His Favorite Butterfly?

Posted June 4, 2020

Filed under Apharitis, Mt. Meron, Israel

I went there in June, that my plan well before I flew to the HolyLand, Israel. I wanted to see this butterfly, this Very Rare, Protected butterfly. Apharitis Cilissa flies in June only, and only in the Upper Galilee. I went to Mr. Meron, stayed in a SPNI Nature field house, and when I worked the trails on SPNI’s refuge reserve, I found them!

They’re tiny, gorgeous in the Middle Eastern sunlight, and finally, after following them (my timing was perfect, for I found a fresh flight of them), I met this one, I’m thinking a female. Nectaring on a pretty bloom, she moved her wings to and fro, as some do, and here we have much to see. She exposes her richly hued upper wing, and we see so much of her detail, including her tails and the metallic spots on her wings, they excitingly reflecting the strong Middle Eastern sun.

Little doubt have I that Jesus and the Prophets made similar treks, from their nearby homes, to see A. Cilissa and to be motivated and moved by the magnificence of G-d’s creations.

Jeff

An American Cousin?

Posted June 2, 2020

Filed under Apharitis, Mt. Meron, Israel

These tiny butterflies looked so different from any I’ve seen in the United States, different also from butterflies I met in the Lower Rio Grande Valley, many of the latter having flown a few miles from their usual haunts in Mexico. I met these Apharitis Acamas butterflies in the Upper Galilee region of the HolyLand/Israel, on Mt. Meron.

She has those silvery metallic strips on her wings, they are glimmering when the sunlight reflects off of them. The closest US butterflies to these, with similar metallic markings are the Metalmark butterflies. That seems to be where the similarities end.

What American butterflies, if any are related to these Apharitis?

Jeff

Now? Still One Of My Favorite Images

Posted June 1, 2020

Filed under Maniola Telmessia, Mt. Meron, Israel

Maniola Telmessia (female) photographed by Jeff Zablow at Mt. Meron, Israel

I was on Mt. Meron in the Upper Galilee region of the HolyLand (Israel). Wasn’t my first visit to the mountain, and once again, I was working that same trail, not far from the mountain’s peak. Above me, a top Secret IDF military base, ahead of me, wildflowers and butterflies in abundance.

I’m quick to form likes, and I’d already decided that I Love a butterfly, names Maniola Telemessia. Like ‘Love,’ this butterfly was hard to get, so to speak. It was swift, and they did not tolerate my approach. Me? I don’t easily give up, not when ‘Love’ is real. There won’t ever be a Jeff’s biography, but when I am zonked by ‘Love,’ look out.

After much furtive (near useless/unproductive) following of Maniola Telemessia, I spotted this one, nectaring on a tiny, yet armed with bristles, plant. You know I shoot Macro- and Fuji Velvia film, requiring I make a patent-pending, ultra-slow approach. As I was doing it, she moved a bit, and her left forewing was now out of the shade and in the sun! I shot away, Pop! PoP! Pop!

Heere’s an image that will always be one of my favorites, of the perhaps 100,000. It just sends me to the land of Bliss!

Jeff

Why Did Mr. Guerin Choose So Holy A Name?

Posted October 2, 2019

Filed under Blues, Butterfly Types, Mt. Meron, Israel

Azanous Jesous butterfly photographed by Jeffrey Zablow at Mt. Meron, Israel

This one of the Blue butterflies flies in the HolyLand. This one appeared on my Mt. Meron trail, in the very Upper Galilee. With so reverent a name as Azanus Jesous, I much wanted to score a good image of these tiny blues. Wingedbeauty’s visitors include many Christians, and I guessed that this butterfly, floating from blossom to HolyLand blossom, would mean alot to you.

Here is this mini-gem of a butterfly, resplendent with its numerous black hindwing dots and sweet reddish browns.

I wonder why Mr., Guerin named it so? Suggestions?

Jeff

One Of My Personal Favs

Posted March 6, 2019

Filed under Maniola Telmessia, Mt. Meron, Israel

Maniola Telmessia butterfly (female) photographed by Jeff Zablow at Mt. Meron, Israel

Why? Every so often, when I view my Media Library here, I spot this one, and the same recurring thought emerges. I love this shot of Maniola Telmessia, seen in the HolyLand, Israel. That happy reflection leads me, time and time again to consider Why is this among my favorites?

The morning light that day was early morning light, coming at at an advantageous angle. There was little breeze. The wildflower plant, like so many in Israel, features spiked leaves, for this is not an easy land for plants to survive, and time may have proven that spiked armature helps. The lovely purple hue of the stems pleases my eye.

The coloration of this particular individual bedazzles me, for I love shades of brown, orange and yellow. That vast wash of orange can be the real reason that I like this one, and the unique coloration of the left lower wing surface insists that I stop and study.

Y’all read, hear and see much irresponsible news coverage of Israel, persuading that it is a land in constant danger, peril. Nope. This is the real Israel, gorgeous, mysterious and purposeful. That may be the most important reason I love this image, it markets Israel so perfectly, beautiful, unadorned and serene.

Jeff