Butterflies - Cretan Festoon

Cretan Festoon (Zerynthia cretica). This species is endemic in the island of Crete, Greece.

Holly Blue

Holly Blue (Celastrina argiolus) photographed in Aposelemis Dam, Crete.

Butterflies - Speckled Wood

Butterflies - Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria)

Butterflies - Brown argus (Πεταλούδες)

A butterfly scape of a brown argus (Aricia agestis)

Butterflies - Speckled Wood (Πεταλούδες)

Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria) is a rather common butterfly species in Crete. This shot was taken at Pantomatris River, Fodele, Crete.

 

This one was shot some year ago, with my tele Canon 75-300, at Gerani Village, Chania, Crete.

Butterlies - Small Copper (Πεταλούδες)

 

A Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas) shot in a small lagoon in Vrasna, Northern Greece.

Butterflies - Dusky Meadow Brown (Πεταλούδες)

A Dusky Meadow Brown butterfly (Hyponephele lycaon) shot under harsh light at Rihios river, Greece.

Butterflies - Knapweed Fritilary (Πεταλούδες)

Fritilaries in my opinion are the among most beautiful, yet most difficult to identify, butterfly species. These Knapweed Fritilaries (Melitaea phoebe) were mating in late summer in Lake Volvi. After a while I met another individual with its wings spread and was able to photograph the upperside as well.

Butterflies - Wall Brown (Πεταλούδες)

Wall Brown (Lasiommata megera)

Butterflies - Silved-studded Blue (Πεταλούδες)

It always feels nice when you go back to your archive and find a photo that you have missed. That's what happen to me when I saw this photo of a Silver-studded Blue (Plebejus argus) dating back to May 2009 (I didn't even have my macro lense back then...). This photo was taken in Chortiatis Mt., next to the city of Thessaloniki.

Butterflies - Mallow Skipper (Πεταλούδες)

When photographing in close up you need to get as close to the subject as possible. Some butterfly species are easily frightened and fly away once you start approaching them. However, others, like this Mallow Skipper (Carcharodus alceae) let you get pretty close without flying away.

Butterflies - Anomalous Blue (Πεταλούδες)

Anomalous Blue butterflies (Polyommatus admetus) are endemic to south-eastern Europe. I saw this one alone around many Common Blues (Polyommatus icarus), as is the usual case with this species. Really glad to have photographed it!

Butterflies - Painted Lady (Πεταλούδες)

Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) in Lake Volvi, Greece.

Butterflies - Small White

Small White (Pieris rapae) shot in the University Campus, Heraklion, Crete.

Butterflies - Lang's Short-tailed Blue (Πεταλούδες)

Lang's Short-tailed Blue (Leptotes pirithous) in lake Volvi, Greece.

Butterflies - Short tailed Blue (Πεταλούδες)

Short tailed blue (Cupido argiades)

Butterflies - Small Heath (Πεταλούδες)

Small heath (Coenonympha pamphilus)

This species is found in mainland Greece, whereas in Crete its replaced by its congeneric, Cretan Small Heath

Butterflies - Cretan Small Heath (Πεταλούδες)

Cretan Small Heath (Coenonympha thyrsis) is an endemic species in the island of Crete, Greece.

Butterflies - Old World Swallowtail (Πεταλούδες)

Upper and underside of Old World Swallowtail (Papilio machaon)