A few for confirmation

[JohnR]

[Sorry I meant to post this in Identification]

I am now really confused between Small Skippers and their Essex friends. I reckon that this is a good untainted Small Skipper?

Small Skipper.jpg (24.44 KiB) Viewed 221 times

And this is a Small Copper, it's only the second one that I have seen

Small Copper2.jpg (53.92 KiB) Viewed 221 times

Green Veined White? The first that I have knowingly seen.

GVWhite.jpg (35.57 KiB) Viewed 221 times

And finally are these a boy and girl Meadow Brown or has one of them got me fooled?

[Pete Eeles]

All IDs look good to me, with the exception that the last photo shows a Gatekeeper (above) and Meadow Brown (below). Also, the first may well be Essex!

Cheers,

- Pete

[Padfield]

On that view alone I'm tempted to go for female Essex skipper, but I won't be offended if someone contradicts me.

The other IDs are correct (note that summer brood green-veined white often has only broken green veining on the underside) except that the upper insect in the bottom photo is a gatekeeper, the smaller cousin of the meadow brown. I would suggest they are both females.

Guy

EDIT: Crossed posts with Pete - so that really is two independent opinions!

[David M]

Colours can be deceptive when presented on camera as opposed to in the flesh. I've been meticulous this summer in my examination of Small/Essex Skippers and one thing I've learned is that if viewed from slightly in front and below the antennae are a real glossy, inky black, then it's an Essex no question.

Don't even bother looking at the top of the antennae. This is where the confusion begins.

That said, from the photographic evidence I'd be inclined to say 'Essex'.