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BUTTERFLIES (farm bred) BY SPECIES v15.02i
This is the third and final version of the gallery but please see below. The photographs herein were taken in the Glasshouse at the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Gardens, Wisley, UK. The Glasshouse is a stunning forty foot high glass and steel structure which covers a space of about ten tennis courts. Between January and early March each year, a special butterfly event takes place. Exotic species strange to Europe are released into a part of the Glasshouse that has environmental controls (heat, light, humidity etc.) and contains many tropical and other plants. Clearly I cannot really claim this is true wildlife photography. However, the butterfly event is very popular, is a good introduction for children and makes it possible for us all, no matter the sort of camera, to take memorable photos. Further information can found on the RHS’s excellent website at: www.rhs.org.uk/gardens/wisley/

As usual, please be aware that not all of my attempts at identification can be guaranteed as accurate. Particularly, care needs to be taken with polymorphic species (i.e. those that appear in different forms or morphs) such as swallowtails. After the photo title/name additional information sometimes appears thus [?]. Normally this is for use in my photo management system. Here, with thumbnails, much of this information is obvious but hopefully the info may be of help to some viewers. Examples are: [f] = female; [m] = male; [o] = old, tired, damaged wings; [u] = underside; [tu] = top and underside showing; [F] or [F.] = in flight; [H]= enlarged head area, [M] = mating and [2] = second example. No additional information = male or that sexes are similar.

In the introduction to the original version of this gallery I mentioned not only problems of identification (see above) but also my aims for additions and improvements. I claim only partial success. Subsequent visits produced an increase in the number of ‘identified’ species (including sub species) from 21 to 33 and an overall total of 90 photos. The RHS's Spotter Guide 'Butterflies in the Glasshouse' suggests that between 40 and 50 species are released during the course of the event.