Italian Butterflies

[JKT]

I agree with you, but all I can offer is the generic coloring. T. sylvestris is bright orange, while T. acteon is muted brownish.

[Pete Eeles]

Thanks JKT. Apparently, the "hairline" sex brand is another indicator

Cheers,

- Pete

[Pete Eeles]

And finally - the last batch! 3 fritillaries and 1 blue. All taken in the Monti Sibillini mountains (in the Appenines) in northern Italy.

Here's the first frit - sorry, no underside.

1.jpg (77.64 KiB) Viewed 236 times

The next 2 pics are the same individual.

2a.jpg (61.12 KiB) Viewed 237 times

2b.jpg (65.47 KiB) Viewed 238 times

The next 2 are the same blue. This looks like Silver-studded, but the leading edge of the forewing is very pale, and there are no "studs" on the underside.

3a.jpg (56.35 KiB) Viewed 238 times

3b.jpg (49.22 KiB) Viewed 237 times

And finally - another frit that I thought might be Grisons.

4.jpg (68.73 KiB) Viewed 237 times

Thx again for any help!

Cheers,

- Pete

[Padfield]

Hi Pete. Your first and last frits are very good for Grisons - they look just like my own pictures of this species from Switzerland. Here is one:



The blue is definitely silver-studded, despite the lack of silver pupils. The silver studs in my garden at La Barboleuse generally had no silver pupils and I have come across similar forms elsewhere in the Alps. Other features, such as the extent of dark colouration on the hindwing upperside and the broad borders to the forewings, indicate silver-studded blue. It's undoubtedly Plebeius and I presume you were thinking of pylaon because of the lack of silver. But it isn't this!

As for the middle fritillary, I'm really not so sure. The ups are good for athalia but the uns are rather strange. I'll come back to it after the Bill... And hope that someone else has seen a good clue in it.

Guy