Possible Small Tortoiseshell ab.?

[millerd]

I posted images of this Small Tortoiseshell on my diary pages recently, and after some prompting and then looking at lots of other examples of the species, I wonder whether it is actually unusual enough to be a listed aberrant. It was seen up at Aston Rowant (north side of the M40) on 11th June.

The whole ground colour is a lighter orange than usual and there is almost no contrast with the yellow areas - which are virtually indiscernable in some parts. The forewing dark spots are much reduced (the smallest of these are nearly absent). It just doesn't look right!

Any thoughts?

Dave

[MikeOxon]

I posted images of this Small Tortoiseshell on my diary pages recently
Any thoughts?

It looks somewhat similar to one I photographed at Aston Rowant back in 2016. Perhaps a local genetic variation?

Aston Rowant NNR, Oxon - 26th August 2016
Olympus E-M1 with Leica 100-400mm lens - 1/1600s@f/11 ISO 640

Mike

[millerd]

I wondered when I'd seen something similar before, and you've reminded me, Mike. The almost uniform ground colour feature is very much the same, those yours was a slightly deeper shade and had more pronounced black markings. As they both come from the same place, there could well be something in the local gene pool, and I'll keep an eye out on future visits there later in the year.

Thanks for that!

Cheers,

Dave