Piedmont,
Italy, June 2007
The butterfly with the foodplant: Spiraea sp.
Piedmont, June
2004
Piedmont, June
2004
Piedmont, June
2003
Typical
view in the distance
Piedmont, June
2003
Typical
view in the distance
This is a fabulous species, soaring gracefully in dappled sunlight, amongst woodland clearings and along the boarders of forest roads. In a hot car park
in Slovakia they were soaring about 12 inches above the tarmac and flying around
our legs. Reminiscent of the White Admiral, it is a more delicate butterfly but
of equal size. It often settles on leaves about 2 or 3 meters above the ground. And as can be
seen by these photos, usually out of reach of the video camera. They presumably
feed on flowers, just as their close relative the Common Glider (Neptis
sappho) although I've never witnessed this.
In both Slovakia and Italy, the distinctive Spiraea was nearby growing
in the relative cool damp shade of forest edges and roadsides.