The most amazing aberration ever ... !

[Pete Eeles]

Take a look at Adrian Hoskins' shot of a schmidtii ab. of a Small Copper (i.e. a "Silver" copper). Absolutely amazing and as rare as anything!

http://www.learnaboutbutterflies.com/Bu ... 0Diary.htm

Cheers,

- Pete

[Piers]

What a stunner!

[Zonda]

Now that IS amazing.

[Charles Nicol]

What a beautiful creature !!



Charles

[eccles]

There are three small copper aberrations in the main butterfly listings. How do these differ from the one posted in Learn-about-butterflies?

[Dave McCormick]

Yeah that does look cool. I have been told that there has only ever been 3 or 4 known small copper specimins in Ireland that looked like that, but thats a great shot.

[Piers]

There are three small copper aberrations in the main butterfly listings. How do these differ from the one posted in Learn-about-butterflies?

Hi Eccles,

If it's the 'white' ones that you're referring to, they don't; they're the same aberration: ab.schmidtii, in which the copper ground colour is replaced by a 'metallic' silver-white as beautifully illustrated in Adrian's photograph.

Like cuprinus this aberration is caused by a recessive gene and can crop up in isolated colonies (where the gene is present in the population) year after year, so Eccles you need to swing down to Siston Brook, Longwell Green...!

Someone posted a photo recently of a Small Copper ab. cuprinus, it would be interesting if both images were on the species page for comparison. Nudge nudge Pete...!

Felix.

[Susie]

That really is gorgeous.

[eccles]

There are three small copper aberrations in the main butterfly listings. How do these differ from the one posted in Learn-about-butterflies?

Hi Eccles,

If it's the 'white' ones that you're referring to, they don't; they're the same aberration: ab.schmidtii, in which the copper ground colour is replaced by a 'metallic' silver-white as beautifully illustrated in Adrian's photograph.

Like cuprinus this aberration is caused by a recessive gene and can crop up in isolated colonies (where the gene is present in the population) year after year, so Eccles you need to swing down to Siston Brook, Longwell Green...!

Someone posted a photo recently of a Small Copper ab. cuprinus, it would be interesting if both images were on the species page for comparison. Nudge nudge Pete...!

Felix.

Yes, this is why I asked. How can one tell the difference between ab. schmidtii and cuprinus? Presumably the latter is more common than the former.

[Dave McCormick]

There are three small copper aberrations in the main butterfly listings. How do these differ from the one posted in Learn-about-butterflies?

Hi Eccles,

If it's the 'white' ones that you're referring to, they don't; they're the same aberration: ab.schmidtii, in which the copper ground colour is replaced by a 'metallic' silver-white as beautifully illustrated in Adrian's photograph.

Like cuprinus this aberration is caused by a recessive gene and can crop up in isolated colonies (where the gene is present in the population) year after year, so Eccles you need to swing down to Siston Brook, Longwell Green...!

Someone posted a photo recently of a Small Copper ab. cuprinus, it would be interesting if both images were on the species page for comparison. Nudge nudge Pete...!

Felix.

Yes, this is why I asked. How can one tell the difference between ab. schmidtii and cuprinus? Presumably the latter is more common than the former.

I think ab cuprinus is more golden-white than silver white of the ab. schmidtii.

[Piers]

Dave is correct, cuprinus is a pale straw colour where as schmidtii is a pure silver white. I wouldn't say that either is more common than the other though Eccles, and each of these aberrations is caused by a different gene rather than cuprinus being a partial ab. schmidtii

Ab. schmidtii is certainly the most striking of the two especially when the specimen is fresh.

In the past schmidtii has been bred with ab. caeruleopunctata; with truly striking results.

Felix.

[Neil Hulme]

Hi all,
In order to brighten up these dark and dingy days, I thought I'd share a few shots of the aberrant schmidtii that I was lucky enough to see this autumn, thanks to Adrian Hoskins' kind tip-off. The first image shows the insect still in perfect condition and sitting very obligingly. After a four day wait I was lucky enough to get what I believe is probably a unique sequence of shots, of the schmidtii courting a female in normal livery - to be viewed to the Benny Hill Show theme tune.
Neil

[

[Pete Eeles]

Brilliant shots - thanks for sharing, Kipper

If it's OK by you, would you mind adding these to the galleries too - so that they end up on the main species pages?

Many thanks!

Cheers,

- Pete

[Zonda]

I'm gobsmacked..... Nice work...

[Neil Hulme]

Hi Pete,
Yes, they're destined for the galleries, along with lots of other stuff. As soon as I get my new kitchen up and running (it's been a year since I moved in ) I'll get onto it.
Neil

[Padfield]

You just made a Swiss joke, Kipper!

A long-running series of adverts for kitchens here ends with a horrified couple exclaiming: 'La cuisine? C'est nous - et c'est SCHMIDT'!

Or maybe they have the same adverts in the UK too.

Guy

[Neil Hulme]

Hi Guy,
I never joke about fridges - I've just ordered a SMEG
Neil

[Piers]

Hi Guy,
I never joke about fridges - I've just ordered a SMEG
Neil

Now you really must be joking Kipper...!

I purchased a Smeg fridge once, worst purchase of my life! talk about style over substance (the substance in question being brittle plastic, p*** poor build quality, and an inability to actually keep anything cool). I look forward to coming 'round to yours next summer for some warm beers...!

There's still time to cancel your order, honestly Kipps, you'll live to regret it...

Some reviews...
http://www.reviewcentre.com/reviews-all ... #tabs-menu

Mine was so awful (never has a fridge been so aptly named) I gave it away in the end, free to collector. Now I have a massive fridge of German manufacture - built like a Beemer, quiet as a mouse, and 100% reliable.

Felix.

[Neil Hulme]

Hi Felix,
Don't worry - I'm too sensible to buy a SMEG.... but NOT sensible enough to NOT find the name funny enough to mention in this thread! I do need a new fridge, but won't be getting one that creases me up every time I look at the brand logo. I might PM you about your BMW model when I start looking in earnest, but UKB is probably not the place to discuss white goods
Neil

[Padfield]

I'm greatly relieved! Not about the fridge, but just to know you realise that's a very funny and rude word!! We make smeg jokes here in Switzerland too, but I can't repeat them.

Guy