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Copy of previous posting from the ID forum. Anyone any ideas or suggestions.

These are not good pictures. All were taken from a train window in Sweden (!). If anyone can hazard a guess at what they are of I would be very grateful, thanks.

Apologies for the pictures and the potential problems seeing what the pictures are of.

Thanks as always

All the best
Paul

I think the blues are Amanda's, sitting among the larval foodplant. I hesitate to guess at the fritillaries, but possibly Lesser Marbled.

Misha

I think the third blue is female P. icarus. Can't say anything about the frits.

The female looks like f.isias of amanda to me. Can't be certain though. Have a look at Tolman and Lewington plate 32.

Misha

True enough. It could well be that. I keep forgetting it as I have never (knowingly) seen one.

hmmm! I'm such a novice, but i can see Tufted vetch.

Pretty good pictures from a train window!!

I'm very confident the amandus ID is correct - that was certainly the first (and only) thing that sprang into my mind on seeing the first two pictures. The third blue is not a form I'm familiar with, but the fact it looked so weird to me supports the idea it's a nordic speciality.

I also agree with the lesser marbled ID, though with less confidence. I don't think it's Clossiana, and of the Brenthis, ino is easily the most likely. Lesser marbled fritillary is nearly always found near stands of meadowsweet, a conspicuous plant with its soft white flowers even when viewed from a train. It is also normally found near water, or at least in damp meadows. Does that match the area the train was passing through?

Guy

padfield wrote:I don't think it's Clossiana, and of the Brenthis, ino is easily the most likely.

That is also the only species of that genus found in Sweden...

Many thanks for the help once again. The pictures I asked about were all taken through a closed train window when it broke down on its way out of Stockholm. We had to disembark for 1/2 hour soon afterwards. I couldn't find these one to photograph again but did find a Ringlet and a Large Skipper plus this one which I am sure is a Pearly Heath.

All the best

Paul

Hi Paul,

Looks like Pearly Heath to me.

Denise