Dusky Heath

[Wurzel]

I have a feeling that this is a tired looking Dusky Heath? Any help with ID or confirmation would be greatly appreciated. It was taken in Central Portugal about a fortnight ago in the one lush bit of vegetation in otherwise very dry and dusty terraces. Cheers in advance

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[Padfield]

It looks to me like lyllus - the southern Iberian species/subspecies/form of small heath. It flies in much of Portugal, in the kinds of dry, dusty place you describe. These are from Spain:





There is a form of dusky heath with reduced markings - form micropthalma - but it still looks much spottier than your butterfly.

This is dusky heath, form micropthalma, also from Spain:



Guy

[Wurzel]

Cheers Guy - I thought the spot on the S7 helped make it a Dusky oh well...
Is this a lyllus as well?

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[Padfield]

Yes - lyllus again. The status of this taxon is uncertain. Leraut and others consider it a good species, citing a paper of 2002 or 2003 in Alexenor by Boillat. I've tried in vain to get hold of this paper. It seems the distinct morphological characters of lyllus are only apparent in the summer brood(s), and not in early or late broods. For this reason, some authors consider it only a form, not even a subspecies. I'm not in a position to judge but I'm edging towards splitting if only to get the armchair tick!

Guy

[Roger Gibbons]

Small Heath is a common and very variable species within the southern département (county) of Var in France. This is my page:
http://www.butterfliesoffrance.com/html ... philus.htm
The ocelli are very variable, the colour is very variable, and even the wing shape can vary.

Lyllus flies in south-eastern France even though Tolman says it flies in south-west Europe, but Var clearly isn't in south-west Europe.

It was flying in company with nominate pamphilus so does this mean it is a form and not a subspecies? I am never quite sure if a subspecies can fly in company with the nominate species or another subspecies, i.e. they are geographically separated by definition. I have found occasions where a subspecies flew in company with the nominate species (e.g. Boloria titania and B. t. cypris) and were even mating.

Roger

[Wurzel]

Cheers Guy I'm with you on the splitting armchair Ticks are the best

Have a goodun

Wurzel