I have taken a number of pics recently that I thought were brown argus. But having spent some time looking through the "Collins" butterfly book I'm not so sure they are not common blues. Could somebody explain the differences? I,ve posted a couple of examples of the pictures I'm referring to.
Cheers
Dave
brown argus
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I believe both are Brown Argus ... the lower picture certainly is but on my screen, there maybe a barest trace of blue scales on the upper wings in the top picture.
If blue is present, then that could be a Common Blue. The females are extremely variable in both size and colouring.
If blue is present, then that could be a Common Blue. The females are extremely variable in both size and colouring.
Cotswold Cockney is the name
All aspects of Natural History is my game.
All aspects of Natural History is my game.
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Where are these taken? I've just been looking at the agestis/artaxerxes question from the June competition and I have to say that both of these have the flavour of artaxerxes to me... If they were taken in central or southern England I might have to revise my opinions a bit (I live in Switzerland so am used to different subspecies).
They are definitely Aricia, though (i.e., brown argus species, not common blue).
Guy
They are definitely Aricia, though (i.e., brown argus species, not common blue).
Guy
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Re: brown argus
SeeDave Mac wrote:I have taken a number of pics recently that I thought were brown argus. But having spent some time looking through the "Collins" butterfly book I'm not so sure they are not common blues. Could somebody explain the differences?
http://www.ukbutterflies.co.uk/species. ... wn%20Argus
and look at the similar species section.
Cheers,
- Pete
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