Apollo Butterfly

[Nigel Kiteley]

This is one species that i have wanted to see and photograph for a long time and this year i finally got my chance. I found four of these beauties in a meadow an hour from Madrid back in June. The second image is of a pregnant female with the spharix in place. The spharix is a kind of chastity belt which is formed from a secretion that the male exudes after copulation. The secretion hardens and prevents any other male from copulating with the female.

 

[Solo man]

A brilliant set of images..... the first two are outstanding...
Thanks for sharing them...

 

[j9ksf]

Wonderful shots Nigel.

 

[fenris]

Great set. #2 for me

 

[fido18]

Good set of photos. Number two for me.

 

[deno]

Very nice set, No.2 is a beauty.

 

[Leif]

Those are good photos.

 

[RinkyDinky]

Love the first two, takes a lot of patience and local knowledge to get rare ones like that

 

[Cichlid]

These are beautiful images. I've only seen them in a field guide! Thank you for sharing. A Very Happy New Year, from Derby.

 

[nigpd]

Excellent set, Nigel.

Makes me wish for summer and the chance to shoot butterflies again

 

[Tinhorn]

Love them all. Thanks for sharing, can't wait for summer