After having just one UK mainland species of butterfly left to photograph for the past couple of years, I finally snapped them last week on a trip up North. We found a few (rather worn) ssp. salmacis individuals at Bishop Middleham Quarry on the way up to our accommodation in the Lindisfarne area, but a few days later popped across the Scottish border in search of the "full monty" ssp. artaxerxes (with the white spots). Fortunately, some of these were in very good condition and I was very satisfied to have finally completed my quest. At least one individual (a male) had white spots on all 4 wings (presumably an aberrant butterfly?) Superb little insects - well worth waiting for!
A worn female ssp. salmacis
Female ssp. artaxerxes
A male "Four-Spotter" ssp. artaxerxes
Trev