www.ukbutterflies.co.uk

This isn't really a mystery, as I know exactly what the butterfly is - I was just about to get a super shot when a car zoomed past.

But just for fun, would anyone like to try and identify it from its shadow and the glint in its eye (plus what you can see of its wings)? I'll be very impressed if anyone gets it right, but I think there is enough information!!

It was flying at about 1500m in the Alps and basking on an exposed, sunny rock before the car came by.



If no one answers I'll just post the identity anyway in a few days.

Guy

I think it might be a Wall Brown.

Think it might be a wall brown from (hard to see) brown coloured markings. Well, thats my guess.

Judging by the squarish wings, is it a Queen of Spain?

Wow - good call Chris! I don't know if you're correct, but judging by the shape of the hindwings, I'd go with Queen of Spain Fritillary too!

Cheers,

- Pete

Thanks for playing!

Queen of Spain is a brilliant guess, from the wing shape, but sadly wrong. I think the face and leg colour are probably what rule it out most convincingly in this view. Here is a real QoS showing the pale golden face and legs:


Wall is equally brilliant and very much closer, phylogenetically!! If I tell you this butterfly is a female it should be possible to place it to species...

Guy

Hmmm

OK - give us a clue - I guess this isn't found in the UK Such as Northern Wall Brown?

Cheers,

- Pete

I am thinking Thore's Fritillary? Is it a fritillary at all cause it looks like it could be.

Bingo! No more clues needed!

Here she is when she first landed:


All three walls fly in my local region but this is the darkest. Male large walls can look as dark, but females more rarely. The clinching feature, of course, is the upperside hindwing, which you can't see here, but large wall also has a more silvery-grey underside hindwing.

Thanks again!

Guy

PS - sorry Dave, I had posted the reply before I saw your thore suggestion. That does also have a dark front, but shouldn't be on the wing yet (who knows in 2007!!).