The Cleopatra is a southern relative of the Brimstone butterfly which can be quite frequently encountered in rural Mediterranean areas. It is also rather similar to the Brimstone but females have more of a yellowish rather greenish tinge and males have  a particularly striking bright orange patch on their forewing. It favours warm shrubby areas and I saw several in Fonte de Benemola; a scrub-covered valley in southern Portugal. Hibernation is usually spent deep in the cover of plants such as Laurel or brambles where the Cleopatra blends in perfectly.

Distribution:  Southern Europe across the Mediterranean region as well as E France, N Spain and the S Balkans.

Flight Period: May-September in 1 brood, which will fly again from February-April the following year post hibernation.

Habitat: Woodland edges, scrub and maquis up to around 1500m.

Foodplant: Mediterranean Buckthorn (Rhamnus alaternus).

Nectar Sources: Primarily nectar-rich flowers like thistles (Cirsium), knapweeds (Centaurea), scabiouses (Scabiosa), Cedronella and lavenders (Lavandula).

<Prev
Next>