I'm pretty sure that this, rather worn, specimen is a female of either Silver-studded or Idas Blue, but I'm not sure which. Taken in the Vezere valley, France, on 12th September, so probably a bit late for either. Any opinions welcome.

Thanks, Rupert

Certainly looks like False Heath Fritillary from the upper-side.

No idea at all. Just had lunch in the garden, there was a small white flying around the buddleia, and I noticed something smaller with it, which landed in the uncut area of lawn, which we keep primarily to attract butterflies. I assumed common blue, which we get regularly, but went to check it out a...

Bit late now, Pete. Sun came out yesterday morning and she was gone (hopefully moved on rather than devoured by hungry spider). Lee did manage to come round and see her beforehand, fortunately.

Well she is still there this morning and unlikely to be going anywhere soon given the considerably less than Mediterranean temperatures at the moment! Thanks for all your responses and suggestions . We do indeed have a few geraniums and pelargoniums in the garden, all of which she has thus far ignor...

A Geranium Bronze appeared in our Winchester garden today (and may even still be there). 21st garden species of the year and 31st since we have been living here. Anyone know of any previous records of Hampshire?

Doing very well in Hampshire this year, they are all over the place.

Selene was still present in the New Forest until recently, but I don't think there were any records in 2019. There is a location on the Hampshire/ Wiltshire border where they can still be seen. Euphrosyne on the other hand seems to have staged a modest recovery locally and is now turning up at a wo...

Thanks, both. I suspected as much but perhaps a lingering hope that a stray selene might have sneaked in. I"ll have to make an effort to seek it out in the single remaining local colony this year.

The Pearl-bordered Fritillary occurs close to where I live, so I'm reasonably familiar with it; not so the Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary which is rare and unfortunately diminishing rapidly in my home area. I took a number of photographs in the French Pyrenees in June last year, most of which I'm f...

I have referred to that site a number of times and found it very useful - I hadn't made the connection. I'm planning a first trip to the Dordogne in September next year, so looking forward to what can be seen there (butterflies, birds, food, wine .........).

Once again, thanks for your contributions, particularly the pointers to the Jacquier guide, which I have just downloaded. What a superbly crafted and illustrated piece of work, a real labour of love. Does he do Fritillaries and Blues as well? I have probably run out of Pyrenees pyrgus for now, altho...

Many thanks again to both.

I didn't post the attached originally (same insect - taken at around the same time in the same area) because I was pretty confident that it is malvoides but grateful for your confirmation or otherwise anyway.

Regards, Rupert

Thanks, David. I always find these very tricky!

That's a very good question, David! Counting from the top: I think no. 1 is unique (but not impossible it's the same as 4 and/or 5) as they were taken fairly close by about 12 minutes apart Nos. 2 & 3 are unique. Nos. 4 and 5 may or may not be the same insect; they were certainly taken close tog...

On a cold wet winter day (in England at least) how about a pyrgus challenge to brighten things up a bit? I think the following, all taken in the French Pyrenees in June, are all either armoricanus or alveus , except for the first that may be cartharmi , but beyond that I'd be guessing, so any opinio...

I'll settle for that, Guy - thanks very much. There were plenty of oeme elsewhere in the area, so I suspect your 75% may be erring on the side of cautious!

Thank you both, seems pretty clear from pictures on the Web. Now I have your attention, I did post a few a few pictures of some erebia species from the Pyrenees back in August, but got no responses. I suspect you may have had a look and not been able to tell due to the appalling quality photographs,...

Can anyone help me out with this one, taken in the Carara National Park in Costa Rica in March.

No doubt it's a common species - looks like a papilio to me, but my knowledge of American species is pretty scant.

Thanks, Rupert

I spent a very enjoyable, if hot, 10 days in the French Pyrenees in the last week of June. The erebia were very flighty, but those I got close to turned out almost exclusively to be Piedmont or Bright-eyed Ringlet. I do have three I'm wondering about - apologies for the appalling quality of the phot...