Zygaena osterodensis© Teresa Farino

Butterflies and Moths of the Picos de Europa and Páramos of Northern Castile

Discover northern Spain's fabulous summer diversity of butterflies and moths

Mid July is an extremely rewarding time of year to visit northern Spain for butterflies and moths, coinciding with the peak flight period for many of the more emblematic species of both the Picos de Europa mountain range and the drier limestone plateaux further south.

Marbled Skipper
Carcharodus lavatherae© Teresa Farino

During the first part of the tour (5 nights) we will explore the forests, haymeadows and high peaks of the valley of Liébana - situated on the southeastern flank of the Picos de Europa - from El Hoyal, a friendly family-run hotel in Pesaguero. At this time of year we can expect to see up to 50 species of butterflies per day (with a total of 154 recorded in the area), including such memorable creatures as Large Chequered and Marbled Skippers, Apollo, Mountain Clouded Yellow, High Brown and Bog Fritillaries, Lefèbvre's and Chapman's Ringlets (the latter endemic to northern Spain), Esper's Marbled White, Woodland Brown, Scarce, Sooty and Purple-edged Coppers, Spanish Purple Hairstreak and Gavarnie and Dusky Large Blues, amongst a host of others.

Our second base, at El Convento de Santa María de Mave, is ensconced amid the limestone plateaux of northern Castile. During our daily excursions we should be able to observe a good number of butterflies that are not found in the Picos de Europa, such as Spanish Chalk-hill, Ripart's Anomalous, Forster's Furry, Damon, Panoptes and Meleager's Blues, Twin-spot Fritillary, Striped Grayling and Black Satyr, as well as an abundance of species that are rather rare further north, such as Safflower Skipper, Southern White Admiral, Cardinal, Spanish Gatekeeper, Spanish Heath and Sloe Hairstreak.

Speckled Pellicle Chelis maculosa© Teresa Farino

In both localities, day-flying moths will also be recorded, and might include such delights as Hornet and Fiery Clearwings, Black-veined Moth, Rose-banded Wave, Narrow-bordered and Broad-bordered Bee Hawkmoths, Dew Moth, Scarlet, Wood and Jersey Tigers and Feathered Footman, as well as a host of eye-catching Zygaena species, notably White-collared (Broom), Royal (Occidental), Discrete, Woodland, Chalk, Merry, Algarve, Slender Scotch and Mediterranean Burnets, plus Cistus Forester and Hedge Burnet.

For the first five nights we will set the moth-trap on the terrace of Teresa's home (just opposite El Hoyal), and will spend an hour or so before breakfast examining the contents. Given suitable weather conditions, the trap attracts phenomenal numbers of moths, and every year we discover species not previously recorded in the Picos de Europa. To date Teresa has recorded over 800 species of macromoth here, and at this time of year we should encounter a number of British rarities - Goat Moth, Portland Ribbon Wave, Sussex Emerald, The Mocha, Four-spotted Footman, Heart Moth and L-album Wainscot - as well as some that occur in the United Kingdom solely as migrants; for example, Three-humped Prominent, Oak Yellow Underwing, The Passenger, The The Latin
Callopistria juventina© Teresa Farino Latin, The Alchymist and Dewick's Plusia. We might also add to our list several species of hawkmoth, including Southern Pine, Eyed and Striped, and a number of striking non-British species, such as Plum Lappet (Odonestis pruni: Lasiocampidae), Lesser Puss Moth (Cerura erminea: Notodontidae), Gypsy Rose (Ocneria rubea: Lymantriidae) and Glaucous Muslin, Specked Pellicle and The Tiger (Paidia rica, Chelis maculosa & Atlantarctia tigrina: Arctiidae).

During the latter part of the tour we will set the trap(s) in the extensive gardens of El Convento. As we have rarely done any serious trapping here at this time of year, we are hoping for some interesting finds, weather permitting.

For the duration of the tour, you will be covered by Teresa's permits, both to catch butterflies and trap moths (a legal requirement for Spain). All the lepidoptera records we collect will be submitted to the Cantabrian and Castilla y León regional governments and the Picos de Europa national park authorities, forming part of a project initiated by Teresa in 1989.

In searching for butterflies and moths we will, of course, not be ignoring the many other delights of the Picos de Europa and Páramos of Northern Castile, including the spectacular scenery, colourful wildflowers and birds and dragonflies galore, plus the occasional reptile, amphibian and mammal.

Forster's Furry Blue
Polyommatus (Agrodiaetus) fulgens ainsae© Teresa Farino

Butterflies & Moths of the Picos de Europa & Páramos of Northern Castile

Leader: Teresa Farino

2016 Dates: Tuesday 5 July – Thursday 14 July

Price: 1,675€, including half-board, en suite accommodation at Posada El Hoyal and El Convento, picnic lunches, minibus/4WD transport throughout, all entry fees and the services of Teresa Farino as leader. A single-room supplement of 240€ is applicable. Although the cost of the tour is given in euros, clients may pay in sterling, the exchange rate to be calculated at the time of payment using www.oanda.com

This is a land-based tour. Flights and travel insurance (obligatory) are the responsibility of the client.

Pick-up details: For this tour, clients will be booking their flights independently. Teresa will be meeting the British Airways flight from London Heathrow to Bilbao, which gives us by far the most convenient flight times for these dates as well as almost ten full days in the field. Details are as follows:

5 July BA0466
Departs London Heathrow at 08.30
Arrives Bilbao at 11.30

14 July BA0469
Departs Bilbao at 19.40
Arrives London Heathrow at 20.35

Alternatively, those travelling to the Picos independently can arrange to meet the group at Posada El Hoyal on the first evening.

Group size: maximum 8 clients.

Booking information: please contact Teresa Farino for further details and a booking form, or if you have any queries about these tours.

E-mail:
Office phone:	(+34) 942 735154
Mobile phone:	(+34) 656 337129
Address:	Apartado de Correos 59 39570 Potes Cantabria Spain

Male Scarce Copper
Lycaena virgaureae© Teresa Farino

Other tours in the Picos de Europa:

Reports from past trips to the Picos de Europa:

Related information: