Jos's Butterflies ...some for discussion (1 Viewer)

Jos Stratford · Jul 24, 2005

Continuing my quest to photograph all the butterflies on my land, got these three beauties today - Swallowtail was excellent (seen them on the land before, but always zooming through), the Short-tailed Blue is rather common now (having replaced the earlier Mazarine and Amanda's Blues), but the Clouded Yellow was a first. Sneaked in close and got this shot ...but not certain I've got the i.d. okay, best I can do is Pale Clouded Yellow (?). Anybody like to confirm or put me right (with reasons if possible).

hjalava · Jul 24, 2005

Jos Stratford said:
Continuing my quest to photograph all the butterflies on my land, got these three beauties today - Swallowtail was excellent (seen them on the land before, but always zooming through), the Short-tailed Blue is rather common now (having replaced the earlier Mazarine and Amanda's Blues), but the Clouded Yellow was a first. Sneaked in close and got this shot ...but not certain I've got the i.d. okay, best I can do is Pale Clouded Yellow (?). Anybody like to confirm or put me right (with reasons if possible).

Confirmed as Colias hyale.

Harri

samuel walker · Jul 25, 2005

Far right pic is a clouded sulpher as listed in the USA middle is a tiger swallowtail.
Sam

Jos Stratford · Jul 25, 2005

Thanks for that Harri, did think it was that one, but nice to get a bit of confirmation.

Samuel, I guess 'Tiger' Swallowtail is one of the American races of this swallowtail, as this term is not (as far as I know) used this side of the pond. Same goes for the 'clouded sulphur' - checking guides, I think we're talking different species in the US and Europe.

Silver · Jul 26, 2005

Jos Stratford said:
Samuel, I guess 'Tiger' Swallowtail is one of the American races of this swallowtail, as this term is not (as far as I know) used this side of the pond. Same goes for the 'clouded sulphur' - checking guides, I think we're talking different species in the US and Europe.

Yes, to clear any confusion, Jos's Lithuanian swallowtail is the widespread European species Papilio machaon. (Sadly very rare here in the UK and I am jealous of Jos's photograph.)
In North America it is called the 'Old World Swallowtail', and is confined, I understand, to Canada and Alaska, though there are very similar species further south.

The Tiger Swallowtails have conspicuous black "tiger" stripes on the wings and they are in a section of the genus that some authorities put in the separate genus Pterourus. The most widespread is Papilio glaucus, which was a frequent and magnificent sight when I was in New York state last summer. They do not occur in Europe, though the Scarce Swallowtail, Iphiclides podalirius, is superficially similar.

Also agreed that the American 'Clouded Sulphur', aka 'Common Sulphur', Colias philodice, is not the same as Jos's C. hyale, it's more like our European C. croceas in fact. (I believe I saw one and it looked exactly the same to me!).

Jos Stratford · Jul 28, 2005

Another bunch

Plenty of butterflies photographed and logged now, but still one or two causing a bit of uncertainty.

A flush of fritillaries took to the wing this week, along with another hatching of Map Butterflies. It seems to me that the most common is Silver-washed Fritillary, but also got a shot of a different one - I think it is Pallas's Fritillary. Base this on rounder wings, darker margins to wings and lack of heavier black along the veins. Am I talking rubbish?!

The four pictures show the possible Pallas's Fritillary (picture 4), along with what I took to be Silver-washed in the other pictures

hjalava · Jul 28, 2005

Jos Stratford said:
Plenty of butterflies photographed and logged now, but still one or two causing a bit of uncertainty.

A flush of fritillaries took to the wing this week, along with another hatching of map Butterflies. It seems to me that the most common is Silver-washed Fritillary, but also got a shot of a different one - I think it is Pallas's Fritillary. Base this on rounder wings, darker margins to wings and lack of heavier black along the veins. Am I talking rubbish?!

The four pictures show the possible Pallas's Fritillary (picture 4), along with what I took to be Silver-washed in the other pictures

1-3 are Argynnis paphia, 4 is probably A. aglaja. I believe you will see A. laodice after a week or so.

Jos Stratford · Jul 28, 2005

Hi Harri,

Thanks for the confirmation on the Silver-washed, I thought I was doing okay there.

As regards Pallas's (A.laodice) and Dark Green (A.aglaja), what is it that takes you to the aglaja? Is it because the sub-margin spots are like 'arrows' or 'triangles' rather than more rounded spots?

Unfortunately I didn't get a clear look at the underwing, let alone a photo, but it didn't appear to have the white spots of aglaja, but as I said I didn't see it very well.

So, laodice perhaps after a week or so, I hope so. Once again thanks for your help.

hjalava · Jul 28, 2005

Jos Stratford said:
As regards Pallas's (A.laodice) and Dark Green (A.aglaja), what is it that takes you to the aglaja? Is it because the sub-margin spots are like 'arrows' or 'triangles' rather than more rounded spots?

Yes, that's one of the distinctive marks, see pictures of A. laodice: http://www2.nrm.se/en/svenska_fjarilar/a/argynnis_laodice.html.

A. aglaja usually has scent mark also on the anal vein of forewing, A. adippe has not (your specimen has).

In addition, A. laodice seems more yellow that the other fritillaries in flight. It is fairly common in the surroundings of our summer cottage in southern Estonia.

Jos Stratford · Jul 28, 2005

Once again thanks, your link leads onto another rather useful website, providing photographs of each species

www.leps.it/index.htm

Jos Stratford · Aug 4, 2005

Fritillaries!

Each week brings new species to my land, managing to get good photos and i.d. on most, but still some require confirmation. New fritillaries yesterday and they were not hanging around, so only got brief shots.

I think I have here High Brown Fritillary and, possibly, Niobe Fritillary (initially thought I was dealing with one species!)

The first butterfly I only managed to get a shot of the upperwing and didn't see the underwing before it disappeared (no big thanks to my dog who decided to take a look too!). Largely basing this i.d. on the 'club-shaped' dark marking at the front of the wing and because the androconia are prominent on veins 2 and 3 (apparantly not so on Niobe).

The second butterfly was not far away and presuming it to be the same species, tried to photograph the underwing - got several shots as below, but checking the guides, it seems the wing pattern is Niobe. However, it does also have the dark club-shaped marking, hence I'm not sure with the identity on this one!

Will be back up there on Saturday, so hopefully will see more of them to check better.

Andrew Whitehouse · Aug 4, 2005

Hi Jos,

Is it possible that either of these might be Dark Green Fritillaries?

Jos Stratford · Aug 5, 2005

Andrew Whitehouse said:
Hi Jos,

Is it possible that either of these might be Dark Green Fritillaries?

Possible, but why? Shot one shows the prominent androconia on veins 2 and 3, which seems to be a feature more of High Brown tha Dark Green. Take a look at the pictures on www.leps.it for example. Also underwing of photo two does not seem to match. Of course these are new species for me, so can be wrong!

hjalava · Aug 5, 2005

Jos Stratford said:
Possible, but why? Shot one shows the prominent androconia on veins 2 and 3, which seems to be a feature more of High Brown tha Dark Green. Take a look at the pictures on www.leps.it for example. Also underwing of photo two does not seem to match. Of course these are new species for me, so can be wrong!

Yes, both are A. adippe.

Adey Baker · Aug 5, 2005

Both shots show the slightly concave outer edge of the forewing which is (apparently) consisent with High Brown

Jos Stratford · Aug 5, 2005

Thanks all, High Browns they are

Jos Stratford · Aug 8, 2005

Blues!

Thanks for all the help so far, this week saw a few more High Brown Fritillaries, a female Large Copper and a selection of blues.

The blues have been an interesting group, with different species occurring across the season - started with Mazarine and Amanda's, then replaced by Short-tailed, then recently Common becamme the dominant species.

This weekend there was 'another' kind of blue - I have attached five shots of the blues on my land this week. The one that is causing me problems is the one with very little white on the wing margins. As well as the lack of white, it is also slightly smaller than the other pictured butterfly. Other than the lack of white and smaller size, it looks very like Common Blue (but has some black veins through the wings) and I considered it to be a form of Common Blue perhaps, but have to admit this one is confusing me, as both butterflies were common and I would be surprised to have two forms of one butterfly present at the same time.

Pictures 1-3 are what I am considering to be Common Blue.
Pictures 4-5 are confusing me!

Andrew Whitehouse · Aug 8, 2005

I wonder if 4 and 5 are Common Blues that have lost the white edge to the wing. I think sometimes this gets worn off as the butterfly gets older.

hjalava · Aug 9, 2005

Andrew Whitehouse said:
I wonder if 4 and 5 are Common Blues that have lost the white edge to the wing. I think sometimes this gets worn off as the butterfly gets older.

Agreed.

Jos Stratford · Aug 9, 2005

I did consider that as a possibility, but wasn't sure about this for two reasons - it is a very recent emergence of Common Blues and all butterflies seem very fresh, with and without the white. Additionally, there are quite a number flitting about without the white and none showed wear (other than the missing white). Has to be said though, the underwing matches only Common Blue and hence I am inclined to agree. Again mant thanks.

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