INTRODUCTION
The Baltic States are characterized by an extremely diverse selection of butterflies, this especially true of Lithuania in the south. At the season's peak in early July, the range and abundance of species is truly dazzling, a tantalizing 50 species possible in eastern Lithuania on an exceptional day, including many species of fritillaries, blues and coppers.
Including such stunning classics as Swallowtail, Camberwell Beauty, both Purple and Lesser Purple Emperor and Poplar Admiral, a typical active year (April through to September) will see me recording 60-70 species during the season, the highest ever total being 78 in 2010.
Setting myself a target for 2016, the holy grail of 100 species is rather over-ambitious I believe, but including Latvia and Estonia into the recording area, it is at least theoretically possible, so there we have it, a probably unachievable total, but a nice one to aim at. In reality, I will be happy to break my existing record of 78 species, hopefully also finding a few new species of butterflies for me, chiefly amongst them the rare Clouded Apollo, a localised species that can be found in parts of Latvia and Estonia.
The Baltic States are characterized by an extremely diverse selection of butterflies, this especially true of Lithuania in the south. At the season's peak in early July, the range and abundance of species is truly dazzling, a tantalizing 50 species possible in eastern Lithuania on an exceptional day, including many species of fritillaries, blues and coppers.
Including such stunning classics as Swallowtail, Camberwell Beauty, both Purple and Lesser Purple Emperor and Poplar Admiral, a typical active year (April through to September) will see me recording 60-70 species during the season, the highest ever total being 78 in 2010.
Setting myself a target for 2016, the holy grail of 100 species is rather over-ambitious I believe, but including Latvia and Estonia into the recording area, it is at least theoretically possible, so there we have it, a probably unachievable total, but a nice one to aim at. In reality, I will be happy to break my existing record of 78 species, hopefully also finding a few new species of butterflies for me, chiefly amongst them the rare Clouded Apollo, a localised species that can be found in parts of Latvia and Estonia.
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