Small oases of green vegetation scattered
along the otherwise inhospitable valleys provide sustenance not only for human beings but
for a wide diversity of wildlife, including birds, insects and reptiles. In the first warm
days of April butterflies and moths of a myriad colours and designs emerge from their
chrysalises. One of Europe’s foremost areas in this respect, Cappadocia is home to over
two or three times the number of moths. What makes Cappadocia of particular interest to
naturalists is the fact that species native to Europe, North Africa and the Near East are
found together here.
Potato fields
attract Papilio Machaon, with its blue and red spots on white ground and wings
tapering into long tails. The Balkan species Allancastria Cerisyi is also to be
seen here, as is the rare Parnassius Apollon, which flutters on the high forested
slopes of Mount Erciyes. The lovely Issoria Hathonla, with is metallic silvery
spots on the underside of its wings, appears in late spring and can be seen throughout the
summer. A visitor to flower gardens in summer and autumn is the large Argynnis Paphia,
while in in the summer the dry hills are home to Chazara Briseis, patterned in grey and yellow on black. One
of the species unique to Turkey is Agrodiaetus Iphigenia Nonacriensis,
distinguished by its incandescent turquoise wings. Most famous of the species native to
the Cappadocian region and not found else where is Zygaena Kapadokia, a tiny but
beautiful butterfly moth which lives in grassland.
Butterflies are generally short lived, but
there are exceptions among migrating species which leave North Africa in early spring and
fly thousands of kilometres northwards. The most common of these is Cynthia Cardui,
which is seen throughout Europe as far as Scandinavia. The first swarms of migrating
butterflies arrive in April, and remain until October, laying eggs twice during the summer
on thistles and nettles. So when you are in Cappadocia take time out from the frescos and
rock hewn churches to watch for the butterflies, which add another dimension of interest
and colour to this unique region.
Small oases of green vegetation scattered
along the otherwise inhospitable valleys provide sustenance not only for human beings but
for a wide diversity of wildlife, including birds, insects and reptiles. In the first warm
days of April butterflies and moths of a myriad colours and designs emerge from their
chrysalises. One of Europe’s foremost areas in this respect, Cappadocia is home to over
two or three times the number of moths. What makes Cappadocia of particular interest to
naturalists is the fact that species native to Europe, North Africa and the Near East are
found together here.
Potato fields
attract Papilio Machaon, with its blue and red spots on white ground and wings
tapering into long tails. The Balkan species Allancastria Cerisyi is also to be
seen here, as is the rare Parnassius Apollon, which flutters on the high forested
slopes of Mount Erciyes. The lovely Issoria Hathonla, with is metallic silvery
spots on the underside of its wings, appears in late spring and can be seen throughout the
summer. A visitor to flower gardens in summer and autumn is the large Argynnis Paphia,
while in in the summer the dry hills are home to Chazara Briseis, 
patterned in grey and yellow on black. One
of the species unique to Turkey is Agrodiaetus Iphigenia Nonacriensis,
distinguished by its incandescent turquoise wings. Most famous of the species native to
the Cappadocian region and not found else where is Zygaena Kapadokia, a tiny but
beautiful butterfly moth which lives in grassland.
Butterflies are generally short lived, but
there are exceptions among migrating species which leave North Africa in early spring and
fly thousands of kilometres northwards. The most common of these is Cynthia Cardui,
which is seen throughout Europe as far as Scandinavia. The first swarms of migrating
butterflies arrive in April, and remain until October, laying eggs twice during the summer
on thistles and nettles. So when you are in Cappadocia take time out from the frescos and
rock hewn churches to watch for the butterflies, which add another dimension of interest
and colour to this unique region.