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| Butterfly ID | |
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| Topic Started: Sep 16 2008, 02:56 PM (19,500 Views) | |
| Davebutterflyman | May 22 2011, 05:56 PM Post #141 |
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fantastic photos Marg ![]() 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. |
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| Dovetail-Marg | May 22 2011, 06:19 PM Post #142 |
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Thanks for the id's Dave. 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 I've never seen so many, they seemed to be all over the meadows. |
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| Davebutterflyman | May 23 2011, 05:55 PM Post #143 |
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Good to hear that there are plenty about Marg. |
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| Chris | May 24 2011, 05:47 PM Post #144 |
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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. |
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| Davebutterflyman | May 24 2011, 06:57 PM Post #145 |
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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. |
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| Chris | May 24 2011, 08:55 PM Post #146 |
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Many thanks, Dave. It's good to know that my ID skills are improving, mainly due to you! :D |
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| Davebutterflyman | May 24 2011, 11:23 PM Post #147 |
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Absolute pleasure Chris and always pleased to help and pass on a few tips. |
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| Deleted User | Jun 1 2011, 09:21 PM Post #148 |
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DaveI 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. |
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| carlos100 | Jun 1 2011, 09:39 PM Post #149 |
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That looks cool Green Hairstreak ? |
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| Daisyjan | Jun 1 2011, 10:04 PM Post #150 |
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Dont know what it is but 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?? |
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| Davebutterflyman | Jun 1 2011, 10:51 PM Post #151 |
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GillThanks for your input Jan 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. |
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| Deleted User | Jun 1 2011, 10:55 PM Post #152 |
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Carl, D.Jan and Dave ![]() That's a first for me (and I didn't even have to kneel in a nettle patch like Keith did last year ).It looks a bit ropey Dave so shall I put it on the Challenge or wait for someone to get a better specimen? |
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| Davebutterflyman | Jun 1 2011, 11:07 PM Post #153 |
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I would put it on Gill as i doubt anyone will get a better specimen at this time of year. |
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| Deleted User | Jun 1 2011, 11:13 PM Post #154 |
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Thanks Dave, will do
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| Deleted User | Jun 2 2011, 04:18 PM Post #155 |
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Sorry Dave, this is the best photo I managed of this one |
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| Davebutterflyman | Jun 2 2011, 04:39 PM Post #156 |
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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. |
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| Deleted User | Jun 2 2011, 04:50 PM Post #157 |
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Oooh, thanks Dave ![]() 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 )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? |
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| Daisyjan | Jun 2 2011, 06:14 PM Post #158 |
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for the ID Dave and the information. I thought later, why would a moth be out in daylight? Gill for getting it and the Large skipper!
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| Davebutterflyman | Jun 2 2011, 06:16 PM Post #159 |
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GillIt 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 ) 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. |
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| Davebutterflyman | Jun 2 2011, 06:18 PM Post #160 |
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No problem Jan and it is a tricky subject at the best of times. |
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9:52 AM Jul 11
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fantastic photos Marg 





Dave

fantastic emerald hue Gill! Looks like its had a few brushes with birds.
Carl, D.Jan and Dave
That's a first for me (and I didn't even have to kneel in a nettle patch like Keith did last year
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for the ID Dave and the information. I thought later, why would a moth be out in daylight?
for getting it and the Large skipper!
) 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.
9:52 AM Jul 11


