www.ukbutterflies.co.uk

I was out looking around and came accross a small tortoiseshell. I know it was one, but its colours (the red bit) was the same colours of a large tortoiseshell, not red, more a rusty brown. Is this an abberation or is this to do with it being old and colours fading?

I was definitly a small tortoiseshell and it did not have white parts. I tried to get a pic, but it was to fast to catch. Maybe another time. What was it?

Like this one? Looks oretty normal to me.



Martin.

Not really. looking through cockayne database the nearest thing I could see was this ab. angustibalteata. Bit hard to tell without a photo to id properly.



http://internt.nhm.ac.uk/jdsml/research ... BER=500211

It was either this or a faded female. But I have never seen one with such dull colours before.

Most butterflies fade over time. Especially those that overwinter.

Cheers,

- Pete