published records for Ariege (the only French records) are now believed to be errors
LYCAENIDAE Agrodiaetus damon Damon blue known from rest of Pyrenees
LYCAENIDAE Agriades pyrenaicus Gavarnie blue known from western Pyrenees
NYMPHALIDAE Libythea celtis Nettle tree butterfly known from departements to east
NYMPHALIDAE Coenonympha iphiodes Spanish heath possible taxonomic confusion with glycerion
NYMPHALIDAE Coenonympha dorus Dusky heath from all surrounding departements
NYMPHALIDAE Pyronia cecilia Southern gatekeeper from all surrpounding departements
NYMPHALIDAE Hyponephele lupina Oriental meadow brown known from some adjacent departements
NYMPHALIDAE Hyponephele lycaon Dusky meadow brown known from some adjacent departements
NYMPHALIDAE Erebia aethiops Scotch argus ?? reported from Aude but probably confused with meolans
NYMPHALIDAE Melanargia russiae Esper's marbled white old record to confirm
NYMPHALIDAE Satyrus ferula Great sooty satyr from all surrounding departements
NYMPHALIDAE Satyrus actaea Black satyr from departements to west
NYMPHALIDAE Pseudotergumia fidia Striped grayling from departements to west
NYMPHALIDAE Euphydryas desfontainii Spanish fritillary known from adjacent departements
PAPILIONIDAE Zerynthia rumina Spanish festoon known from adjacent departements, but main foodplant not yet known in Ariege
PIERIDAE Pieris bryoniae Mountain green-veined white one published record: doubtful
PIERIDAE Colias hyale Pale clouded yellow may be confused with alfacariensis
Page updated - 4 Oct 2009 Lopinga Books Ltd