A feast of Jezebels

[moloch]

Yesterday was Australia Day and a public holiday. I decided to head up early to Fitzroy Falls to check on the butterfly bush and the flowering tea trees that I found last weekend. When I arrived, the clouds had enveloped the escarpment and it was steamy with poor light. The butterfly bush was covered with butterflies. Most interesting and surprising were large numbers of Imperial Jezebels and Spotted Jezebels. I did not see any here a few days early but both were numerous yesterday. These are both large and colourful species. Black Jezebels and Yellow-spotted Jezebels were both numerous as usual.

... so, here is the feast. Enjoy!

Imperial Jezebel (Delias harpalyce)
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/BC/FitzroyFalls/26Jan2011/ImperialWhite4_400.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/BC/FitzroyFalls/26Jan2011/ImperialWhite1_400.jpghttp://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/BC/FitzroyFalls/26Jan2011/ImperialWhite2_400.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/BC/FitzroyFalls/26Jan2011/ImperialWhite7_400.jpghttp://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/BC/FitzroyFalls/26Jan2011/ImperialWhite6_400.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/BC/FitzroyFalls/26Jan2011/ImperialWhite8.jpg


Mating pair:
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/BC/FitzroyFalls/26Jan2011/ImperialWhite5.jpg

[moloch]

This unfortunate individual became a literal feast for an odd looking spider. These spiders had webs everywhere between the plants. Skippers were very good a zipping around the webs but I saw this Jezebel and a Cabbage White become trapped.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/BC/FitzroyFalls/26Jan2011/ImperialWhite3a.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/BC/FitzroyFalls/26Jan2011/ImperialWhite3.jpg


... the scene about an hour later:
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/BC/FitzroyFalls/26Jan2011/ImperialWhite3b.jpg



Black Jezebels (Delias nigrina) look similar but are much smaller butterflies. They are one of the abundant butterflies of the eucalyptus forests.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/BC/FitzroyFalls/26Jan2011/BlackJezebel1.jpg



Spotted Jezebels (Delias aganippe) were also numerous. I only saw one on the weekend but now they were everywhere. Some were worn but others looked to be fresh.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/BC/FitzroyFalls/26Jan2011/SpottedJezebel1.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/BC/FitzroyFalls/26Jan2011/SpottedJezebel3_400.jpghttp://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/BC/FitzroyFalls/26Jan2011/SpottedJezebel4_400.jpg

[moloch]

The fourth member of the set was the common Yellow-spotted Jezebel (Delias nysa). These are also the smallest of the local species.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/BC/FitzroyFalls/26Jan2011/Yellow-spottedJezebel2.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/BC/FitzroyFalls/26Jan2011/Yellow-spottedJezebel1.jpg


female Barred Skipper (Dipsar compacta):
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/BC/FitzroyFalls/26Jan2011/BarredSkipperDipsarcompacta1.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/BC/FitzroyFalls/26Jan2011/BarredSkipperDipsarcompacta2.jpg


... a fresh Bright Shield Skipper (Signeta flammeata):
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/BC/FitzroyFalls/26Jan2011/BrightShield-SkipperSignetaflammeata1.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/BC/FitzroyFalls/26Jan2011/BrightShield-SkipperSignetaflammeata2.jpg


... the always stunning Spotted Sedge-Skipper (Hesperilla ornata)
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/BC/FitzroyFalls/26Jan2011/SpottedSkipper.jpg


... a dorsal view of a male Barred Skipper (Dipsar compacta):
[ formerly recorded as White-brand Grass-Dart (Teractocera papyria) ]
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/BC/FitzroyFalls/26Jan2011/White-brandGrass-Dart1.jpg

[moloch]

Painted Sedge Skipper (Hesperilla picta)
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/BC/FitzroyFalls/26Jan2011/PaintedSedgeSkipper1.jpg


Bronze Flat (Netrocoryne repanda)
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/BC/FitzroyFalls/26Jan2011/BronzeFlat1.jpg


On this trip, I found a cooperative Ringed Xenica (Geitoneura acantha). These smallish browns are usually found in damp areas.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/BC/FitzroyFalls/26Jan2011/RingedXenica1.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/BC/FitzroyFalls/26Jan2011/RingedXenica2a.jpg


Marbled Xenica (Geitoneura klugii) were common in the eucalyptus woodland.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/BC/FitzroyFalls/26Jan2011/MarbledXenica1.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/BC/FitzroyFalls/26Jan2011/MarbledXenica2.jpg


Varied Sword-grass Brown (Tisiphone abeona)
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/BC/FitzroyFalls/26Jan2011/VariedSword-grassBrown1.jpg


Meadow Argus (Junonia villida)
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/BC/FitzroyFalls/26Jan2011/MeadowArgus1.jpg

[moloch]

Later, I drove the the falls area and then went on a few km bushwalk that followed the eastern rim of this valley. It rained briefly while I walked but then cleared about noon. If I stood near the cliffs and then watched below, I saw many Black Jezebels, Macleay's Swallowtails and Cabbage Whites sailing around the canopy below.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/BC/FitzroyFalls/26Jan2011/habitat6.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/BC/FitzroyFalls/26Jan2011/habitat4.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/BC/FitzroyFalls/26Jan2011/habitat1_400.jpg


I walked along the east rim since I wanted to get out to this heath land that I had visited before. It always looked interesting and I hoped to find new butterflies to me.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/BC/FitzroyFalls/26Jan2011/habitat1.jpg


Along the way, I came across this strange insect. I did not know what it was but now, when looking at the photos, I think that it was probably a flightless hymenoptera. I was not stung by it but it could produce a painful bite.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/BC/FitzroyFalls/26Jan2011/hymenop1.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/BC/FitzroyFalls/26Jan2011/hymenop2.jpg


I also found a really bizarre terrestrial orchid. It has the appropriate name of Tongue Orchid (Cryptostylis leptochila):
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/BC/FitzroyFalls/26Jan2011/Orchid.jpg


One of the riceflowers (Pimelia sp.) was flowering. This is an important plant of some of the skippers.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/BC/FitzroyFalls/26Jan2011/Pimelia1.jpg

[Commander]

Amazing Jezebels, David! :thumbsup: Enough to get Les on a plane headed for downunder! :bsmile:

[moloch]

Out in the heath, I found one of my intended targets, the Eastern Iris Skipper (Mesodina halyzia). I think that these are quite nicely marked. It sat on the trail just as the field guide indicated that they will do.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/BC/FitzroyFalls/26Jan2011/EasternIrisSkipperMesodinahalyzia1a.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/BC/FitzroyFalls/26Jan2011/EasternIrisSkipperMesodinahalyzia2.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/BC/FitzroyFalls/26Jan2011/EasternIrisSkipperMesodinahalyzia3.jpg


The host of these skippers is Purple Flag (Patersonia sp.), a member of the Iris (Iridaceae) family.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/BC/FitzroyFalls/26Jan2011/Pattersonia1.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/BC/FitzroyFalls/26Jan2011/pattersonia.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/BC/FitzroyFalls/26Jan2011/IrisPatersoniasp.jpg


These pretty fan flowers were a frequent sight:
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/BC/FitzroyFalls/26Jan2011/Scaevola1.jpg


Here is another of the Ochres. I could never see the upper wings well and am not certain of the identity. I think that it is probably a female Southern Silver Ochre (Trapezites praxedes) but am not certain.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/BC/FitzroyFalls/26Jan2011/SouthernSilverOchreTrapezitespraxedes1.jpg

[Silverstreak]

Wow ! Real feast of Jazebels and skippers!

David,

Looks like you are having a hang on the T180 now!!:thumbsup: :thumbsup:

:cheers:

[moloch]

Thanks, Khew. Jezebels are certainly a lovely group. It is no wonder that Les devoted a site to this genus.


Thanks, Sunny. I am improving. Sometimes I am happy with the shots ... but then I look at your photos and become depressed again! Oh well. :bsmile:


Another interesting species lived on boulders near the cliff edge.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/BC/FitzroyFalls/26Jan2011/habitat3.jpg

I have only seen Rock Ringlets (Hypocysta euphemia) once before.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/BC/FitzroyFalls/26Jan2011/RockRinglet1Hypocystaeuphemia.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/BC/FitzroyFalls/26Jan2011/RockRinglet3_400Hypocystaeuphemia.jpg



Yellow-spotted Blue (Candalides xanthospilos). I was pleased to photo this one even though I could not move into a better position. I see it in my garden but it is usually impossible to approach and tends to stay quite high. Like most Candalides, it has white outer wings.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/BC/FitzroyFalls/26Jan2011/Yellow-spottedBlueCandalidesxanthospilos4.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/BC/FitzroyFalls/26Jan2011/Yellow-spottedBlueCandalidesxanthospilos2_400.jpghttp://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/BC/FitzroyFalls/26Jan2011/Yellow-spottedBlueCandalidesxanthospilos3_400.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/BC/FitzroyFalls/26Jan2011/Yellow-spottedBlueCandalidesxanthospilos1.jpg


Regards

[Common Mime]

My eyes enjoy its feast on these photos too, Dave. :thumbsup:

[Bluebottle]

Beautiful flora and fauna shots :cheers:

[bluefin]

A feastyfull haul indeed, David.:thumbsup:

Another great series from you. :cheers:

[moloch]

Thanks, Chee Ming, Loke and Nelson. It was a good day to be out in the field.

[Painted Jezebel]

Amazing Jezebels, David! :thumbsup: Enough to get Les on a plane headed for downunder! :bsmile:

Getting close, SK, but not just yet. Nevertheless, these are gorgeous shots that do, indeed, get me drooling. Instead, I am off to Cambodia in March, visiting Gee and hoping to help him in his cataloging of the species in the Cardamoms.

[WillFolsom]

Well done David. Whenever I look at the work done by Khew, Sunny, Nelson, and the others I get pretty discouraged myself and I'm the author of the book on butterfly photography! These BC'ers have set the bar awfully high! I'm primed to try and match them this year... so watch out. William

[moloch]

Thanks, Les. I hope that you post photos from your trip to Cambodia.

Thanks, William. I am looking forward to your shots later in the year when it warms again.

It is great to be able to see so many excellent photos on BC forum. I am just amazed by what is produced. I find these to be great incentive to keep practicing so that my photos slowly improve. I don't think that I will ever attain the skill level of those that we see here but I hope to produce better quality shots in time.