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Can anyone confirm which these are... in early July 07 - Firstly from altitude in Alps:

1 - I plumped for P. carlinae



2 - uns of 1



Then Rhone valley, 100k south of Lyon :

3 - ? P. serratulae - (not sure why now!!!)



4 - P. malvae - though not sure anyone could tell!

Hi, Paul,

Yes, I like carlinae for the first two, though I am far from certain. The underside, in particular, is very good.

The fourth looks most like female andromedae. Was it high enough? One of the features that makes me think this is the 'double eyebrow' above the spot at the end of the cell on the upf. Although several species can have this, it is particularly noticeable in andromedae. The third is clearly not the same individual (and also clearly not andromedae) and without an underside I confess defeat. It does not look at all like serratulae to me, because the markings seem far too bold (especially for a female, which this seems to be).

Guy

Hi Guy,

Thanks for taking a look. Would it have been too early for carlinae? 3 & 4 are definitely from different specimens, & I didn't really think there was enough to ID them properly. The 4th was taken at Samoens, so ~ 1500m altitude, & it didn't stick around, frustratingly, & I saw no others. 3rd was from Rhone valley!

Your opinion is as always much appreciated. thanks again

Paul

Tricky, aren't they, Pyrgus!!

Assuming your first two pictures show the same insect, it must be one of the following:

carlinae
alveus
armoricanus
foulquieri

I initially assumed these were the Swiss Alps, and thus ruled out foulquieri, but you were based in the French Alps... so it's worth checking the distribution for this.

From the ups, I actually like the look of armoricanus best, but the uns just look so good for carlinae I jumped on this - and the cell mark is pretty c-shaped on the upf.

Whoops - the rugby's just about to start again. Sorry, Paul - the skippers are going to have to wait...

Guy

I didn't see you'd said the last one was malvae. I can see that, and I think it's quite possible the third one is also female malvae, as this is often quite chocolate in colour and the hindwing is much less marked than the male. This one was taken in my garden this spring:



I'm still dithering about the first one, even after several pints of beer and a stonking England victory. That pale scaling all over the wing just doesn't look like my local carlinae. Oh well ...

Guy

Thanks again Guy.

Rugby was really good, though I still was in "we're not going to win" mode until that drop goal!. Hope the French will let me back in next year!! - glad you also find Pyrgus difficult, I think I'm happy with carlinae for the first.... but will have a look again!!!!