Small Tortoiseshell

[Stevieb]

Took these today.

The first picture is what I know as a 'usual' Small Tortoiseshell
Is the second one an aberration or just a normal variation.
TIA

Small Tortoiseshell 9 April

Small Tortoiseshell 9 April

[Padfield]

I would regard that as aberrant. It looks as if all the yellow is entirely replaced with white and that this is not merely a function of wear. Because it is a worn, post-hibernation individual, however, it is impossible to say for certain it emerged like that and that some environmental factor that degraded the colour didn't come into play (temperature, moisture, some farm chemical or gas or whatever - just speculating). As the other colours are normal and there's no hint at all of yellow, I suspect it really did emerge like this.

See https://www.ukbutterflies.co.uk/aberrat ... es=urticae and scroll down to ab alba, for example.

Guy

[Stevieb]

Many thanks for your reply Guy. Much appreciated.

It certainly is an attractive alternative to the ones I usually encounter.

[Jack Harrison]

The three adults I had kept in the fridge all winter when warmed up (and released) were in immaculate condition - it seems that they entered hibernation (came indoors) soon after emergence last year.

Jack

[Chris L]

What a fascinating find Stevie. Thank you for sharing those photos.

[Stevieb]

What a fascinating find Stevie. Thank you for sharing those photos.

Thank you Otep