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Butterflies - Uzbekistan - Part 3 Takhta- Karacha Pass, Samarkand (1 Viewer)

M

Muppit17

Well-known member
Moving to the South-west, we visited the Takhta- Karacha Pass, 50km south of Samarkand on 28th May 2022, c 1500m asl.

I believe that the Marbled White is Melanargia parce however the Wall sp and the blue are unidentified
 

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@Muppit17 The Melanargia must be either parce or russiae according to the checklist. They're pretty similar but I think parce looks better.

I suggest Lassiomata menava for the Wall Brown.

The female Blue(?) is beyond me. I don't know if I can persuade my friend to have a look......
 
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andyb39 said:
@Muppit17 The Melanargia must be either parce or russiae according to the checklist. They're pretty similar but I think parce looks better.

I suggest Lassiomata menava for the Wall Brown.

The female Blue(?) is beyond me. I don't know if I can persuade my friend to have a look......
Click to expand...
Thanks again for your help

I dont think russiae is present according to the locals

I agree with Dark Wall L menava

Not surprised about the blue - all appear extremely difficult
 
I though I would add another species from the same location.

I had assumed that this was a Spotted Fritillary and it is certainly part of the superspecies that includes M didyma. However, I forgot about Persian (Spotted) Fritillary M persea that also occurs in the area

Can they be told apart from this photo?

Are there habitat or altitude differences that are reflected by the two species and can assist with the separation?
 

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I am not an expert, but this looks a good candidate for Persian to me - on Spotted, the veins crossing the orange band should be the same tone as the band. On Persian, as in this individual, the paler veins break the orange band into orange spots. I also think the black spots tend to be rounder on Spotted than on this individual
 
Jos Stratford said:
I am not an expert, but this looks a good candidate for Persian to me - on Spotted, the veins crossing the orange band should be the same tone as the band. On Persian, as in this individual, the paler veins break the orange band into orange spots. I also think the black spots tend to be rounder on Spotted than on this individual
Click to expand...
Thanks Jos - that is certainly a good pointer and something to remember.

I am still searching for an idea of which ssp it should be for either.
 
@Muppit17 My friend finally got back to me about the Blue. He said it is "most likely a female of Polyommatus phyllides (there seems to be an indication of a faint whitish stripe on the hindwing)" but added that he isn't "entirely satisfied with that ID".

Polyommatus phyllides

Polyommatus phyllides: description and photos
insecta.pro insecta.pro

I don't know if I dare ask him about the Fritillary.....
 
Last edited:
Muppit17 said:
Moving to the South-west, we visited the Takhta- Karacha Pass, 50km south of Samarkand on 28th May 2022, c 1500m asl.

I believe that the Marbled White is Melanargia parce however the Wall sp and the blue are unidentified
Click to expand...
Hi. Numbers 3&4, could be an Argus??? Can't tell what one though!....... I'm most probably miles off though!! 😂
 
andyb39 said:
@Muppit17 My friend finally got back to me about the Blue. He said it is "most likely a female of Polyommatus phyllides (there seems to be an indication of a faint whitish stripe on the hindwing)" but added that he isn't "entirely satisfied with that ID".

Polyommatus phyllides

Polyommatus phyllides: description and photos
insecta.pro insecta.pro

I don't know if I dare ask him about the Fritillary.....
Click to expand...
Thanks andy, at least it is an attempt - no idea how to validate these ideas. I am still waiting for a response from Uzbekistan itself.
 
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