Turkey: The Butterfly Valley and other curious views

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Lev Bely, 29.01.2012 1:20

Thousands of butterflies and moths from all over the Mediterranean coast are available to watch in Turkey, near Fethiye, in the Butterfly Valley (Kelebekler Vadisi). To see the rare Jersey Tiger (Euplagia quadripunctaria) people take water taxis from Ölüdeniz or Fethiye, hike up and down dangerously steep cliffs and desperately paraglide off Babadağ mountain.

The Valley is actually a nearly 10ha nature reserve with a unique microclimate which is supported due to its favorable situation and waterfalls. Butterflies and moths go the full life cycle in the Valley. Since June up to October huge colonies of E. quadripunctaria gather over there. Withal you can watch about 35 butterfly and 40 moth species. Hundreds of lepidoptera sitting on slopes flutter in the air being disturbed by people's appearance or a sudden sharp sound.

You may stay at the very plain and modest Butterfly Valley lodge, 0538 511-64-54, as well as spend the night in your own tent right over there what is not forbidden. Uphill, there is Faralya village where you can find cozy and well-known George House, a family run guest house where they bake tasty bread, and in the evening time hosts with guests watch from above down the Valley and the Mediterranean sea.

As for species beyond the Valley, there are many of them, both rare and ordinary. It's rather common to meet in Turkey The Old World Swallowtail (Papilio machaon) and The Scarce Swallowtail (Iphiclides podalirius), in some parts of the country The Alexanor (Papilio alexanor) may be seen which is quite rare in Europe, also the endemic Turkish Meadow Brown (Maniola telmessia). Around Fethiye you can find The Meadow Brown (Maniola jurtina). The Apollo (Parnassius apollo) which is included in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species is bigger there than in the rest of Europe, in Turkey it flies at 2000—2500m above sea-level. There are widely spread The Small White (Pieris rapae), Fiery Clouded Yellow (Colias eogene), The Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta). The migrant Plain Tiger (Danaus chrysippus) is one of the most beautiful Mediterranean butterflies. There is also The Lattice Brown (Kirinia roxelana) and The False Apollo (Archon apollinus), the latter is available to see in Greece and Turkey only.

Lepidoptera species in Turkey tend to vary depend on what part of the country they habit: The Common Brimstone (Gonepteryx rhamni) on the north is substituted by The Powdered Brimstone (Gonepteryx farinosa) on the south as well as The (Eurasian) White Admiral (Limenitis camilla) is replaced with The Southern White Admiral (Limenitis reducta) while The Silver-washed Fritillary (Argynnis paphia) changed with The Cardinal (Argynnis pandora).

Most complete and systematic description of Turkish lepidoptera is given in the big three-volume Die Tagfalter der Türkei.

Faralya Art House, http://www.faralyaarthouse.com, Butterfly Valley like a fairytale by Tore Kjeilen, http://looklex.com/turkey/butterfly_valley.htm

The Butterfly Valley, Fethyie