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Mariposa Nature Tours

@mariposanature.bsky.social
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Expert-led butterfly & botany tours Proud to donate funds to help support the work of conservation organisations Butterfly Conservation Europe, Botanical Society of Britain & Ireland, et al. linktr.ee/mariposanature

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Mariposa Nature Tours @mariposanature.bsky.social · 1h
"As on all Mariposa holidays, I had a wonderful time getting to know both the butterflies and the people who love them just as much as I do" A Mariposa butterfly tour is about more than just butterflies - it's an inclusive and enjoyable gathering of like-minded friends.
Guest testimonial for our Butterflies of the Hautes Pyrenees tour
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Jon Dunn @dunnjons.bsky.social · 19h
The next species to feature in my summer of European clouded yellows is Mountain Clouded Yellow, found in the dizzy heights of the Austrian Alps in July. All Colias clouded yellows are restless souls, particularly on sunny days. This was a rare opportunity for a photo!
Mountain Clouded Yellow (Colias phicomone), Butterflies of the Hohe Tauern tour for Mariposa Nature Tours, Austria © Jon Dunn
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Mariposa Nature Tours @mariposanature.bsky.social · 19h
Orchid bookings flying in today. Orchids of Cyprus now fully booked for 2027 - so we've put the 2028 edition on our website for booking. Places remain on 2027 Italian orchid tours - see Tour Calendar for details. All generate donations to @bsbibotany.bsky.social: www.mariposanature.com/calendar
Ophrys pallida, Orchids of Sicily © Jon DunnOphrys sipontensis, Orchids of the Gargano Peninsula © Jon Dunn
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Andrew Knights @andrewknights.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
A train journey from Cambridge to Brighton this morning, followed by a walk up Whitehawk Hill. At the top, I was treated to some courtship from a pair of Long-tailed Blues on the Everlasting Pea. Several other LTBs were seen. @bcsussex.bsky.social
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Mariposa Nature Tours @mariposanature.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
Good morning & welcome to a new week! Our featured tour this week is Butterflies of the Hautes Pyrenees, a wonderful holiday that encompasses a wide range of spectacular species, including some very localised scarce, or downright rare, delights. #butterflies www.mariposanature.com/tours/butter...
Gavarnie Blue (Agriades pyrenaicus) © Jon DunnPurple-edged Copper (Lycaena hippothoe) © Jon DunnFoulquier's Grizzled Skipper (Pyrgus foulquieri) © Jon DunnApollo (Parnassius apollo) © Jon Dunn
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wildflowerhour @wildflowerhour.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
A wonderful #wildflowerhour, huge thanks to all who shared pics! Still plenty in flower but with cooler weather on the way, will they still be blooming next week? Let’s meet again next Sunday to find out! 😉☺️
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Mariposa Nature Tours @mariposanature.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
Tour update 🚨 As of this afternoon, just one place remaining to join the dream team of @thenewgalaxy.bsky.social & Dave Fairhurst for Orchids of Cyprus next spring. Naturally, the tour generates a donation to support the work of @bsbibotany.bsky.social. www.mariposanature.com/tours/botani...
Ophrys iricolor © Dr Richard Bate
Ophrys kotschyi © Dr Richard Bate
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Jon Dunn @dunnjons.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
It's been a classic Clouded Yellow year here in the UK, with many autumn insects still on the wing now we're moving into October. I've seen a lot of other Colias clouded yellows on my travels this year - here are my favourites, starting with Pale Arctic Clouded Yellow in Sweden. #butterflies
Pale Arctic Clouded Yellow (Colias tyche), seen on Butterflies of the European Arctic tour I co-led for Mariposa Nature Tours, © Jon Dunn
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Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland (BSBI) @bsbibotany.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
We’ve been bowled over by the standard for this year's Botanical Photographer of the Year. It's now time for public shortlisting. Use the links below to view the entries into this year's competition and vote for all those you think are particularly impressive. Shortlisting will run until 31 Oct.
bsbi.org
Botanical Photographer of the Year
The BSBI is for everyone who cares about the wild plants of Britain and Ireland.
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Mariposa Nature Tours @mariposanature.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
Tour update 🚨 🦋 There's a reason why our tours fill fast, months or years in advance: we're dedicated and reliable at finding our guests the Western Palearctic's rarest and most beautiful butterflies. Two places secured today for Marvellous Morocco 2028: www.mariposanature.com/tours/butter...
📸 All taken on our spring holiday in Morocco, Spring Butterflies of Marvellous Morocco, and © guest Harry F

Clockwise from top left: Allard's Silver Line, Vogel's Blue, Lorquin's Blue, Donzel's Silver Line, Fatma's Bavius Blue
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Mariposa Nature Tours @mariposanature.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
Tour update 🚨 Those of our 2027 edition orchid tours that are fully booked now have their 2028 editions open for booking. Orchids of Crete, with @thenewgalaxy.bsky.social & @dunnjons.bsky.social as your leaders, has taken its first booking already. www.mariposanature.com/tours/botani...
Ophrys ariadnae © Dr Richard Bate
Ophrys kedra © Dr Richard Bate
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Jon Dunn @dunnjons.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
I'm beyond excited for next years @mariposanature.bsky.social Orchids of Basilicata, Campania & Puglia tour - it's a renowned orchid-hunting destination, and a potent place for hybrid finds. Two places to join me and Miki Vigano there have just opened up... www.mariposanature.com/tours/botani...
Ophrys conradiae x cinnabarina © Michele Vigano
Ophrys x fajarama (O. lacaitae x gracilis) © Michele Vigano
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Mariposa Nature Tours @mariposanature.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
Tour update 🚨 In the past day we've launched the first tranche of our 2028 tours, and they're starting to take bookings. Pallas's Fritillary and Late Summer Butterflies of Hungary has moved straight to guaranteed departure status: www.mariposanature.com/tours/butter...
Pallas's Fritillary (Argynnis laodice) © János Oláh
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Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland (BSBI) @bsbibotany.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
Our annual membership special offer opens today! Join us this month to start enjoying 15 months of membership benefits for the price of 12. Benefits to you: social/training/access/opportunities & more Benefits to our wild plants: in a changing world, your support is vital! bsbi.org/blog/2026/10...
A group of inclusive botanists stands near the edge of a lake in Aberdeenshire, pointing at some of the aquatic plants and sharing ID tips. Image: Ian FrancisA wet meadow in the Yorkshire Dales, full of Ragged Robin and other wild flowers. Image: Ken ReadshawJulia Hanmer, BSBI Chief Executive. look up and smiles, surrounded by colleagues on an orchid-hunting trip in the Peak District. Image: Sarah Woods
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Mariposa Nature Tours @mariposanature.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
It's time for the Mariposa autumn newsletter - sent out initially to subscribers to our mailing list, and now available on our website too. Full of news about tours, leaders, and of course deals to be had for holidays in 2027 and beyond! www.mariposanature.com/about/news/a...
A selection of autumnal hued butterflies (and an orchid) taken by guests and guides on Mariposa Nature Tours holidays in 2026
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Mariposa Nature Tours @mariposanature.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
Tour update 🚨 Another booking today for Spring Butterflies of Andalusia moves the tour to guaranteed departure status. And that means another guaranteed donation to @europebutterfly.bsky.social too. www.mariposanature.com/tours/butter...
Spanish Festoon (Zerynthia rumina) © Jon DunnSpanish Fritillary (Euphydryas desfontainii) © Clive Burrows
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Kirsty Evans @kirstyevans.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
An unexpectedly free afternoon, so took a walk on my local NNR to enjoy the warm sunshine on this last day of September. Delighted to see Clouded Yellows still zooming around, and even more delighted that this fellow stopped long enough for me to take his picture! 🦋💛 #autumnbutterflies #yellows
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Mariposa Nature Tours @mariposanature.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
That's #Leptember over for another year. We'd like to celebrate not just butterflies, but the people who care so much about them - our guests, with whom we've enjoyed so many wonderful moments this past year. Here's just a tiny sample of the feedback they've shared with us.
A small selection of testimonials received lately from Mariposa guests - thank you all!
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Mariposa Nature Tours @mariposanature.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Tour update 🚨 As of this morning, now just one place remaining to join Mariposa founder and European butterfly finder extraordinaire David Moore for Spring Butterflies of the French Pyrenees: www.mariposanature.com/tours/butter...
Violet Copper (Lycaena helle) © Clive Burrows
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Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland (BSBI) @bsbibotany.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
What do botanists do in midwinter? 1. They take part in #NewYearPlantHunt: we're already receiving details of planned group hunts across Britain & Ireland bsbi.org/take-part/ac... 2. They go hunting clubmosses: and intrepid young botanist Ben Mountford found one last winter bsbi.org/blog/2026/09...
The green stalks of Interrupted Clubmoss stand out among the bare stems of Heather in midwinter. Image: Ben Mountford
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Mariposa Nature Tours @mariposanature.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Tour update 🚨 Things move fast around here! (Faster even than a nippy Yellow-banded Skipper, and they've a fair turn of speed when they put their minds to it...) Another place taken on our 2028 Serbia tour this morning. Now just 4 places remain available: mariposanature.com/tours/butter...
Yellow-banded Skipper (Pyrgus sidae), Serbia © Janos Olah
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Mariposa Nature Tours @mariposanature.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Tour update 🚨 Another place secured yesterday on the 2028 edition of our Serbian butterfly tour - and this one by a guest who's done the tour before. That speaks louder than words just how good this tour is... www.mariposanature.com/tours/butter...
Poplar Admiral (Limenitis populi) © Clive BurrowsGuest testimonial from our False Comma and Summer Butterflies of Serbia tour
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Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland (BSBI) @bsbibotany.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
Only 3 days left to enter our Botanical Photographer of the Year competition! 16 judges inc @trevorthebotanist.bsky.social @amandatuke.bsky.social & @markavery.bsky.social look forward to seeing your entries of British & Irish wild plants. Deadline: 30 September. Details: bsbi.org/take-part/ac...
bsbi.org
Botanical Photographer of the Year
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Roger Harding @rogercharding.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
Absolutely no one does the orchids of the Gargano better than Mariposa. Amazing trip.
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Kirsty Evans @kirstyevans.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
As summer fades, it’s definitely time to plan ahead - and this is a fabulous location for happy orchid hunting with one of the best! 💜💖
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Mariposa Nature Tours @mariposanature.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
Good morning & welcome to a new week! This week's featured tour is Orchids of the Gargano Peninsula. Europe's natural rock garden is a wonderful orchid-hunting venue with massive diversity to see there. The tour generates a donation to @bsbibotany.bsky.social www.mariposanature.com/tours/botani...
Ophrys sipontensis © Jon Dunn
Ophrys apulica © Jon Dunn
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Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland (BSBI) @bsbibotany.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
It's Sunday, it's 8pm so it must be #WildFlowerHour! Please share pix of any wild or naturalised plants you've spotted in bloom this week across Britain & Ireland. Got a mystery plant? Use #WildFlowerID to summon ID help from fellow botanists in the friendly @wildflowerhour.bsky.social community
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Mariposa Nature Tours @mariposanature.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
Tour update 🚨 Unsurprisingly, given the record-breaking total of species recorded by our group this year, and with the combined experience of @selbypaul.bsky.social & Miki Vigano leading it, Butterflies of the French Alps is now fully booked. Remaining 2027 tours: mariposanature.com/calendar
Alpine Blue (Agriades orbitulus) © Jon Dunn
Cynthia's Fritillary (Euphydryas cynthia) © Jon Dunn
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wildflowerhour @wildflowerhour.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
Joining in with #Wildflowerhour is easy! Look for wild & naturalised blooms from across Britain & Ireland during the week & then share Sunday 8-9pm!
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Mariposa Nature Tours @mariposanature.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
Tour update 🚨 The 2027 edition of our highly popular Serbian tour, False Comma and Summer Butterflies of Serbia, moves to guaranteed departure status this morning with another booking received, which means a guaranteed donation to @europebutterfly.bsky.social www.mariposanature.com/tours/butter...
Just a tiny handful of the wonderful butterflies we expect to see in Serbia, images © Janos Olah & Clive Burrows

[clockwise from top left] Balkan Copper, False Comma, Freyer's Fritillary, Russian Heath, Yellow-banded Skipper, Lesser Lattice Brown
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Mariposa Nature Tours @mariposanature.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
'Another wonderful holiday with Mariposa. The team not only know their wildlife but also take excellent care of their guests' We love hearing that our guests have enjoyed the whole experience of travelling with us. Thank you so much, Jenny, for these kind words!
Guest testimonial from our Butterflies of the Montes Universales tour
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Mariposa Nature Tours @mariposanature.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
'What a way to round off the summer! I am again impressed by the dedication of Team Mariposa, always going the extra mile to ensure every guest gets the most from their tour' The very first testimonial we received for last year's Autumn Exotica in Andalusia - thank you Kirsty! 🦋
Guest testimonial from our Autumn Exotica in Andalusia tour
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Jon Dunn @dunnjons.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Time spent in Andalusia at this time of year is always richly rewarded for dragonflies. Back home now, I'm already missing them... but they'll be there for my return next year with @mariposanature.bsky.social. #Dragonfly #Odonata #WildlifePhotography
Orange-winged Dropwing (Trithemis kirbyi) © Jon Dunn
Epaulet Skimmer (Orthetrum chrysostigma) © Jon Dunn
Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii) © Jon Dunn
Northern Banded Groundling (Brachythemis impartita) © Jon Dunn
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Mariposa Nature Tours @mariposanature.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Our Autumn Exotica in Andalusia tour, our featured tour of the week presently, isn't just about butterflies. A superb range of pioneering North African dragonfly species are also seen during the week, including the firm fan favourite, Violet Dropwing. mariposanature.com/tours/butter...
Violet Dropwing (Trithemis annulata) © Jon Dunn
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Butterfly Conservation Europe @europebutterfly.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
And we are very grateful for your support at this critical time for Europe’ s butterflies and moths. This year, together with partner in almost every country, we produced a new Red List of European Butterflies and the moth version is due this autumn. We are gearing up to take more action
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Mariposa Nature Tours @mariposanature.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
'Mariposa guides are friendly, enthusiastic and extremely knowledgeable. Recommended without reservation' Yet more lovely feedback from a guest on our Butterflies of the Montes Universales tour. Thank you, Ian! 🙏 Our tours are friendly and enjoyable affairs for all concerned.
Guest testimonial for our Butterflies of the Montes Universales tour
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Mariposa Nature Tours @mariposanature.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Just a couple of days after our final butterfly tour of the year concluded, we've made our donation to support the brilliant, science-led work of @europebutterfly.bsky.social. We do this after every one of our butterfly tours - our commitment to BCE is immediate, and unwavering.
Butterfly Conservation Europe's logo, and a Danube Clouded Yellow, just one of Europe's threatened butterfly species that BCE's science-led work helps to protect and conserve
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Mariposa Nature Tours @mariposanature.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
'Albarracin – simply the most picturesque place to be based for this outstanding butterflying experience' A lovely guest testimonial for Butterflies of Montes Universales - thank you, Kirsty! The townsfolk are warm and welcoming; many have become good friends over the years we've been visiting.
Guest testimonial for our Butterflies of the Montes Universales tour
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Mariposa Nature Tours @mariposanature.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
Tour update 🚨 Bookings coming in steadily for 2027 tours and beyond - another in the past day for the 2028 edition of our highly successful Serbian butterflies tour, featuring the simply gorgeous False Comma. mariposanature.com/tours/butter...
False Comma (Nymphalis vaualbum) © János Oláh
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Mariposa Nature Tours @mariposanature.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
Tour update 🚨 Another booking came today for the 2027 edition of Autumn Exotica in Andalusia. Not wholly surprising given what a success it's been in the past couple of years, with some really exciting African butterfly species seen. It's filling fast... www.mariposanature.com/tours/butter...
Desert Babul Blue (Azanus ubaldus) © Jon DunnAfrican Babul Blue (Azanus jesous) © Jon Dunn
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Mariposa Nature Tours @mariposanature.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
Good morning & welcome to a new week! Our featured tour of the week, Autumn Exotica in Andalusia, promises a host of butterflies rare in a European context, and a donation to support the brilliant science-led conservation work of @europebutterfly.bsky.social: www.mariposanature.com/tours/butter...
(l-r, top to bottom)

Monarch, African Babul Blue, Two-tailed Pasha, Desert Orange Tip
Mediterranean Skipper, False Mallow Skipper, Plain Tiger, Zeller's Skipper
African Babul Blue, Desert Orange Tip, Desert Babul Blue, African Grass Blue

Images © Jon Dunn & David Moore
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Butterfly Conservation Europe @europebutterfly.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
We are delighted to be supporting the next Symposium on the Ecology and Conservation of Butterflies and Moths. In Girona, Spain 6-10 April 2027. Early Bird bookings open now. Don’t miss it. esdeveniments.udg.edu/148395/detai...
esdeveniments.udg.edu
Ecology and Conservation of Butterflies & Moths International Symposium
6-10 april 2027 Girona The Ecology and Conservation of Butterflies " />
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Mariposa Nature Tours @mariposanature.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
A final postcard from the field as our Autumn Exotica in Andalusia tour draws to a close. It's been a super week, with all the anticipated butterfly colonists of Spain in recent decades seen. The star of the show however was an unanticipated, and extensive, African Babul Blue colony.
African Babul Blue (Azanus jesous) © Jon Dunn
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Mariposa Nature Tours @mariposanature.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
"The Mariposa team delivered spectacularly" More lovely feedback received this week for our Butterflies of the Montes Universales tour - thank you, Roderick! Montes is a jewel in the crown of European butterfly-watching, and we're delighted our guests enjoy it so much with us.
Guest testimonial for our Butterflies of the Montes Universales tour
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Jon Dunn @dunnjons.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
Up into the hills today in Andalusia with my patented pasha paste ready to deploy as bait... and it worked a treat, luring a couple of Two-tailed Pasha to come and check us out. One settled and buried its tongue in the goo for ages, allowing a close approach...
Patented Pasha Paste oozing from a crack on a treeTwo-tailed Pasha (Charaxes jasius) © Jon Dunn
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Mariposa Nature Tours @mariposanature.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
Tour update 🚨 Unsurprisingly, given the tour's success this week and last year, Autumn Exotica in Andalusia now moves to guaranteed departure status with another booking today. And that means another donation to @europebutterfly.bsky.social is now guaranteed. www.mariposanature.com/tours/butter...
Mating pair of Plain Tiger (Danaus chrysippus) © Jon Dunn
Mating pair of Mediterranean Skipper (Gegenes nostrodamus) © Jon Dunn
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Mariposa Nature Tours @mariposanature.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
Postcard from the field: We're continuing to enjoy close views of the exotic African species that have colonised the southern edge of Spain in recent years and, yesterday, had superb encounters with the charismatic Zeller's Skipper.
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Mariposa Nature Tours @mariposanature.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
Having Spain's pre-eminent butterfly scientist with our group this week has been such an honour, and it was wonderful to see Prof. Miguel Munguira's delight and hear his insights while watching African Babul Blue ovipositing on their acacia larval foodplant.
African Babul Blue (Azanus jesous) laying an egg on the flower buds of acacia, the larval foodplant © Jon Dunn
African Babul Blue (Azanus jesous) laying an egg on the newly emerging leaves of acacia, the larval foodplant © Jon Dunn
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Jon Dunn @dunnjons.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
Absolutely elated to have seen my second pioneering babul blue species in Europe in consecutive years with one of my @mariposanature.bsky.social groups. Last year it was self-found Desert Babul Blue; this year African Babul Blue, c/o some very fine site gen from a kind friend.
Desert Babul Blue (Azanus ubaldus), Andalusia 2025 © Jon Dunn
African Babul Blue (Azanus jesous), Andalusia 2026 © Jon Dunn
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Mariposa Nature Tours @mariposanature.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
Postcard live from the field. OMG! Well that's huge. For the second consecutive year our Autumn Exotica in Andalusia tour guests have enjoyed a babul blue species - the rarest of African butterfly vagrants to mainland Europe. And this year it's a different species - African Babul Blue!
African Babul Blue (Azanus jesous) © Jon Dunn
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