www.ukbutterflies.co.uk

On the contrary, Roger - I had great fun trying to solve your riddle! The problem is, we were all trying to see significance where there was none... And you have to admit, the pun was AWFUL!

Guy

padfield wrote:On the contrary, Roger - I had great fun trying to solve your riddle! The problem is, we were all trying to see significance where there was none... And you have to admit, the pun was AWFUL!

Guy

Exactly. Go and sit on the "naughty step" Rodge

Cheers,

- Pete

Exactly. Go and sit on the "naughty step" Rodge

Pete
I never seem to be off it these days

Ok, here's a fairly obscure question on one of my favourite butterfly topics:

I am out and about and see an unusual Ringlet butterfly resting on some foliage; the 'rings' visible on the underside of both fore and hind wings are enlarged and extended to form a tear-drop shape. The butterfly still retains the typical white 'pupils'.

What name is applied to this (not uncommon) aberration in the Ringlet butterfly..

Hi Felix,

ab. lanceolata?

Denise

Nope, sorry Denise....

Felix.

Here are all the aberrations that I could find, but except for ab. lanceolata, I can't find one with tear drop markings.

Aphantopus hyperantus ab. arete Müller, 1764
Aphantopus hyperantus ab. brunnea Tutt, 1910
Aphantopus hyperantus ab. cabeaui Pionneau, 1929
Aphantopus hyperantus ab. chrysophalarus Collier, 1967
Aphantopus hyperantus ab. crassipuncta Burkhardt, 1948
Aphantopus hyperantus ab. infra-pallida Lempke, 1935
Aphantopus hyperantus ab. lanceolata Shipp, 1894
Aphantopus hyperantus ab. marpurgensis Strand, 1919
Aphantopus hyperantus ab. obsoleta Tutt, 1896
Aphantopus hyperantus ab. pallens Schultz, 1908
Aphantopus hyperantus ab. pseudoocellatus Bergman, 1952

Denise

Edit: However ab. marpurgensis does have some elongated ring markings.

ab Lanceolata is the only one I know with tear drop markings..I am actually stumped, all other ringlet abs don't have teardrop like markings as far as I know and I have seen most of them. Ill take a guess and say:

ab. crassipuncta based on this image and the eyspot shape of the upeerwing, underside eyespots:



OR

ab. marpurgensis does not have exactly teardrop marks, but sort of looks like it does:

Sorry Dave,

There are two distinct aberrations in the Ringlet where the 'eye' spotting is elongated: one is (as you and Denise correctly say) lanceolata where the pupils are also drawn out to form a streak; the other aberration has elongated rings but with 'normal' pupils...

I think Pete will probably get this.

Felix.

Ok, so the last two Ringlet aberrations that I can find are, mauritianica and rhamnusia.
Either of those? If not I give up. I had no idea that there were at least 13 Ringlet aberrations.

Denise

cuneata?

I agree with Mr. Dodge. That'll be ab. cuneata.

And for all you folks with "The Butterflies of Great Britain and Ireland" - it's mentioned in the text

Cheers,

- Pete

Pete Eeles wrote:I agree with Mr. Dodge. That'll be ab. cuneata.

And for all you folks with "The Butterflies of Great Britain and Ireland" - it's mentioned in the text

Cheers,

- Pete

Yeah just found that in the book...I couldn't not find an image of it so thats probably why I overlooked it

Hi Rodge - I think this is now over to you. I suspect Felix is out watching butterflies and is unable to respond. Perhaps he's been locked up by the same crowd that were after Ms. Glanville

Cheers,

- Pete

Ok - I shall have a bash.

Amazingly there are only 6 species in the UK that have FULL legal protection (i.e Taking & Harming).
Name them.

I'll have a go at that.

High Brown Frit, Heath Frit, Large Blue, Marsh Frit, Swallowtail, Large Copper.?

Denise

I agree

http://www.ukbutterflies.co.uk/reports_law.php

Cheers,

- Pete

I read a lot!

Hmmmmmmmmm...........................
7 minutes.
Obviously too easy!
Well done Denise - your turn.

While out looking for a 'cat' I saw a notice on a lampost.
Animal at Junior school. Which species am I?

Denise