David Element

 

 

Wildlife Photography and Digital Video Images

 

_____________________________________________________________________________ Butterflies 56 – Cardinals

 

 

 

A close up of a flower

Description automatically generated

 

CARDINAL Argynnis pandora

 

A close up of an insect on a flower

Description automatically generated

 

CARDINAL Argynnis pandora

 

A close up of a flower

Description automatically generated

 

CARDINAL Argynnis pandora

 

A insect on a flower

Description automatically generated         A insect on a flower

Description automatically generated

 

CARDINAL Argynnis pandora                                                                                             CARDINAL Argynnis pandora

 

A close up of a flower

Description automatically generated

 

CARDINAL Argynnis pandora

 

A close up of a flower

Description automatically generated

 

CARDINAL Argynnis pandora

 

A insect on the ground

Description automatically generated

 

CARDINAL Argynnis pandora

 

A close up of an insect

Description automatically generated

 

CARDINAL Argynnis pandora

 

A close up of a flower

Description automatically generated

 

CARDINAL Argynnis pandora

 

A insect on the plant

Description automatically generated

 

CARDINAL Argynnis pandora

 

A close up of an insect on a flower

Description automatically generated

 

CARDINAL Argynnis pandora

 

A insect on the plant

Description automatically generated

 

CARDINAL Argynnis pandora

 

A close up of a tree

Description automatically generated

 

CARDINAL Argynnis pandora

 

A close up of an animal

Description automatically generated

 

CARDINAL Argynnis pandora

 

·         The handsome Cardinal Argynnis pandora is also sometimes known as the Mediterreanean Fritillary and it is one of the largest and most impressive of the European fritillaries. These photographs were taken in the South of France and Portugal. Males are characterised by black sex-brands on their forewings but these are less obvious when the butterflies are moving than those of the Silver-washed Fritillary A. paphia, the most likely confusion species and one that shares the same habitat as the Cardinal for much of its range other than southern Iberia. The ground-colour of the upperside of the Silver-washed Fritillary is a brighter orange and it lacks the beautiful pink contrasting patches on the undersides of the forewings that become evident when the wings of the Cardinal are raised. Even in worn specimens this area of the forewings is relatively well protected against wear and tear and it is the most obvious identifier in areas where these species overlap. The freshly emerged female shown taking a drink in the final photograph (taken in Portugal) had but a few seconds left to live as moments later a large Iberian Water Frog Pelophylax perezi leapt across and swallowed her – the unfortunate consequences of which may be seen here: http://davidelement.net/amphibians16.htm! The effectiveness of the greenish underside as camouflage is evident in the previous photograph. These butterflies are attracted by nectar-rich flowers (they find the non-native invasive Buddleja davidii to be irresistible) but they can be elusive subjects for photography as they are highly mobile and fast-flying.

 

·         David’s short film of Cardinals may be seen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XI3qbbvCxyY&list=PL4AirIEc0NofhDbxohAG_PoMc7P2iGR5N&index=80&t=0s.

 

-> Butterflies 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84

 

-> Species Index, Common Names

 

-> Species Index, Scientific Names

 

-> Site Index

 

-> Home

 

© David Element