Hybrids

Dave McCormick · Post by **Dave McCormick** » Fri Jul 27, 2007 5:17 pm

From what i have read, hybrid butterflies are always sterile. Is this true? Or can they produce more butterflies? just wondering. Also, is there any species in the UK that can hybrid if found in similar locations?

Post by **Pete Eeles** » Fri Jul 27, 2007 5:52 pm

I think that's pretty much right Dave - otherwise they'd be considered the same species!

A know hybrid of butterflies is Chalkhill Blue with Adonis Blue.

Cheers,

- Pete

Dave McCormick · Post by **Dave McCormick** » Fri Jul 27, 2007 6:19 pm

Thanks. Would brown arguses and Northern brown arguses interbreed? Heard they have before. Well, I know that the Black Swallowtail and the European Swallowtail, where they are found near eachother can sometimes interbreed becuase of their similar colours.

David Tipping · Post by **David Tipping** » Fri Jul 27, 2007 9:36 pm

According to Bill Smyllie, writing in "The Butterflies of Yorkshire," Northern Brown Argus/Brown Argus hybrids predominate in the Yorkshire Pennines (and presumably breed successfully.) However, the situation is becoming increasingly confused as "ordinary" brown argus spread north. To add to the complications, my enquiries suggest it is impossible to distinguish BA, NBA and hybrids by visual features - geographic location is a good indicator, but in borderline areas such as the Northern Pennines a DNA test is required.