A Trip to Poison Mountain

A few weeks back I headed up to Gifberg (which translates as “Poison Mountain”) in search of a few specials. The first butterfly we saw was a rather battered Spring Widow Tarsocera cassus:

There were a lot of these Tulbagh Sylphs Tsitana tulbagha flying:

Mouse Blues Lepidochrysops puncticilia were also on the wing:

It was however another Lepidochrysops, Tite’s Blue Lepidochrysops titei that was a particular target. we did find some specimens though they were not particularly cooperative when it came to photography:

That was my best shot, you can just see a hint of the beautiful blue upper wing surface. Protea Scarlets Capys alphaeus were also present. They are spectacular from above:

but I like the side view (showing the ventral surface) even better:

These are protea specialists, laying their eggs on protea buds. Upon hatching, the larvae then tunnel into the protea bud and spend their entire life-cycle including pupation inside the bloom. The newly hatched adult butterflies emerge from the larval tunnel and begin the cycle again. These were utilizing the blooms of the Waboom Protea nitida, and a number of buds with larval tunnels were found.

Protea Emperors Charaxes pelias were also present – though contrary to their name, their life-cycle has nothing to do with proteas! Rather their larvae feed on a number of plants including Rafnia sp., and Colpoon compressum. It would be better named the Fynbos Emperor or the Southern Emperor! These specimens were at the Northern edge of their range.

We found some Aloides – probably Van Son’s Copper Aloides vansoni:

As well as some Chrysoritis — including another target species Shoeman’s Opal Chrysoritis uranus schoemani (a subspecies of the Uranus Opal confined to the Gifberg and Koebee Mountains). Unfortunately I didn’t get pictures of the species (Andrew saw and netted the only specimen sighted.). Here however, is the Pan Opal Chrysoritis pan which was common:

We found specimens of one of my favourite butterflies the Boland Rocksitter Durbaniopsis saga:

As well as common butterflies like the Long-tailed Blue Lampides boeticus (this is a female):

And the Fynbos Blue Tarucus thespis:

There were also lots of other insects like this interesting beetle:

And some beautiful flowers:

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