Middle East (excluding the African part of Egypt, Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan)

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taler, 22.06.2006 1:13

Mount Carmel ,or rather, a mountain complex (350-450m. n. m.), is located in the north of Israel.Carmel is my traditional butterfly fishing spot.I will not describe the beauty of this place,I will only say that there are deciduous groves,coniferous forests,lawns,and rocks.90% of Israel's butterflies are found on Carmel.It is only richer than Mount Hermon (2,680 m. n. m.) in the very north, on the border with Lebanon and Syria.
Hunting for Charaxes jasius.
Once walking along the forest road on Carmel, I saw a shadow on the ground, Looked up, froze, seeing this miracle!He soared proudly, like the master of this forest.His gliding flight was great!!!A rather large butterfly (the length of the front wing is 5-5.5 cm) hovered 15 meters above the ground, importantly skirting the tops of pine trees.He was short-handed, and I think he knew it.Due to the altitude of the flight,there was no excitement to catch it.So, I enjoyed watching him and thinking about how to get a handsome man....
After making its routine flight,the butterfly somehow clumsily landed on the trunk of a pine tree.She was immediately attacked by the agama lizard.This time the flight was completely different-fast, zigzagging.I could hear the crackle of her wings as she passed over me.
And again landing on the trunk of another pine, and again the agama attack.This time, the lizard was more fortunate.She managed to grab the butterfly.From the outside ,it looked like agama was holding the bird.
After fiercely repelling the attack, Charaxes jasius was once again at large.After taking off, it began to thrash erratically again.Due to the altitude and speed of the flight, I didn't see what damage this fight left him with.But I noticed that after being attacked twice in such a short time,the butterfly didn't leave the territory.
I decided to go further,and try to find more of these beauties.After walking 200 meters, I saw these butterflies again.2 Charaxes jasius constantly took off and landed on a broken tree in the thick of a windbreak.It was no small effort to get to the place of their interest.And the interest was clear!As I approached,the butterflies took off and landed on the tree again.Finally, when I got there, I found that sap was leaking out at the site of the fault(I can't say what kind of tree it is because I'm not a botanist and I don't know the names)It was the juice that Charaxes jasius was interested in.Barely finding a place to watch, I waited.And the butterflies did not slow down to appear.From 4-5 meters away,I could see that the butterflies were battered on their hind wings.But after witnessing the lizard attacks,I concluded that these are the marks of their teeth.
Charaxes jasius, busily pushing, enjoyed the juice, occasionally taking off, but almost immediately returning.Netting was out of the question in this windfall.The real thing was to break your legs and break the net.I needed to lure the butterflies to an open, flat place with the help of baits.But on this day, I was empty......
After returning home, I stopped at the city market, and like the last beggar,I began to pick rotten fruit.I had rotten peaches,oranges,bananas, and kiwis at my disposal.At home, I made a pretty decent "fruit salad"out of this rotten stuff for Charaxes jasius.I looked forward to the next day.
At 7: 15 in the morning, I was already there.To my disappointment, there were no beauties on the spot.However, there weren't many other lepidoptera fluttering around.Pleading the early hour and the freshness of the mountains, I went about my business.I laid out 8 baits on the road every 50-70 meters and started patrolling.The presence of Charaxes jasius was not observed either at the baits or in the forest.At around 10 a.m.,everything was fluttering and flying, except for my hunting item.I sat there for a while,completely desperate and dazed from the stuffiness, and considered the situation.The day,unlike the previous one, was cloudy.Maybe that was the problem.Still, I found the strength to continue my rounds.
And lo and behold!!! At the 4th bait, I saw the coveted, triangular "sail" (Charaxes jasius almost always folds its wings and in this position resembles a sail).The butterfly was so engrossed in the "salad" that it let me get half a meter closer to it.I didn't go any closer,because I might not be able to stand the nerves.A flick of the net, and it was like a bird in a net.Still, I took it!!!True, her rear right wing was bitten almost halfway through,but this did not dampen my joy.
Continuing to move, I saw the "sail"and at the 2nd bait.My" salad " came to the taste of Charaxes jasius !!! The picture was completely repeated.Carried away by the treat, she let me get very close. Swing! And the second handsome guy fights in the net.This one was quite a "veteran". The hind wings were missing by 2/3. (At the same time, the butterflies were clearly "fresh". They get it from the agamas).I simply couldn't continue hunting because of the heat,and with a sense of accomplishment,I went home satisfied.

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