Welcome Guest [Log In] [Register]

Welcome to Nature UK. We hope you enjoy your visit.


You're currently viewing our forum as a guest. This means you are limited to certain areas of the board and there are some features you can't use
but If you join our community, you'll be able to access member-only sections, and use many member-only features.

There are numerous topics members can take part in that are exclusive to Nature UK
including the yearly photography challenges and the seasonal spotting challenges.
We also have a very comprehensive wildlife identification section along with a monthly photo competition.
Please feel free to share your photos with us and any wildlife discussion you may have.

You can also find us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter

Registration is simple, fast, and completely free.

Click Here to Join our community!

If you're already a member please log in to your account to access all of our features:


Username:   Password:
Add Reply
  • Pages:
  • 1
  • 8
  • 41
Butterfly ID
Topic Started: Sep 16 2008, 02:56 PM (19,500 Views)
Davebutterflyman
Member Avatar


:wow2: fantastic photos Marg :clap3:

The first one is a Brimstone as you rightly point out.The second one is a male Common Blue.One thing to look out for with Adonis Blue is it has a chequered white fringe (almost like small black lines from inner to outer edge) whilst Common Blue has plain fringes.
Quote Post Goto Top
 
Dovetail-Marg
Member Avatar


Thanks for the id's Dave. :cool:

I saw at least 5 of the Brimstones, and they were all (apart from one, I saw that one later) flying around me.

As for the Common Blue....thanks for pointing out that detail for me, I'll clean my specs next time :girlygiggle:

I've never seen so many, they seemed to be all over the meadows.
Quote Post Goto Top
 
Davebutterflyman
Member Avatar


Good to hear that there are plenty about Marg.
Quote Post Goto Top
 
Chris
Default Avatar
[div style='visibility: hidden']test[/div]
I think this is a Small Blue (Cupido minimus). There is a similar species to be found here, Osiris Blue (Cupido osiris), but I don't think it's that because it has only the one mark in S7 - Small Blues have two, in S7 and S1 (I think). Another pointer is the single mark in the submargin of the underside of the hindwing, which is absent in Osiris. Am I right in my thinking?

Both upperside and underside of the butterfly are shown here.
Attached to this post:
IMG_0059xsre.jpg (201.9 KB)
IMG_0063xsre.jpg (200.4 KB)
Quote Post Goto Top
 
Davebutterflyman
Member Avatar


It is Small Blue Chris and the best pointer is that on Osiris Blue the four under hindwing spots always appear in a straight line whereas on Small Blue the are always slightly curved.
Quote Post Goto Top
 
Chris
Default Avatar
[div style='visibility: hidden']test[/div]
Many thanks, Dave. It's good to know that my ID skills are improving, mainly due to you! :D
Quote Post Goto Top
 
Davebutterflyman
Member Avatar


Absolute pleasure Chris and always pleased to help and pass on a few tips.
Quote Post Goto Top
 
Deleted User
Deleted User

:hello1: Dave

I am not sure what this is. I haven't doctored the colour ... it really was shining like this in the sunshine. Size-wise, it wasn't small. I would estimate roughly the same size as an Orange Tip.

Posted Image
Quote Post Goto Top
 
carlos100
Member Avatar
Insect ID Moderator
That looks cool :cool2:

Green Hairstreak ?
Quote Post Goto Top
 
Daisyjan
Member Avatar
Platinum Member
Dont know what it is but :wow: fantastic emerald hue Gill! Looks like its had a few brushes with birds.

Will look at my ID books... Large Emerald Moth I would say!! Dave??
Quote Post Goto Top
 
Davebutterflyman
Member Avatar


:hello1: Gill

Thanks for your input Jan :cool2: It is a butterfly and you can tell this from a few useful pointers....firstly the antennae are slightly 'clubbed' in appearance,moths tend to have either feathered antennae (males) and straight antennae (female). The other point is generally moths don't rest with closed wings in an upright position,although not exclusive to moths and some of the Thorn moths especially adopt a similar position.

Carl is spot on Gill and it is a Green Hairstreak and a very good capture as well Gill as this species is pretty much out of it's flight period,hence the rather worn underside scales.Emergence can be a touch later in more northerly areas such as northern England and Scotland and the flight period can extend to early July.
Quote Post Goto Top
 
Deleted User
Deleted User

:thankyou: Carl, D.Jan and Dave :cool2:

:yay: That's a first for me (and I didn't even have to kneel in a nettle patch like Keith did last year :giggle: ).

It looks a bit ropey Dave so shall I put it on the Challenge or wait for someone to get a better specimen?

Quote Post Goto Top
 
Davebutterflyman
Member Avatar


I would put it on Gill as i doubt anyone will get a better specimen at this time of year.
Quote Post Goto Top
 
Deleted User
Deleted User

Thanks Dave, will do :cool:
Quote Post Goto Top
 
Deleted User
Deleted User

Sorry Dave, this is the best photo I managed of this one

Posted Image
Quote Post Goto Top
 
Davebutterflyman
Member Avatar


Thats fine Gill and the most important aspect in this case is the slightly hooked antennae (seen clearly on the right hand antennae). This then indicates it being a Large Skipper.
Quote Post Goto Top
 
Deleted User
Deleted User

Oooh, thanks Dave :cool2:

I have some Blues for you when I sort them out (the only one I can categorically i.d. is, would you believe, a Common Blue :giggle: )


A quick question, if I may ...

When we were at Dancersend yesterday in all that brilliant sunshine which made the Green Hairstreak look so metallic, a smaller ummm ... not sure what landed briefly and then took off again.

All I really saw was that size-wise, it was smaller than, say, an Orange Tip but not as small as a Small Blue.

It was the colour of the underwing that was so striking as it was like a wing of two halves, one of which was orangey in colour while the other half was an apple-green ... and, as with the Green Hairstreak, the colours looked metallic. . From the glimpse that I saw of it, it didn't appear to have any notable markings (blocks, circles, etc.)

Do you have any idea what it might have been?
Quote Post Goto Top
 
Daisyjan
Member Avatar
Platinum Member
:thanx: for the ID Dave and the information. I thought later, why would a moth be out in daylight? :giggle:

Gill :welldone: for getting it and the Large skipper!
Quote Post Goto Top
 
Davebutterflyman
Member Avatar


:hello1: Gill

It can only be Green Hairstreak and more than likely a fairly new specimen (what was i saying previously about not being able to get a better photo :lol: ) The underside forewing on some specimens has a distinct brown/orange patch before the suffusion of green takes shape and if viewed only briefly that patch is the predominant thing you will see,despite the larger percentage of the wing being taken up by the green colouration.With the green colouration of the scales being more metallic it all depends on what light you are viewing it in and the 'matt' colouration of the brown/orange area shows in pretty much any light conditions.

It is the same principal with Purple hairstreak and you won't see the vivid purple upperwing patches unless the sun catches it at the correct angle and consequently this can alter the appearance of the butterfly and almost make it look like a completely different species.
Quote Post Goto Top
 
Davebutterflyman
Member Avatar


No problem Jan and it is a tricky subject at the best of times.
Quote Post Goto Top
 
Go to Next Page
« Previous Topic · Butterflies. · Next Topic »
Add Reply
  • Pages:
  • 1
  • 8
  • 41

Follow NatureUK on Twitter   Follow NatureUK on Facebook
Fresh Graphics Custom Theme By Outline