Large Blue aberration

[Phil Bowler]

Being new to this site I have a few backlog topics that I would like to post, including these photos of a very dark and dusky female Large Blue seen at Daneway Bank, Gloucestershire on 30.6.21. You will see from the more distant shot that when seen from afar it so easily could have been mistaken for a Ringlet.

[bugboy]

I think Daneway has a habit of throwing up these darker individuals, here's one I found there back in 2016 and I've seen others there that seem the darker shade of normal.
https://ukbutterflies.co.uk/album_photo.php?id=22250

[David Simcox]

This is something that we have noticed on Daneway over the last ten years and have often wondered (unsuccessfully to date!), how to scientifically measure this to compare with other sites.
I have attached a photo I took on Daneway this year on 22nd June which shows similar colouration, although not in its prime condition.

[Phil Bowler]

I think Daneway has a habit of throwing up these darker individuals, here's one I found there back in 2016 and I've seen others there that seem the darker shade of normal.
https://ukbutterflies.co.uk/album_photo.php?id=22250
[/interesting, thanks very much for your feedback.]

[Phil Bowler]

Thank you David for your observations. How intriguing that it seems to favour the Daneway site.