Lesser Fiery Copper

Lycaena thersamon 27th September 2021. Mandria. Paphos. Cyprus. This is an uncommon and local butterfly of eastern Europe. I spotted this example in flight at a coastal location in western Cyprus, and it led me on a merry chase for around a minute before finally alighting and allowing me to get a photograph, confirming that this was indeed a female, showing the characteristic tails of the later broods. It is the only example of this species that I have ever seen, one of seven "life ticks" obtained during a memorable week in the hot and dry late Cypriot summer.