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Aberrant brown hairstreak

Posted: Sat Jan 22, 2011 8:39 pm
by Trev Sawyer
Looking back over some old photos. I came across this shot taken at Whitecross Green Wood (in 2007 I think)...

Image

Judging by the "looped" white line on the lower wing, it appears to be an aberrant brown hairstreak? If so, has it a name?

Trev

Re: Aberrant brown hairstreak

Posted: Mon Mar 07, 2011 3:08 pm
by IAC
Hi Trev,
I was thinking that you probably already know the answer to this....it looks like ab. Uncilinea. http://www.nhm.ac.uk/jdsml/research-cur ... me=betulae

We dont have any Brown Hairstreaks up here in Scotland sadly. So I am no expert.

IAC.

Re: Aberrant brown hairstreak

Posted: Mon Mar 07, 2011 4:43 pm
by Padfield
Sorry about the huge delay in anyone replying, Trev! If it happens again, don't hesitate to prompt. It's a great picture of a very interesting insect.

I looked it up when you posted it (and drew the same conclusion as IAC), then thought I'd leave it to Felix, the abs man, to comment, then I forgot all about it...

Guy

Re: Aberrant brown hairstreak

Posted: Mon Mar 07, 2011 6:54 pm
by Trev Sawyer
Thanks Guys,
As it was the first Brown Hairstreak I had ever seen, I didn't realise it was anything out of the ordinary for the species at the time. I have still to see one with it's wings open - and envy all those who have posted shots of this lovely insect with upperwings showing. Maybe this season :wink: .
Trev

Re: Aberrant brown hairstreak

Posted: Mon Mar 07, 2011 8:51 pm
by Piers
Certainly ab. uncilinea, fron the latin linea (line) and unci meaning hook-shaped, from the latin uncus; unci being the plural.

Very nice indeed Trev, apologies for not seeing this thread earlier.

Felix.

Re: Aberrant brown hairstreak

Posted: Mon Mar 07, 2011 9:02 pm
by Padfield
Just a Latin point: Although unci is the plural of uncus, the i appears here as the link vowel of an undeclinable compound stem, not as a plural ending. :wink: The connecting vowel when the second part of a compound begins with a consonant is i.

Guy

(Megapedant)

Re: Aberrant brown hairstreak

Posted: Tue Mar 08, 2011 8:53 am
by Piers
Excellent, thanks Guy. That explains my confusion over why the reference to 'hooked' was plural; it wasn't :D

My comprehension of latin is sketchy, but it gets me by within my fields of interest. My usage however is deplorably poor.

Felix.
Ps. Pedantry is always a good thing :wink:

Re: Aberrant brown hairstreak

Posted: Tue Mar 08, 2011 9:20 am
by Padfield
There's a very useful document here:

http://www.genvid.com/diesgaudii/latin/ ... pounds.pdf

If you ever want to name your own aberration you'll need to refer to it!

Guy