Thanks for both your opinions. As Roger has suggested, I have had a closer look at the third and I am now inclined to agree with the suggestion that it is actually a female Provencal, rather than Knapweed. I have been pleasantly surprised by the variety of species still on the wing in the area in mi...

Hi all I took all the attached photos on 16th September in the Monts de L'Espinouse area of the Haut Languedoc in southern France. I'm not 100% sure of the identification of any of them, so I'd welcome other views. I think the first is Weaver's Fritillary, but the underside photo is pretty poor. The...

Thanks, Guy. No need for the "sorry"- the truth will make us free

Rupert

I took the attached photo last week in south-east Slovakia. Given that the only skippers in the vicinity were Grizzled, I suspect that's what it may be, though I didn't see the upperside. However the ground colour is lighter and greener than I'd normally expect of a Grizzled, so is something more ex...

Hi John, it was the Pasiphae. We were actually there on a Naturetrek birding trip. The butterflies were a bonus; 4 species of grayling, including Samos being another highlight.

Thanks for all your responses. I'll settle for Millet. In terms of it being difficult to see, the first just appeared on an ornamental shrub while we were standing outside our hotel in Skala Kallonis (which incidentally isn't in the rocky arid part of the island) and then obligingly returned to the ...

Hi

I took these in Lesbos in September this year (2 different insects in 2 different parts of the island). I'm vacillating between Pigmy and Millet Skipper for both. Collins guide isn't much help in terms of whether either is known to occur on the island.

Any thoughts?

Thanks, Roger.

Having re-checked against the good book, I tend to agree.

Regards, Rupert

Hi all

I'd be grateful for some ID confirmation of the attached, all taken in southern Spain in June 2014. I think they are all Oberthur's Grizzled with the exception of the second which looks like Carline if the Collins guide is anything to go by. All opinions welcome.

Thanks, Rupert

Thanks for your responses. Much as I would have liked them to be Spanish, a species I hadn't previously encountered, I am inclined to agree with Guy.

Rupert

Hi I've posted these before, but only got one tentative response so I thought I'd try my luck again. Both taken on Jun 6th 2014 in the Sierra de Tejeda, Andalucia. Apologies for the poor quality of the photos; neither insect was too keen to pose. I'm interested in any opinions on Spanish or Marsh Fr...

Thanks for all responses, particularly to Roger for the identifications. I'm please that the Sage and Escher's confirmed my own thoughts. On the subject of Marbled v Southern Marbled Skipper, what is it that determines the difference between the two? As it happens, I was in the Sierra Loja yesterday...

Hi Grateful for any thoughts on identification of the following, all taken yesterday in a small area of the Sierra Teveda, Andalucia, Spain. I think the first is Sage Skipper, but I'm also considering Oberthur's Grizzled. The second may be Marbled or Southern Marbled Skipper - is it possible to tell...

Hi all

Apologies for the poor quality of the attached photos. 2 separate insects both taken last week in the Sierra Teveda in Andalucia, Spain.

I'm not sure whether either or both are Eurodryas Aurinia Beckeri or Eurodryas Desfontainii and would appreciate any opinions.

Regards, Rupert

In Hampshire, Clouded Yellow must be counted amongst the winners - they've been all over the place. Agree that Red Admirals have had an indifferent year, though.

Guy/ Roger - thanks once again for your responses and I will look at Roger's lupina page. I guess there is always an element of uncertainty involved when trying to compare similar species from snapshots taken of fast flying insects in difficult conditions, especially if, like me, you have rarely or ...

Thanks, David and Guy. I attach a higher resolution crop of the same photograph. I considered Eschers Blue, but ruled out it out on the grounds that the sub-species dalmaticus is allegedly univoltine, flying in May/ June (although the nominate species is shown as flying up to August). I'd be interes...

Hi there I was fortunate enough to spend the 1st 2 weeks of September in Croatia on the Dalmatian coast, close to the Biokovo National Park - a beautiful area, where butterfkies were still in relative abundance. I attach photos of a few species that I'd appreciate some help/ confimation of identific...

Hi again Thanks for both responses - looks like the skipper has generated an interesting discussion. As I'm in no position to dissect the genitalia (and wouldn't know where to start if I was :D ), I'll conclude it was one or the other (although I guess Oriental is the favourite). As Nikolay says, I ...

Thanks, Guy. According to Collins, the Tufted Marbled Skipper only occurs in SW Bulgaria and at an altutude of 1000-2000m. This photograph was taken at the Srebarna reserve in NE Bulgaria, which is close to the Black Sea coast and presumably, therefore, a lot lower. Oriental also seems to have a res...