White Admiral (Limenitis camilla)

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2022 photographs highlighted in blue. Click on any photograph to go to an enlarged picture, or simply scroll down the page.

37538_male_Côte-d'Or_11Jun15 37599_male_Côte-d'Or_12Jun15 41265_male_Isère_11Jul16 43249_male_Rhône_03Jun17
45402_male_Isère_9Jul18 45408_male_Isère_9Jul18 05_20-22_female?_Herts, UK_9Jul05 45414_male_Isère_9Jul18
     
05_20-12_female?_Herts, UK_14Jul05      

A majestic glider, very attractive when fresh. Quite common in central and northern France and in several places I have seen several at one time.

 

It does not seem to occur (except for a few isolated records) in the far south-east region of PACA, where the Southern White Admiral (L. reducta) is common.

The OPIE Atlas shows a complete absence of records in Var and only six records ever from the Alpes-Maritimes, although there were two sightings in the western Alpes-Maritimes in late June 2015, in areas where it appears that no prior records existed.
ref sex

observations

alt. m
37538 M a particularly dark male, almost completely black, save for the white markings. 430
37599 M a rather more normal male, although I get to see camilla only infrequently because it is very sporadic in south-eastern France. It is slightly browner in tone and has vestigial rust-coloured marks in several places. 370
41265 M a very fresh camilla taking salts on the ground. I particularly like the ghosted blacker marks in the submarginal areas of the hindwing. This one was one of several puddling at this spot. 1120
43249 M a male, easy to photograph on the ground, but 43249 is a little pale and showing some signs of wear, so it does not show up the contrast to best effect. 180
45402 M another male on the ground taking salts. It is surprising how little variation there is between males even at the same location. Contrast this with the variation between the three Purple Emperors (Apatura iris) seen in 2018 at this same site. 1120
45408 M a male, at last a photograph of a male that is not on the ground. 45414 is the underside. 1120
05_20-22 F

a female, I suspect, from the body shape and length, as the sexes are virtually identical.

 
45414 M a rare (for me) opportunity to get an underside shot, and a very fresh specimen it is, too. 45408 is the upperside. 1120
05_20-12 F

the underside of 05_20-22.

 

 

37538_male_Côte-d'Or_11Jun15

 

37599_male_Côte-d'Or_12Jun15

 

41265_male_Isère_11Jul16

 

43249_male_Rhône_03Jun17

 

45402_male_Isère_9Jul18

 

45408_male_Isère_9Jul18

 

05_20-22_female?_Herts, UK_9Jul05

 

45414_male_Isère_9Jul18

 

05_20-12_female?_Herts, UK_14Jul05