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Gatekeeper ab
Posted: Tue Jun 30, 2020 2:54 pm
by Stevieb
♂ Gatekeeper taken today.
On the upper side of the hindwings the eyespot is elongated and split without a black surrounding ring. ab. postalbipuncta?
- ♂ Gatekeeper 30th June
Re: Gatekeeper ab
Posted: Tue Jun 30, 2020 5:04 pm
by Padfield
Hi Stevie. There isn't normally an eyespot there on the hindwing. I would interpret the pale patches as discolouration for some unknown reason, congenital or otherwise.
Guy
Re: Gatekeeper ab
Posted: Tue Jun 30, 2020 5:42 pm
by Stevieb
Thanks Guy. I was referring to the upper hindwing spots as per my photo here or am I overthinking it
Re: Gatekeeper ab
Posted: Tue Jun 30, 2020 6:36 pm
by Padfield
I would say it is your second picture that is more exceptional - within the range of normal variation, but very much at the spotty end of the spectrum.
These spots have nothing to do with the discolouration in your first picture, which is in a structurally quite different part of the wing.
I'm not an expert on aberrations and someone else might have a different opinion.
Guy
Re: Gatekeeper ab
Posted: Tue Jun 30, 2020 7:38 pm
by Pete Eeles
Padfield wrote: ↑Tue Jun 30, 2020 5:04 pm
Hi Stevie. There isn't normally an eyespot there on the hindwing. I would interpret the pale patches as discolouration for some unknown reason, congenital or otherwise.
Guy
And I can't find a named aberration for a complete lack of spots on the hindwings:
https://www.ukbutterflies.co.uk/aberrat ... s=tithonus
The asymmetric pale areas may be pathological, thought to be due to damage while in the pupal stage that prevents the laying down of pigments.
Cheers,
- Pete
Re: Gatekeeper ab
Posted: Tue Jun 30, 2020 9:30 pm
by Stevieb
Many thanks both. This web site is a brilliant learning curve
Re: Gatekeeper ab
Posted: Tue Jun 30, 2020 9:38 pm
by Vince Massimo
Hi Stevie,
I believe the lack of spots on the hindwings is ab. postice-inocellata.
- ab. postice-inocellata - Southwater, Sussex 8-July-2010
As the others have said, yours may also have a pathological element in the mix.
I should point out that I'm not an expert in these matters, but just happened to have this old image which I somehow managed to label at the time.
Vince