Unusual Common Blue?

[rezamink]

An unusual Common Blue??? It has rained heavily for the best part of two days in this part of Wiltshire, whilst this individual looks pretty fresh, it appears to have lost sufficient scales from it's upper wings for the spots on it's wing undersides to show through! (Unless anyone has a better explanation?)

Taken in Wiltshire (UK) on the 31st May 2010.

[Padfield]

It's quite common for the underside markings to be visible from the upperside of male common blues (and other species), even when they are not very worn. It depends on the angle and quality of the light, giving matt reflection, not brilliant refraction). The most extreme example Ive found is this Adonis blue (though this one is worn and has the light shining through the wings):



The butterfly still has blue ups, though, as can be seen in this shot:



Guy

[rezamink]

Thanks for that Guy,

It's not something i've ever noticed before, do you know the reason? (i.e. Loss of scales etc?)

Regards

Damian