padfield wrote:Working backwards, to me the last one is classic melampus and has no epiphron about it. It seems to be right on the edge of the distribution of melampus (but although Google Earth seemed to know where your location was it didn't want to tell me, so I can't be sure). Anyway, if I saw that I wouldn't hesitate to call it melampus.
Then
E. melampus it is. The place is roughly 80 km north of Riva del Garda, which is at the northern shore of Lake Garda.
padfield wrote:The second one is almost certainly ottomana, since this species is recorded from Monte Baldo (race benacencis, according to Tolman) and as a rule not more than one species of brassy ringlet flies in any one place.
Good to know - even with your possible exception!
padfield wrote:The well marked uns of your butterfly match the description of benacencis in Tolman.
The topside matches that form too, but I did not get a picture of it.
padfield wrote:Funnily enough, the first butterfly is the one that surprises me most. Around me (1200m) medusa stopped flying about three weeks ago and right now oeme is flying everywhere above 1500m.
End of flight three weeks ago is a bit much. On the other hand I was a bit higher and that was the week I saw them most. The weather had also been relatively cold, which is a factor. On the second week they were mostly quite worn.
padfield wrote:Nothing about the wings actually rules out medusa, but it is very different from those near me.
There is plenty of variation to account for that as you mentioned.
padfield wrote:That's the best I can do, I'm afraid! But well done on the ottomana! I must visit Monte Baldo!!
Thanks! That was quite well done. The genus may be difficult for anyone, but without any experience on most of those species and no real touch on times and habitats it is a nightmare.
Walking down from the M. Baldo through the forest seemed also a pretty good way to meet with
L. achine. For about 500 m (vertical) it was everywhere. More than one visible most of the time. Just so you'd know...
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