www.ukbutterflies.co.uk

After another trip to the mountains I have a couple of butterflies that I'm unsure of. I'm no expert but I'm wondering if the yellow fellow is a Brimstone or some sort of Clouded Yeallow. Of course, if I ask, "Is it A or B?" the answer will be "C"...

The blue(s), I think are Adonis Blue but the left hand one of the pair seems not to fit. Any help and clarification will be gratefully received.

Thanks,

David

I'm far from experienced with European butterflies but I'm prepared to have a stab and risk having egg on my face.

The yellow fellow looks like a Cleopatra, close relative to the Brimstone. The first blue is a Chalkhill. The left one of the pair looks like a Common Blue, based on the shade of blue, it's friend I'd say is a male Adonis and the final is also an Adonis.

With even less direct experience than Bugboy, I'd go along with his views on these - though considering the freshness of the Chalkhill and the date seen I'd tentatively hazard that this might actually be a Provence Chalkhill Blue (which I think is double brooded).

Shove along a bit, Buggy, and the egg splatter will spread a bit more thinly...

Cheers,

Dave

I agree with these IDs, favouring chalkhill over Provence chalkhill, though. I say that mostly from its appearance, in terms of colour and markings. For the flight period, I know that in the Alps, very fresh chalkhills appear in September and the species is usually still on the wing in November in Switzerland. I don't visit the Pyrenees at that time of year, so can't speak for the phenology there. Altitude would help: chalkhill flies higher than Provence chakhill. And of course, it is also much commoner in general.

Guy

Thanks, all. That's really helpful, the PC's off at the moment, Guy, but IIRC the blues were at about 4800ft - hope that helps.
David

4800 ft is nearly 1500m. All my books say this is too high for Provence chalkhill blue.

For the record, this chalkhill blue was photographed on 2nd November in Switzerland - so wouldn't even have been born yet on 21st September ...



Guy

Newly emerged Chalk-hill Blues (Lysandra coridon) male and female taken at luz ardiden,Hautes-Pyrénées at 1600 m on the 10-09-2014.
At the same location Scarce Copper (Lycaena virgaureae)

https://jamesgibbs6929.zenfolio.com

Padfield wrote: ↑Thu Sep 23, 2021 8:17 pm...For the record, this chalkhill blue was photographed on 2nd November in Switzerland - so wouldn't even have been born yet on 21st September ...

That's quite some stat, Guy. I never knew they could last that long!