Gooseberry Delight. Small Copper Butterfly, Lycaena phlaeas, on Erodium cicutarium, Redstem Filaree, De Krosselt, Venlo, The Netherlands
On my way to the Zwart Water I biked through the Krosselt, which apparently takes its name from a dialect form of Gooseberry (in Dutch: 'kruisbes' and in the local language 'kroesel' whence Krosselt). The sunny morning brought out great swathes of lilac-purple Redstem Filaree, Erodium cicutarium, in the open spaces of the natural reserve. I'd expected lots of insects but the last decades has seen terribly diminishing populations. Among the few six-legged denizens of this area I did see a pretty Small Copper... Soon it deserted its floral perch and rested on sandy ground (see inset).
Gooseberry Delight. Small Copper Butterfly, Lycaena phlaeas, on Erodium cicutarium, Redstem Filaree, De Krosselt, Venlo, The Netherlands
On my way to the Zwart Water I biked through the Krosselt, which apparently takes its name from a dialect form of Gooseberry (in Dutch: 'kruisbes' and in the local language 'kroesel' whence Krosselt). The sunny morning brought out great swathes of lilac-purple Redstem Filaree, Erodium cicutarium, in the open spaces of the natural reserve. I'd expected lots of insects but the last decades has seen terribly diminishing populations. Among the few six-legged denizens of this area I did see a pretty Small Copper... Soon it deserted its floral perch and rested on sandy ground (see inset).