Geranium Bronze butterfly in Sliema

[Haas]

I spent the past week on vacation in Sliema, and on the last day (saturday May 24th), after I had packed and stored my luggage, I had 2 hours to spend before going to the airport. So I vent for a walk down to the harbor. And there – right by the central busstops and ferries, I discovered a small colony of Geranium Bronze (Cacyreus marshalii) butterflies.

Before leaving home, I had studied the butterflies of Malta via the internet, and I discovered a note that said, that the first finding of this butterfly was in autumn of 2007, so I was a little surprised.
I do not know if this is true, but this was all I was able to find out, so please tell me if it actually common in Malta.

Unfortunately I had already packed my “real” camera for shipping, so I had only my pocket camera to make picture documentation, and they lack a lot in terms of quality, but I managed to get some 30-40 pictures where you can tell, that it is in fact a Geranium Bronze.

There were about 8-10 specimens and I even saw at least one couple courting.

In the very last hour of my stay, I went a little north along the coast, and in a small park near St. Julian’s Tower, I saw an additional 3-4 specimens.

So, I think, that it is safe to say, that this beautiful little “pest” butterfly is living and breading in Sliema – like it or not.
(The larvae feeds on Pelargonium)

And by the way, I had a very nice vacation in Malta, so I may be back.

Bjarne Haas

[MWP admin]

I am no expert on butterflies, so I asked a good friend of mine and confirmed that they are on the increase but not very common for the time being. Hope it helps a bit. He also confirmed that they like cosmpolitan areas, possibly due to they (the larvae) feed on ornamental plants like Pelargonium.

[MWP admin]

I think it is getting more common every year! Should be the same species (Haas pls confirm!) from our garden.

[Haas]

Oh yes - it is the same

Bjarne Haas

[MWP admin]

I think this species is becoming very common at least in cosmopolitan places, and it is not specific to Geranium or Geraniaceae. This was found on Portulaca oleracea potted in our balcony.

[IL-PINE]

I used to think that this is a common blue butterfly, but after seeing the post I admit that I don't understand anything about butterflies!
This seems to be common in Qormi! And it looks quite tame too. Quite a familiar sight nowadays.