www.ukbutterflies.co.uk

Please can one the Blue experts give me their opinion of this female blue. I saw her this morning at a well known Chalkhill Blue site in Hertfordshire.

The time of year rules out Chalkhill blue so with that chequered fringe the only thing it can be is an Adonis. Nice ab. as well

Yes, that's quite some aberration there, Wolfson.

That's very close to being ab. krodeli I think, Wolfson. The hindwing has a couple of tiny extra spots, but otherwise it's a match. There are a few here to compare...

https://www.ukbutterflies.co.uk/album.php?id=3013

Cheers,

Dave

Thank you all, I agree it does look similar to ab.krodeli.

It is confirmed that this is an Adonis Blue, even though there has been no record of this species in Herts for over 50 years. It is the result of an undocumented (and unauthorized release) in 2019, very likely by pupae.

Full details can be found on the BC Herts and Middx branch website (authorized by the Committee of which I am a member) :

https://www.hertsmiddx-butterflies.org. ... 202019.pdf

I would have read the Newsletter but didn't make the connection.

Roger