| Taina's Butterfly Page - Photos and Information Index Home Life Cycle Butterfly Garden Butterfly Plants Butterfly FAQ Updates Links New!Why Butterfly Collecting is Wrong and Detrimental to the Species Email |
| (An introduction - scroll down for the list of photographs) FIND INSPIRATION WATCHING BUTTERFLIES Butterfly watching is a tremendously inspiring activity. Not only are these creatures lovely, but they generally are found in beautiful settings as well. See the ever-changing rainbow of hues dance in their wings when they move in the sunlight; appreciate their powerful flight and ability to appear and disappear out of the blue, for butterflies are born to fly free. Aren't they beautiful? And isn't life beautiful? You'll realize your worries are gone and you are feeling rejuvenated: life is here and now. See? This is what butterfly watching does for you! For butterfly watching you only need a keen pair of eyes, but you may want to invest in a good book that lists the species of your area. Keeping a notebook is also a good idea - basically you'll only need to write down the date, place and the specimen you saw for future reference. Some choose to photograph butterflies, which can attribute a lot to knowledge of the species. The fact that butterfly photography has almost completely replaced the obsolete and cruel hobby of butterfly collecting is something very positive, and the trend will no doubt continue. Below I have chosen some of my own photographs. When I have taken them, my chief concern has always been not to disturb butterflies or their environment. The way I see it, the well being of the butterfly always comes first - If I happen to get a good photo of it, that's just a nice bonus! Papilionidae Iphiclides podalirius - Scarce Swallowtail Parnassius mnemosyne - Clouded Apollo Pieridae Gonepteryx rhamni - Brimstone Pieris brassicae - Large White Pieris napi -Green Veined White Nymphalidae Aglais urticae - Small Tortoiseshell Argynnis adippe - High Brown Fritillary Brenthis ino - Lesser Marbled Fritillary Coenonympha glycerion - Chestnut Heath Cynthia cardui - Painted Lady Erebia ligea - Arran Brown Inachis io - Peacock Lasiommata maera - Large Wall Brown Mellicta athalia - Heath Fritillary Nymphalis antiopa - Camberwell Beauty, Mourning Cloak Polygonia c-album - Comma Vanessa atalanta - Red Admiral Lycaenidae Heodes virgaureae - Scarce Copper Palaeochrysophanus hippothoe, Lycaena hippothoe - Purple-edged Copper Polyommatus icarus - Common Blue Plants and Butterflies: Urtica dioica - The Ultimate Host Plant Cirsium arvense - The Ultimate Food Plant |