Lycaenidae

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Jul 19, 2006 7:43 am

Hi, I have been struggling to ID 2 Lycaenidae photos. These are the only brown individuals of there type that I have seen. so it makes it difficult. Can anyone help.
Thanks Dave

Post by **Pete Eeles** » Wed Jul 19, 2006 8:04 am

Hi!

I'd plump for Brown Argus for the first photo, and a female Common Blue for the second (note the smattering of blue scales next to the body).

Cheers,

- Pete

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Jul 19, 2006 8:35 am

That's pretty much what I was thinking. When I photographed the second one, I realised I had probable miss identified the first.
Thanks Pete

I just what to take this opportunity to say what a great website I think UK Butterflies is. It covers every aspect of Butterflies, and does it in a well organised manor.

Regards Dave

Post by **Pete Eeles** » Wed Jul 19, 2006 8:36 am

Thanks Dave!

Wayne · Post by **Wayne** » Wed Jul 19, 2006 10:44 am

sorry to contradict but my opinion is the second one is also a Northern Brown Argus, you can see the spots on the forwings.

Dave did you take the photo? You can be sure it is a NB Argus by its size, they are much much smaller than common blue!

Here is a similar pic:

Aricia artaxerxes ssp. salmacis

Post by **Pete Eeles** » Wed Jul 19, 2006 10:46 am

Where were the photos taken Dave?

Cheers,

- Pete

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Jul 19, 2006 11:29 am

The photos, were both taken in sussex.
The first was taken on 12 August 2005
The second was taken on 19 July 2006
I dont remember if it was small than a common blue.
I took a bunch of shots for the second one, none of them are great, but you take what you can get sometimes.

Post by **Pete Eeles** » Wed Jul 19, 2006 12:37 pm

Definitely not Northern Brown Argus then! NBA and Brown Argus are divided by geographic distribution.

And I still think the second photo is a female Common Blue due to the dusting of blue scales near the body.

But willing to be corrected!

Cheers,

- Pete

Wayne · Post by **Wayne** » Thu Jul 20, 2006 1:37 am

Aye Pete I think you are right.

Looking through photos of Common Blue females, and they also have the spots on the forwings like the Argus.

I have noticed that some Brown Argus do have a hint of Blue, but not when they are as worn as this one in question

Dave you will know you've found a Brown Argus by its size, they really are tiny!

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Jul 21, 2006 1:48 pm

Thanks Guys, I have named the files accordingly.
Regards Dave

eccles · Post by **eccles** » Fri Jul 21, 2006 4:25 pm

If you look at your third shot of the second batch, at the inner line of spots on the underside of fore and rear wings, there's a line of four spots on the rear wing and two on the forewing with just the edge of a third peeking out from under the rear wing. The brown argus lacks those inner spots on the forewing, making yours a female common blue.
Cheers,
Eccles.