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Aberrant Marsh Fritillary?
Posted: Sat Apr 30, 2011 7:32 pm
by millerd
Visiting Hod Hill today, I spied a much darker individual than usual. With the wind blowing and the sunshine intermittent, it allowed itself to be photographed.
Is this another example of a melanic aberration? It does look rather unusual, and even the underside looks a bit different.
Dave
Re: Aberrant Marsh Fritillary?
Posted: Sat Apr 30, 2011 8:04 pm
by Trev Sawyer
Wooooowwwww!
That's a cracker Dave!
Trev
Re: Aberrant Marsh Fritillary?
Posted: Sat Apr 30, 2011 11:03 pm
by Padfield
Amazing butterfly! Most definitely melanic!!
Guy
Re: Aberrant Marsh Fritillary?
Posted: Sun May 01, 2011 8:51 am
by David M
That's a stunner. I wonder whether the bizarre spring weather may throw up a few more Marsh Fritillary abs over the coming weeks?
Re: Aberrant Marsh Fritillary?
Posted: Sun May 01, 2011 5:53 pm
by millerd
David M wrote:I wonder whether the bizarre spring weather may throw up a few more Marsh Fritillary abs over the coming weeks?
Some chillier nights are forecast this week, so who knows?
I count myself very lucky to have found this one, though. As always, photos just don't do it justice.
Dave
Re: Aberrant Marsh Fritillary?
Posted: Thu Jun 16, 2011 5:42 pm
by millerd
The MF season must be pretty well done now. Bearing in mind the higher-than-usual incidence of aberrations in other species this spring, did anyone spot any other non-standard Marsh Fritillaries anywhere?
This one may have been a one-off I suppose. I wonder if it has a name?
Dave
Re: Aberrant Marsh Fritillary?
Posted: Thu Jun 16, 2011 6:43 pm
by Michaeljf
There was this one I photographed in windy conditions in Aberbargoed Grasslands on the 22nd May. Not as exciting as yours though!
I've never had time to visit again when they were at their peak, unfortunately.
Michael
Re: Aberrant Marsh Fritillary?
Posted: Thu Jun 16, 2011 7:14 pm
by millerd
Michaeljf wrote:Not as exciting as yours though!
Michael
I wouldn't say that - it looks distinctly odd to me!
Dave
Re: Aberrant Marsh Fritillary?
Posted: Fri Jun 17, 2011 12:23 pm
by Piers
Ab. virgata, Michael.
Piers.
Re: Aberrant Marsh Fritillary?
Posted: Fri Jun 17, 2011 2:43 pm
by Michaeljf
Bless you, Piers
Re: Aberrant Marsh Fritillary?
Posted: Sun Jun 19, 2011 8:54 pm
by Dave McCormick
Nice, both look interesting. Never seen such a dark Marsh fritillary before. If yours Dave was photographed in Europe, I may have mistaken that for some other fritillary.
Re: Aberrant Marsh Fritillary?
Posted: Sun Jun 19, 2011 10:06 pm
by millerd
I haven't been able to find a picture anywhere of anything like it - but I believe melanic specimens pop up in most fritillaries and this is just more extreme than some.
Dave
Re: Aberrant Marsh Fritillary?
Posted: Mon Jun 20, 2011 10:41 am
by Vince Massimo
millerd wrote:I haven't been able to find a picture anywhere of anything like it.
Dave
I have
, but I'm sure it's the same individual . Taken at Hod Hill 5 days later on 4th May.
- Aberrant Marsh Fritillary 4-May-11
It's a very poor photo, but the only one I got. I also saw a very pale-coloured individual which was very fresh, but alas no photo.
Vince.
Dave: Is there any chance I could have high resolution copies of your 3 photos for my own records?
Re: Aberrant Marsh Fritillary?
Posted: Mon Jun 20, 2011 6:41 pm
by millerd
Looks like the same chap to me! I'm glad no one chose to eat him for a while.
I've sent you a PM, Vince.
Dave