www.ukbutterflies.co.uk

I believe the vernacular name came from the depiction of this species (or more probably, its close relative, Pontia edusa) in a tapestry in Bath.

Guy

Was it because it was named the Bath White from a piece of needlework executed at Bath, by a young lady, from a specimen of this insect, said to have been taken near the city of Bath?

Obviously too easy! Well done both.

Over to you Guy. Leather-clad werewolf slayers at the ready

Cheers,

- Pete

I've got one in reserve, but how about Dave has a go? His answer was more accurate than mine and we both responded at almost exactly the same time.

Got something for us, Dave?

Guy

Thanks Guy. I am not like some of you, not good with riddles or anything of the sorts, but I do know a thing or two about subspecies/forms and the like, so here goes.

In the UK there is a butterfly (resident) that still exists to this day, but one of its subspecies is said to have gone extinct, maybe its not, but it has not been found in many, many years, so long in fact, people assume its extinct. Now, what is the butterfly and what is the subspecies?

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(You don have to get this part, but partial kudos if you get this right) The subspecies I am talking about I am not sure if the exact same subspecies occurs in Europe, but does anyone know what form or subspecies of butterfly might resemble the subspecies that I am taking about?

Morning Dave,

I'll say Large Blue, Maculinea arion. Subspecies: eutyphron was endemic to the British Isles, and now thought to be extinct.

Denise

Or, Marsh Fritillary, Euphydryas aurinia. The UK subspecies E aurinia hibernica is considered to be extinct.

Denise

Silver-studded Blue, ssp. cretaceus.

Cheers,

- Pete

...or...
Knowing how Dave's mind works (I think ), maybe he's back in Irish mode with the Irish subspecies of the Mountain Ringlet (Erebia epiphron subspecies aetheria). Don't think this has been recorded since around the time of the First World War and apparently, only 4 or 5 set specimens still survive in collections.

Trev

Interesting... The Alpine subspecies is aetheria. What's the connection with Ireland? Or is that what the second (no marks, just kudos) part of Dave's question is about?

Guy

Trev your right, it is the Irish Small Mountain Ringlet, has not been recorded since 1918. There is 4 specimins, 3 in the National museam of Ireland and one that was found as recently as 1990, now in Ulster Museam. Your turn Trev.

Guy and whoever else likes to know, The form of the mountain ringlet nelamus is similar in appearance to the museam specimins of the Irish mountain ringlet and it might be what the specimins are because the it occurs commonly within aetheria and aetheria is thought to have been found in Ireland as the subspecies based on the appearance of the museam specimins. According to Beirne (1952), he speculated that it was the loess steppe during a glacial phase that brought the mountain ringlet to the UK and a glacial devide devided the populations of the mountain ringlet in two, one in England and one in Ireland, it became the Irish mountain ringlet and finally a further glacial devide then is thought to have icolated what we know now as the English subspecies Mnemom and the Scottish subspecies scotica

My info about the Irish Mountain Ringlet came from Adrian Riley's "British and Irish Butterflies" (Brambleby Books).

OK, if it's my turn... What species is this?




Trev

A shot in the dark. Dark Green Fritillary.

Cheers,

- Pete

But it was a good shot Pete ... Didn't think that one would last long.



Over to you.

Trev

My info about the Irish Mountain Ringlet came from Adrian Riley's "British and Irish Butterflies" (Brambleby Books).

I had a few sources for my information, but one of them was that book too, great book for British Butterflies IMO.

Super photo Trev!

OK - keeping with the photo theme. I came across these 2 larvae feeding on Horseshoe Vetch. But what species are they (they're different species)? And what's a good indicator for telling them apart?

Cheers,

- Pete

Adonis Blue & Chalkhill Blue, time of day when pic was taken.

Gruditch

Correct. Chalkhill Blue are nocturnal feeders.

Over to you Mr. G.

Cheers,

- Pete

Cheers Pete.


Thinking about a job, Keeping fit, Pregnancy, and Breaking up, what do they have in common.

Gruditch

They're things that "blokes" don't think about?

Cheers,

- Pete