Euphrosyne or Selene?

[Part timer]

The Pearl-bordered Fritillary occurs close to where I live, so I'm reasonably familiar with it; not so the Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary which is rare and unfortunately diminishing rapidly in my home area.

I took a number of photographs in the French Pyrenees in June last year, most of which I'm fairly sure are euphrosyne. I'm less sure about these 4, (despite studying Roger's excellent Butterflies of France website) so would welcome any opinions (top 2 are the same insect).

Thanks, Rupert

[David M]

These all look like euphrosyne to me, Rupert.

[Padfield]

I agree. Selene does fly in the Pyrenees but in my experience is much less common there too.

Guy

[Part timer]

Thanks, both. I suspected as much but perhaps a lingering hope that a stray selene might have sneaked in. I"ll have to make an effort to seek it out in the single remaining local colony this year.

[David M]

..I"ll have to make an effort to seek it out in the single remaining local colony this year.

I've hardly ever seen this species on my European travels, Rupert. If you DO have a local spot then I'd suggest paying it a visit as this species is not particularly common in either southern France or Spain.

[Padfield]

This was at 2400m in the Val d'Aran, on the Spanish side of the Pyrenees:





The species is not common in the Val d'Aran.

Guy

[Part timer]

Selene was still present in the New Forest until recently, but I don't think there were any records in 2019. There is a location on the Hampshire/ Wiltshire border where they can still be seen.

Euphrosyne on the other hand seems to have staged a modest recovery locally and is now turning up at a woodland site close to home, along with the Duke, which is also a fairly scarce species around here.