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Hi Guys

Could one of you be kind enough to confirm the identity of this female.

Cheers

Pauline

My money is on Chalkhill.
Roger

Hi Roger

thanks for this. I was really hoping someone was going to say Adonis (but you already knew that, didn't you). Thing is, I didn't see any Chalkhill males but there were lots of Adonis males which has left me a bit confused. Any other speculation?

Cheers

Pauline

Hi Pauline,

Was this taken recently?

Bryan

Hi Bryan
It was taken not many hours ago, earlier today. Why?

P.

Roger are you sure, she has a very checkerd fringe

Gruditch

No sorry I've checked all my books, and I haven't got a clue

Gruditch

For what it's worth, she looks most like an Adonis blue to me. I don't know if Pauline has a higher resolution picture she can examine closely to see if the scales around the outer edge of the hindwing (bordering the orange lunules) include some blue ones... The way they are glinting makes this seem possible to me but I can't make out any actual colour.

Apart from this difference, and given the great variability of both species, it is very hard to distinguish between the females. My gut instinct is Adonis but I wouldn't bet very much money on it!

Guy

Yes, a close-up of those hind wing fringes might clinch it.

And there's something about the 'crispness' of the chequering on the upper wing...

Bryan

I am starting to change my mind, and lean a little more towards Adonis - I was a bit thrown by the extent of orange on the upper wing, but looking at further books shows this to be less uncommon than I had thought.
(Collins Tolman & Lewington shows no orange at all!)
Adonis is now my best guess.
Roger

It is a Adonis Blue female.

Thank you all so much for taking the trouble to respond. I am afraid I do not have a higher resolution picture so will go with your consensus.

Cheers

Pauline

Straight away she screamed Adonis at me, before I read all the other posts. The Chequered edge is a real give away. It's proper chequered. No Messin'

Danny