Most interesting (attractive) families of butterflies in Iran/Pakistan

PapilionidaeX99

Hi all, I do plan a collecting trip to one of these countries next year and would like to know, what would others focuse on being there. I'd rather travel to Iran, that is attractive for me also in other perspectives than butterflies, but it all depends on political situation in the country. On the other hand, I can say, that I do have friends in Pakistan and that could make whole descision and situation easier. Will be greatfull for any feedback of Your,

Thanks! Nice evening to everyone

Oberbayer

Hi Martin,

so my personal interest in a collecting trip there would clearly be the Arctiidae and Syntomidae.

Whether Iran or Pakistan, there is very little breeding material from these countries.

In Iran I would be personally interested in the species Axiopoena karelini and Axiopoena maura. They are the largest Palearctic Arctiids. In the case of the Syntomidae, it would be above all Amata beluchistana sp. (Location: Iran, Balucestan [Baluchistan], Kūh-eTāftan, Jam Chin, 2500 m).

If you get breeding material here, please contact me, I would be very interested.

Warm greetings

Rainer

Policeman

Hallo Martin,

if you really want to make a excursion to IRAN or/and PAKISTAN,

I can show you the best/nicest moths of this countries in my collection.

In my pictures in ACTIAS you find -R. brandti- and -P. otus fulvescens (now P. hausmanni)-.

I have nearly all Arctiidae, Syntomidae, Lasiocampidae, Lymantridae ... of IRAN and PAKISTAN in my collection.

You need modern equipment and a lot of other things.

WEIDEN is very near Rozvadov/CZ and I invite you to visit me.

Butterflies of this countries in my collection, too. But not all.

If you are not speaking German, my wife speak Ukrain and Russian.

Her best girlfriend is CZ-Translater - direkt near my house.

Your trip needs a lot of planing.

manfred.stroehle@gmx.de

christobal

Hi, there is much to say about this idea/plan. I guess the main question is what you are looking for really. Do you want to collect butterflies in the field? Where is your main interest? In any case both countries require a lot of planning before leaving and in both countries you will need guides and/or drivers. In Iran there are additionally challenges, such as the language and non English street signs. Also not many people speak any English outside of the main cities (thus the guide). And then there is the current political situation there, which might entering the country difficult....

Another topic is that I would never recommend to travel in any of the two countries by yourself (i.e. alone). First of all this gets very expensive and with this kind of money you can also join a guided tour to such places as Kyrgyzstan which yield almost guaranteed success. Secondly for safety reasons you don't want to be alone in such places.... So the best would be to go with a friend or colleague with similar interest....

All the best and good luck to you, Christof

Policeman

I know a lot of people, who make this countries alone.

By his people I got the material for my collection.

No risk - no fun.

Kyrgyzstan is good for hollidays, but I is difficult to find some new and most interesting material.

I allthough have contact-adresses of Entomologes which have been there.

Make a plan - and vistit me

PapilionidaeX99

Zitat von Oberbayer

Hi Martin,
so my personal interest in a collecting trip there would clearly be the Arctiidae and Syntomidae.
Whether Iran or Pakistan, there is very little breeding material from these countries.
In Iran I would be personally interested in the species Axiopoena karelini and Axiopoena maura. They are the largest Palearctic Arctiids. In the case of the Syntomidae, it would be above all Amata beluchistana sp. (Location: Iran, Balucestan [Baluchistan], Kūh-eTāftan, Jam Chin, 2500 m).
If you get breeding material here, please contact me, I would be very interested.
Warm greetings
Rainer

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Hi Rainer,

I will definitelly contact you, if I get some interesting material, thank you very much for tips, I didn't expert such great feedback. I will stay in touch. Wish you great day!

PapilionidaeX99

Zitat von Policeman

Hallo Martin,
if you really want to make a excursion to IRAN or/and PAKISTAN,
I can show you the best/nicest moths of this countries in my collection.
In my pictures in ACTIAS you find -R. brandti- and -P. otus fulvescens (now P. hausmanni)-.
I have nearly all Arctiidae, Syntomidae, Lasiocampidae, Lymantridae ... of IRAN and PAKISTAN in my collection.
You need modern equipment and a lot of other things.
WEIDEN is very near Rozvadov/CZ and I invite you to visit me.
Butterflies of this countries in my collection, too. But not all.
If you are not speaking German, my wife speak Ukrain and Russian.
Her best girlfriend is CZ-Translater - direkt near my house.
Your trip needs a lot of planing.
manfred.stroehle@gmx.de

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Hi Manfred,

I would be very pleased to see your collection! That would been awesome, I dont speak German, I had only 2 years on high school and its quiet a long time ago, so remember only few phrases, as I never lived or worked in Germany, the English is so far sufficient for me for communication. I will send you e-mail, with some additional questions of mine, If you wont mind. I would also like to state, that Im more interested in day butterflies than moths, when it comes to moths...I'd although love to get breeding material and will be happy to see your collection. One never knows....maybe it can catch my attention and I can collect some moths aswell.

Wish you a pleasant day, I will e-mail you my phone number, do that we could set the details of the visit.

Martin

PapilionidaeX99

Zitat von christobal

Hi, there is much to say about this idea/plan. I guess the main question is what you are looking for really. Do you want to collect butterflies in the field? Where is your main interest? In any case both countries require a lot of planning before leaving and in both countries you will need guides and/or drivers. In Iran there are additionally challenges, such as the language and non English street signs. Also not many people speak any English outside of the main cities (thus the guide). And then there is the current political situation there, which might entering the country difficult....
Another topic is that I would never recommend to travel in any of the two countries by yourself (i.e. alone). First of all this gets very expensive and with this kind of money you can also join a guided tour to such places as Kyrgyzstan which yield almost guaranteed success. Secondly for safety reasons you don't want to be alone in such places.... So the best would be to go with a friend or colleague with similar interest....
All the best and good luck to you, Christof

Hi Christof,

Thank you very much for your traveling tips, Im quiet aware of these aspects, so far I was in Nigeria, Ghana, Senegal and Cameron...except of Nigeria I traveled alone, on Nigeria I didnt had guts:-) Im sure, that African countries are far different from Arabian or Middle East countries in all kinds of perspective, but all in all, its also an adventure. Yes, to Kyrgyzstan, that is also an option, but I'd much rather travel to Iran to be honest. Wish you a great day and thanks!

Klaas

I don't expect there will be much to enjoy if you travel to Iran next year. If you are looking for an adventure, it might be cheaper to travel to eastern Ukraine?

PapilionidaeX99

Zitat von Klaas

I don't expect there will be much to enjoy if you travel to Iran next year. If you are looking for an adventure, it might be cheaper to travel to eastern Ukraine?

Will you cover my back?

Policeman

the most people die in their own bed - the most dangerous place in world !!!

Menetriesi

Hi

I lived in Pakistan for 3 years. (2017-2020)

A great country for entomologists.

An absolute must is a tour to the Kaghan Valley

Many collectors make their first stop there in Shogran - a small village at an altitude of 2400 metres. There are several places to stay there. For butterflies, however, you have to climb a little higher to get out of the tree zone.

For light trapping, it is sufficient to stay close to the village.

If it is the right time of year, you should definitely continue to Naran and then up to Lake Saif-Ul-Muluk at an altitude of about 3,200 metres. This is one of the few places where Gonerda perornata flies. (I caught 5 specimens within 2 hours).

Basically, I would recommend travelling to the north-east of Pakistan.

Islamabad is a good starting point. Small generators, mostly made in China, are sold there at low prices. At the end of the trip, they are usually bought back by the dealer.

Renting a car (definitely an off-road vehicle) is much cheaper in Islamabad than in Western Europe. If you wish, you can hire a driver (approx. 80 euros (car and driver) per day).

There are plenty of places to stay in the region in all price ranges.

If your travel plans are more concrete and you still have questions, send me a PM.

PapilionidaeX99

Zitat von Menetriesi

Hi
I lived in Pakistan for 3 years. (2017-2020)
A great country for entomologists.
An absolute must is a tour to the Kaghan Valley
Many collectors make their first stop there in Shogran - a small village at an altitude of 2400 metres. There are several places to stay there. For butterflies, however, you have to climb a little higher to get out of the tree zone.
For light trapping, it is sufficient to stay close to the village.
If it is the right time of year, you should definitely continue to Naran and then up to Lake Saif-Ul-Muluk at an altitude of about 3,200 metres. This is one of the few places where Gonerda perornata flies. (I caught 5 specimens within 2 hours).
Basically, I would recommend travelling to the north-east of Pakistan.
Islamabad is a good starting point. Small generators, mostly made in China, are sold there at low prices. At the end of the trip, they are usually bought back by the dealer.
Renting a car (definitely an off-road vehicle) is much cheaper in Islamabad than in Western Europe. If you wish, you can hire a driver (approx. 80 euros (car and driver) per day).
There are plenty of places to stay in the region in all price ranges.
If your travel plans are more concrete and you still have questions, send me a PM.

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Thank you Menetriesi,

I have quiet a lot to ask about certain areas, but I will more focuse on daily butterflies, hunting with net, rather than catching moths on lights, though, if its that cheap, I have to give it a try. Wish you a pleasant evening, thanks, I will PM you

Regards,

Martin

Laurent Voisin

Hi everyone.

It will probably be very difficult in Iran next year. I went 3 times there but looking for papilionidae, with a good guide (insectsofiran).

If political conditions were better I wood go to Bandar Abbas and then in the direction of Pakistan, because Saturnia pyri ssp. teherana flies there (according to my guide) and I would like to get some living material and take it back in France for breeding.

Does any one has better information about it?

Regards,

Laurent

Menetriesi

Hi Laurent,

your plan sounds like a real adventure to me. You want to leave from Bandar Abbas towards the east?

That would be the road to Zahedan (Balochistan). That's about 700 km, so about 2 days of driving.

Just to hunt a subspecies of Saturnia pyri? Presumably Saturnia pyri only flies in mountainous areas there. That represents an additional effort to get there.

Moreover, the security situation in Balochistan, especially in the border area with Pakistan and Afghanistan, has been very tense for some time.

How reliable is the information that S. pyri occurs there?

Wouldn't it be easier to look for S. pyri teheranae at the known sites:

WILTSHIRE (1957: "Lepidoptera of Iraq",

writes about Saturnia p y ri in Iraq: "Inhabits the mountains. Feeds on apple and

perhaps on other fruit-trees, also willow foliage (Salix). Univoltine, flying in

April-May" (Quoted from DE FREINA, by letter.) From Iran, moths are reported from the northern Zagros Mountains (Lorestan Province), illustrated by

ROUGEOT (1971), as well as localities from Elburs (type locality of teherana

LENEK 1970) and Talysh (ROUGEOT). Dr. THOMAS caught a moth in Fars,

115 km W Shiraz, 9. 9. 1975. ROUGEOT still speaks of moths from "the mountainous zones of Iraq".

Source: "Nachrichten Entomologischer Verein Apollo, Frankfurt, N. F. Vol. 2, Issue 1: 1 -39 - March 1981".

In any case, good luck on your next trip!

Andreas

Serge

Hi. If you want to go Pakistan next season, I strongly recommend you to join myself) For now I am top Pakistan explorer) It will be my fifth Pakistan trip since 2018. I have all local supports like experienced guide-driver and the most important thing - have collection\export permission.

Serge

However I avoid Czech breeders to visit such good places, because after there are often problems with environmental protection law like in Turkey and you like quickly destroy species markets selling good rare stock at 1€ when it must be 100€)))

Laurent Voisin

Hello dear Serge,

Thanks for theses informations!

Yes I would like to go (about one day driving), on the road to Zahedan. I'm quite sure that S. pyri flies there. You can see a pair of it , caught there by my guide, on his website: insectsofiran. It is very far from all places known for this species, and that is the reason why I would like to go there. In addition, I'm pretty sure that the hostplant is a wild almond tree, Amygdalus scoparia.

If I could go to Pakistan (why not with you), I would be interested in all Papilionidae species, especially Parnassisus sp...

Best regards,

LAurent

Foster1054

Zitat von Menetriesi

Hi
I lived in Pakistan for 3 years. (2017-2020)
A great country for entomologists.
An absolute must is a tour to the Kaghan Valley
Many collectors make their first stop there in Shogran - a small village at an altitude of 2400 metres. There are several places to stay there. For butterflies, however, you have to climb a little higher to get out of the tree zone.
For light trapping, it is sufficient to stay close to the village.
If it is the right time of year, you should definitely continue to Naran and then up to Lake Saif-Ul-Muluk at an altitude of about 3,200 metres. This is one of the few places where Gonerda perornata flies. (I caught 5 specimens within 2 hours).
Basically, I would recommend travelling to the north-east of Pakistan.
Islamabad is a good starting point. Small generators, mostly made in China, are sold there at low prices. At the end of the trip, they are usually bought back by the dealer.
Renting a car (definitely an off-road vehicle) is much cheaper in Islamabad than in Western Europe. If you wish, you can hire a driver (approx. 80 euros (car and driver) per day).
There are plenty of places to stay in the region in all price ranges.
If your travel plans are more concrete and you still have questions, send me a PM. Iran and Pakistan have some of the most fascinating butterfly families, especially the swallowtails and blues. Their vibrant patterns and adaptations to diverse climates make them truly unique. Interestingly, the natural habitats that support these butterflies also nurture a variety of fungi, including some with fascinating properties. For example, Golden Teacher mushrooms have been studied for their potential cognitive effects and deep connection to natural ecosystems. You can learn more about golden teachers mushrooms https://fungiape.com/golden-teacher-mushrooms/ The link between butterflies and fungi in these regions is worth exploring, as both thrive in similar untouched environments. It’s amazing how nature interconnects different species in ways we’re only beginning to understand.

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It`s interesting.

Laurent Voisin

Hello, did you see Neoris codyi PEIGLER 1996?

Best regards,

LAurent

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