www.ukbutterflies.co.uk

Lovely pictures, Phil.

Heliconius is especially difficult if you don't know where a butterfly comes from. There is often far more variation within a species across its range than there is between species in the same region. I recently acquired the Swift Guide to the Butterflies of Mexico and Central America, which is very helpful for some species and groups (it helped me to sort out Parides) but for subspecies of Heliconians outside its range it's not really any use at all.

I won't be visiting the Papiliorama again until the weather turns nasty, but when I do I will be bearing in mind some of your observations from Wisley.

Guy

Philzoid wrote:Not sure my pictures are getting better but thanks for your kind comments Mike

Wow! I think the Heliconids are a splendid series of photos

It's a very nice shot of the Robin as well.

Mike

Thanks Guy and Mike

Padfield wrote:I won't be visiting the Papiliorama again until the weather turns nasty, but when I do I will be bearing in mind some of your observations from Wisley.

Basically I built up a collection of photos of heliconians (particularly prevalent this year), which I was keen to show and do a report for. The ID information I have given is basically correct I think, to species level, but as you say the amount of variation and mimicry that occurs in this group and the lack of information as to their origin makes it difficult to pinpoint to sub-species accuracy. Still, it was interesting and enjoyable for me to do that little bit of research and I hope some of it proves useful to you and others in future visits.

You're right about the photos Mike I shouldn't keep going on about it as on the whole they're OK particularly in respect to their composition and tonal depth (if that’s the right way of putting it). And so with that in mind here's a 'few' more pictures to close out the thread . That's it for another year Time to start my garden moth trapping

Phil

A splendid 'close out' selection, Phil. You have put in a great deal of work to identify so many species - congratulations.

I think many of us are rather disappointed, on first looking at our own photos, since they are usually such pale imitations of the reality we have recently experienced. With time, and when we see them in comparison with other photos, it becomes easier to appreciate their good points. I'm sure that you will enjoy the collection that you have made this year, along with the rest of us. Thanks for sharing these

Mike