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Hi,

Encouraged by my relative success with getting an id for my Turkish Skipper, I thought I'd push my luck a bit and see what you could make of another id which has been a bit vexing over the last few weeks....

The following are pics of two Ilex butterflies, photographed in Spain about 5 weeks ago - question is, Ilex or False Ilex?? ...they are different beasts btw...


Thanks... Ray

The orange lunules seem to be bordered black only inside, so I suggest both are Satyrium esculi.

False Ilex.

As stated, black on one side only, and the white margin only extending half way round the hind wing are the two biggest clues.

Martin.

I agree, on overall jizz and several details (like the shape of the hairstreak, the regularity of the spots, lack of white inner edge to spots, the marginal white line &c.) but both these butterflies do actually have some black on both sides of the orange spots. I copied them into my image editor and massively increased the luminosity - the black on both sides is particularly visible in the first picture when you do this.

I believe male false ilex can have black outside as well as inside.

Guy

Hi Guys,

Thanks very much for your help and comments - sounds like False Ilex it is....

Must confess that I too had been slightly confused by the comments about the black borders to the orange spots, since I thought I could see black on both sides too (albeit not as clear as they appear to be for Ilex, based upon the drawings in Collins)

Again, looking at Collins, the female Ilex appears to have white edging to the orange spots, which neither sex of False Ilex has, but this doesn't appear to be as obvious in the case of male Ilex...

Clearly far from easy (for a beginner!)


Thanks again.... Ray

OK... so now I'm confused.. could someone confirm there is one of each here!!

Paul,
Looks like #1 is False and #2 is Ilex...is that what you wanted to hear?

Absolutely what I wanted to hear, but #2 looks like Ray's #1 to me!!