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Skippers
Posted: Wed Jan 06, 2010 7:36 pm
by Denise
Hi all,
I posted these images in the Species-Specific Albums as Oberthur's Grizzled Skipper.
I took them on holiday in Hungary this summer. They were ID'd by the trip leader (Vic Tucker) and the local guide (Saffi) as Oberthur's Grizzled Skipper, but now there is a question of them being Safflower Skipper.
Can anyone help?
Thanks
Denise
Re: Skippers
Posted: Wed Jan 06, 2010 8:18 pm
by Padfield
Hi Denise,
Although these are a little different from the safflower skippers I see in Switzerland (which is not surprising), I would certainly identify them as this. The real key feature I can't judge from the pictures, and that is size. Safflower skipper is huge. But the other things that stand out are:
The broad, continuous, white band around the outer edge of the hindwing underside. This is very characteristic of safflower:
(safflower)
In contrast, Oberthür's lacks this band, so the ground colour reaches the edge of the wing:
(Oberthür's)
You notice that Oberthür's also has conspicuous bright veins on the underside hindwing.
The male upperside hindwing of safflower has, like your first picture, a witch doctor's necklace of teeth - sometimes much more conspicuous than in your picture. Oberthür's doesn't usually look like this.
(Safflower)
Oberthür's usually has a rather conspicuous central mark on the upperside hindwing:
(Oberthür's)
There are other features, but I don't need to go on. These are safflower skippers to me!
Guy
Re: Skippers
Posted: Wed Jan 06, 2010 8:49 pm
by Denise
Thank you Guy.
I did see both species, but I got them mixed up.
What would I do without you
Happy new year.
Denise
Re: Skippers
Posted: Wed Jan 06, 2010 8:54 pm
by Padfield
Happy New Year, Denise!
Guy
Re: Skippers
Posted: Wed Jan 06, 2010 11:54 pm
by Roger Gibbons
That's a great Safflower upperside photo, Guy, of an immaculate fresh specimen with that beautiful charcoal grey colouring so characteristic of the male this species.
And you took this with a compact-type camera?
Roger
Re: Skippers
Posted: Thu Jan 07, 2010 12:15 am
by Padfield
Thanks Roger! Yes, the same old Canon Powerpoint A710IS I think it's called.
All real credit to the butterfly though - it was a cracker!
Guy