For the past week or so, the temperatures in the Val d’Hérens have steadily risen to the mid-20’s Centigrade, (late 70’s Fahrenheit). The alpine meadows are therefore bursting with an abundance of flowers, which, in turn, means an awful lot of butterflies and bugs…
Now, I always like to show you something new, so I was rather pleased that the Powers That Be have decided to build a new suspension footbridge over the river near Arolla. It has always been a bit hit and miss crossing there, as the river bed spreads far and wide. Each year the water seems to take a new course, to the extent that the old bridge, which was falling down anyway, spanned nothing at all. (The even older bridge below the Sporting Hotel, which is mentioned in some walking guide books, was washed away years ago). When I got there, the workmen were still putting the finishing touches to the bridge, so I was perhaps fortunate to be allowed to cross it.
Later, as I was sorting out my photographs, I noticed that a little creature, probably some sort of bee, had hovered into my picture of a patch of Bladder Campion (pic 8). Normally, flying bugs appear as a bit of a blur and spoil the image, but I think it’s actually created a better photo, so I’ve included a cropped, more close-up, picture as 8a.
Alittlebitoutoffocus 
Stunning views, Mike, gorgeous photos. And I love all the flowers and bees and butterflies.
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Thanks Jet. There’s plenty more of that to come in the next few months. 🙂
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Home sweet home! Bugs and all… 🙂
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Yes indeed. 🙂 I went for another walk on Wednesday and have some more to post – most of which I cannot identify! (I need a Swiss or European bug book – so if you know of a good one…?)
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…ours is in german 😑
(Tier und Pflanzenführer für Unterwegs)
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Ok, your challenge then, (should you wish to accept it of course) would be to find my unkonwn bugs in your book and let me know what they are (at least until such time as I can find my own book). 🙂
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Your 0n!
I think your first bug is a “Honigbiene” or in latin a “Apis mellifera” (a honey bee).
The white butterfly could be a “Baumweissling”/ “Aporia crataegi”, the orange one with black spots a “Dukatenfalter”/ “Heodes virgaureae” and the black one with orange marks a “Nierenfleckzipfelfalter”/ “Thecla betulae”. What do you think?
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Thanks Tammy. The first one I didn’t know for sure but thought it was a bee. The white one I was pretty sure is an Aporia crataegi, but Google (and my little book) says Heodes virgaureae is a Scarce Copper which is a solid bright orange, so I think you might be wrong on that one. Also Google and my book says a Thecla betulae is a Brown Hairstreak, which is mainly brown and a large orange patch on each forewing – but no black and white dots so I’m again pretty sure my name of Scotch Argus (or Eribea aetheops) is correct on that one. I’m also fairly confident the Glanville one is right too – or Melitaea cinxia. I usually only name something if I’m confident, or mark it as “possibly” if I’m not quite sure. However, your real challenge will come with my next post (later today I hope) where I’ll be marking them as unknown or simply “Red beetle”. So good luck with your next exam paper! 🙂
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It looks like a failed that challenge! 🙂 🙂 🙂
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Sadly I can only give you a C+ with the comment “Tries hard” I’m afraid. 😉 I was hoping your book would have everything in it, but maybe not. I’ll have a scout around the UK next week when I’m back visiting my dad. 🙂
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Oh dear, but thanks for the comment…it gives me hope. 🙂
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I’m a hard taskmaster I’m afraid… and unfortunately a bit of a perfectionist. But thanks for looking. 🙂
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