Ariège Pyrenees

List of butterflies seen 17 June to 21 June 2002
in the valley of Ustou, between 700 m and 2000 m.

Parnassius mnemosyne (Clouded Apollo) One individual seen
Pieris brassicae (Large White) Common
Pieris napi (Green-veined White) Very abundant
Anthocharis cardamines (Orange Tip) Common
Colias crocea (Clouded Yellow) Several individuals seen
Gonepteryx rhamni (Brimstone) Only a few seen at lower elevations
Leptidea sinapis (Wood White) Several individuals collected at around 800 m
Lycaena phlaeas (Small Copper) Several individuals seen
Lycaena hippothoe (Purple-edged Copper) One individual collected at 1100 m
Cupido minimus (Little Blue) Common in meadows at all elevations
Lysandra bellargus (Adonis Blue) Common in meadows below 1000 m
Polyommatus icarus (Common Blue) Common in meadows below 1000 m
Polygonia c-album (Comma) Several indviduals seen below 1000 m
Aglais urticae (Small Tortoiseshell) Very abundant, lots of larval nests on Urtica dioica
Vanessa atalanta (Red Admiral) Several individuals seen
Vanessa cardui (Painted Lady) Common everywhere
Melitaea deione? (Provençal Fritillary) Common in meadows below 1000 m
Clossiana euphrosyne (Pearl-bordered Fritillary) Common in meadows below 1000 m
Melanargia galathea (Marbled White) Several individuals seen below 900 m
Erebia epiphron (Mountain Ringlet) Common on meadows above 900 m
Erebia oeme (Bright-eyed Ringlet) Common on meadows above 900 m
Erebia meolans (Piedmont Ringlet) Common on meadows above 900 m
Erebia sthennyo (False Dewy Ringlet) Two individuals recorded at 2000 m
Maniola jurtina (Meadow Brown) Common on meadows below 1000 m
Aphantopus hyperantus (Ringlet) Common on meadows below 1000 m
Coenonympha pamphilus (Small Heath) Common on meadows below 1000 m
Pararge aegeria (Speckled Wood) Common in forests below 1000 m
Lasiommata megera (Wall Brown) One individual collected at 1800 m
Lasiommata maera (Large Wall Brown) Several individuals seen below 1000 m
Lasiommata petropolitana (Northern Wall Brown) Common above 1000 m
Erynnis tages (Dingy Skipper) Common everywhere
Erynnis tages (Dingy Skipper) Common everywhere
Carterocephalus palaemon (Chequered Skipper) Two individuals collected in beech forest at about 900 m
Pyrgus sp. Common above 1500 m