Not sure about this Blue ....

[Charles Nicol]

i came across this Blue in the Sundon chalk quarry today. Is it just a Common Blue or something else ?

the underside was very silvery. i did not get a clear view of the upperside.

thanks in advance

Charles

[millerd]

Hi Charles - my guess is that this is indeed a Common Blue. The colour of the underside hindwing lunules varies quite a bit - from orange-red through to very pale lemon-yellow - and your one looks as if this has gone to the extreme of them not being coloured at all! Everything else looks like a Common Blue to me, but I'm happy to be put right if I've embarrassingly missed something obvious.

Cheers,

Dave

[Charles Nicol]

Hi Charles - my guess is that this is indeed a Common Blue. The colour of the underside hindwing lunules varies quite a bit - from orange-red through to very pale lemon-yellow - and your one looks as if this has gone to the extreme of them not being coloured at all! Everything else looks like a Common Blue to me, but I'm happy to be put right if I've embarrassingly missed something obvious.

Cheers,

Dave

thanks for the expert opinion Dave ! i am sure you are right

Charles

[bugboy]

I agree with Dave, there's nothing else it can be

[Charles Nicol]

I agree with Dave, there's nothing else it can be

thanks bugboy !

[Jack Harrison]

I did a PhotoShop fiddle with the image to make the butterfly a little darker. That confirmed Common Blue, but certainly is a pale specimen.

But of course a pale subject like that butterfly against a much darker background plays hell with auto exposure.

Jack

[Charles Nicol]

I did a PhotoShop fiddle with the image to make the butterfly a little darker. That confirmed Common Blue, but certainly is a pale specimen.

But of course a pale subject like that butterfly against a much darker background plays hell with auto exposure.

Jack

thanks for your explorations Jack ! the worst thing is trying to focus on the upperside of an orange tip