Too many piffling, not to say bogus sub-species IMHO!
You think thats bad, check this:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Large_Heath its all the subspecies of Large Heath in the USA, some have even been given common names like "Common Ringlets"
While we are on subspecies, which I like studying, anyone know if the subspecis Hibernica of Orange-Tip is present on Isle of Man? I think its been said that it is but never confirmed or something
Interesting that you mentioned the small copper though. If you read any literature the same phrase is always regurgitated declaring the "nominate species is not present in the UK". I wonder when anyone last checked..?
hmm, with people breeding and sometimes releasing species that they should not be, could be possible its back, but I am only 100% fimilar with Irish subspecies to butterflies as I know the difference in them and the ones found in rest of UK, except grayling as I have only seen it once.