Page 1 of 1
ab Small Tortoiseshell ?
Posted: Sat Jun 06, 2020 5:44 pm
by sifenn
I was visiting Monk Wood near Worcester on Friday and spotted this unusually marked Small Tortoiseshell, lacking a couple of black forewing spots, much more black/grey on the hindwings. Is this an aberrant and does it have a name ?
thanks
SiFenn
Re: ab Small Tortoiseshell ?
Posted: Sat Jun 06, 2020 6:00 pm
by Allan.W.
What a stunner Sifenn !! a Great find …………………….nice one !
Regards Allan.W.
Re: ab Small Tortoiseshell ?
Posted: Sat Jun 06, 2020 6:06 pm
by zigzag_wanderer
I am absolutely no expert on this sifenn, but seeing that picture closely reminded me of one in Thomas/Lewington I'd been looking at yesterday.
I quote the great book:
"Female: Aberrant form semi-ichnusoides" produced by high temperature during the pupal stage"
Just a coincidence I was reading that yesterday. If I'd looked a few days back it wouldn't have registered.
I stand to be totally corrected by an expert, but your photo does look very similar to the picture in the book.
Re: ab Small Tortoiseshell ?
Posted: Sat Jun 06, 2020 6:55 pm
by Padfield
I'm no expert either - nor a great fan of naming aberrations. But this is a very interesting butterfly! For what it's worth, it is very close to ab.
atrebatensis (as well as having a lot in common with semi-ichnusoides). This picture comes from
http://www.britishbutterflyaberrations. ... berrations:
Guy
Re: ab Small Tortoiseshell ?
Posted: Sat Jun 06, 2020 7:09 pm
by Allan.W.
I reckon you,re spot-on Guy ! A cracking aberration Sifenn ! Regards Allan.W.
Re: ab Small Tortoiseshell ?
Posted: Sun Jun 07, 2020 7:47 am
by Neil Freeman
I often see things called as abs which I feel fall within normal variation, but THAT is an ab. Great find
Cheers,
Neil.
Re: ab Small Tortoiseshell ?
Posted: Sun Jun 07, 2020 1:47 pm
by sifenn
thanks for your comments and feedback - I was searching for White Admiral, so didn't really pay the Tortoiseshell the attention it deserved - note to self for the future !
![Embarassed :oops:](./images/smilies/icon_redface.gif)
Re: ab Small Tortoiseshell ?
Posted: Sun Jun 07, 2020 7:09 pm
by David M
Fabulous sighting, sifenn. I've seen multi-thousands over the years but never one like that.
![Mr. Green :mrgreen:](./images/smilies/icon_mrgreen.gif)