ab Small Tortoiseshell ?

[sifenn]

I was visiting Monk Wood near Worcester on Friday and spotted this unusually marked Small Tortoiseshell, lacking a couple of black forewing spots, much more black/grey on the hindwings. Is this an aberrant and does it have a name ?
thanks
SiFenn

[Allan.W.]

What a stunner Sifenn !! a Great find …………………….nice one !
Regards Allan.W.

[zigzag_wanderer]

I am absolutely no expert on this sifenn, but seeing that picture closely reminded me of one in Thomas/Lewington I'd been looking at yesterday.

I quote the great book:

"Female: Aberrant form semi-ichnusoides" produced by high temperature during the pupal stage"

Just a coincidence I was reading that yesterday. If I'd looked a few days back it wouldn't have registered.

I stand to be totally corrected by an expert, but your photo does look very similar to the picture in the book.

[Padfield]

I'm no expert either - nor a great fan of naming aberrations. But this is a very interesting butterfly! For what it's worth, it is very close to ab. atrebatensis (as well as having a lot in common with semi-ichnusoides). This picture comes from http://www.britishbutterflyaberrations. ... berrations:



Guy

[Allan.W.]

I reckon you,re spot-on Guy ! A cracking aberration Sifenn ! Regards Allan.W.

[Neil Freeman]

I often see things called as abs which I feel fall within normal variation, but THAT is an ab. Great find

Cheers,

Neil.

[sifenn]

thanks for your comments and feedback - I was searching for White Admiral, so didn't really pay the Tortoiseshell the attention it deserved - note to self for the future !

[David M]

Fabulous sighting, sifenn. I've seen multi-thousands over the years but never one like that.