Blue Identity?

Pauline · Post by **Pauline** » Thu Sep 06, 2007 5:20 pm

Hi Guys

Could one of you be kind enough to confirm the identity of this female.

Cheers

Pauline

Rogerdodge · Post by **Rogerdodge** » Thu Sep 06, 2007 5:30 pm

My money is on Chalkhill.
Roger

Pauline · Post by **Pauline** » Thu Sep 06, 2007 5:37 pm

Hi Roger

thanks for this. I was really hoping someone was going to say Adonis (but you already knew that, didn't you). Thing is, I didn't see any Chalkhill males but there were lots of Adonis males which has left me a bit confused. Any other speculation?

Cheers

Pauline

Bryan H · Post by **Bryan H** » Thu Sep 06, 2007 6:42 pm

Hi Pauline,

Was this taken recently?

Bryan

Pauline · Post by **Pauline** » Thu Sep 06, 2007 7:00 pm

Hi Bryan
It was taken not many hours ago, earlier today. Why?

P.

Gruditch · Post by **Gruditch** » Thu Sep 06, 2007 7:56 pm

Roger are you sure, she has a very checkerd fringe

Gruditch

Gruditch · Post by **Gruditch** » Thu Sep 06, 2007 8:11 pm

No sorry I've checked all my books, and I haven't got a clue

Gruditch

Post by **Padfield** » Thu Sep 06, 2007 8:19 pm

For what it's worth, she looks most like an Adonis blue to me. I don't know if Pauline has a higher resolution picture she can examine closely to see if the scales around the outer edge of the hindwing (bordering the orange lunules) include some blue ones... The way they are glinting makes this seem possible to me but I can't make out any actual colour.

Apart from this difference, and given the great variability of both species, it is very hard to distinguish between the females. My gut instinct is Adonis but I wouldn't bet very much money on it!

Guy

Bryan H · Post by **Bryan H** » Thu Sep 06, 2007 8:31 pm

Yes, a close-up of those hind wing fringes might clinch it.

And there's something about the 'crispness' of the chequering on the upper wing...

Bryan

Rogerdodge · Post by **Rogerdodge** » Thu Sep 06, 2007 8:45 pm

I am starting to change my mind, and lean a little more towards Adonis - I was a bit thrown by the extent of orange on the upper wing, but looking at further books shows this to be less uncommon than I had thought.
(Collins Tolman & Lewington shows no orange at all!)
Adonis is now my best guess.
Roger

Andrew R · Post by **Andrew R** » Thu Sep 06, 2007 8:53 pm

It is a Adonis Blue female.

Pauline · Post by **Pauline** » Fri Sep 07, 2007 5:57 am

Thank you all so much for taking the trouble to respond. I am afraid I do not have a higher resolution picture so will go with your consensus.

Cheers

Pauline

Danny · Post by **Danny** » Fri Sep 07, 2007 9:00 pm

Straight away she screamed Adonis at me, before I read all the other posts. The Chequered edge is a real give away. It's proper chequered. No Messin'

Danny