I recently became interested in Butterflies mainly through the South African Butterfly Conservation Assessment and their Virtual Museum which encourages members of the public to submit photos of butterflies together with their location. I recently became more involved, joining the Lepidopterists’ Society of Africa and going on some field trips with other members.
Early in January I went to Dasklip Pass & Piketberg with Len and Andrew.
At Dasklip Pass we found nothing special, only common butterflies like:
- Long-tailed Blue Lampides boeticus
- Fynbos Blue Tarucus thespis
- Citrus Swallowtail Papilio demodocus

There was some interesting flowers including the above Ground Protea – probably Protea scabra and this Kukumakranka flower – a Gethyllis sp.:

We then headed to Piketberg. After picking up they key to the access gate we drove out to the communication towers on the end. Here we found a single Protea Emperor Charaxes pelias as well as the usual common species like
- Long-tailed Blue Lampides boeticus
- Fynbos Blue Tarucus thespis
- Citrus Swallowtail Papilio demodocus

Protea Emperor Charaxes pelias

Long-tailed Blue Lampides boeticus

Fynbos Blue Tarucus thespis
There were not a lot of plants flowering but there were some nice succulents:

Towards the end of January I travelled to Greyton – again with Len and Andrew.
Species observed included:
- Burnished Opal Chrysoritis chrysaor
- Star Blue Lepidochrysops asteris
- Braun’s Skolly Thestor braunsi
- Long-tailed Blue Lampides boeticus
- Cape Black-eye Leptomyrina lara
- Citrus Swallowtail Papilio demodocus

Braun’s Skolly Thestor braunsi
I also found this very well camouflaged grasshopper:

Probably a Toad Grasshopper Batrachotetrix sp.
Early in February I traveled to Brandvlei Dam (near Worcester) with Andrew.
Species observed included:
- Cape Black-eye Leptomyrina lara
- Long-tailed Blue Lampides boeticus
- Citrus Swallowtail Papilio demodocus
- Skipper Spialia sp.
- Dull Copper Aloides pierus
- Water Blue Cacyreus tespis tespis

Sandman Spialia sp. Probably the Dwarf Sandman Spialia nanus.

Geranium Bronze Cacyreus marshalli

Dull Copper Aloides pierus
There were also lots of Southern Rock Agama’s living amongst the rocks of the dam wall.

Southern Rock Agama Agama atra

































































Occasionally you may be lucky enough to see a troop of Chacma Baboons (Papio ursinus) which descend from the rocky hillsides to feed in the gardens:

















