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A Frit, but which Frit?

Hi Zonda,
another lovely picture (as always). I'd say Small Pearl-Bordered Fritillary. No floating triangles ! But heck, wait until the experts arrive. Where did you take it?
Michael

Most certainly! A beautiful shot of a male SPBF.

Guy

Thank you both, i have not yet learnt to tell the upper wing shots apart, a lot of Frits look the same to me.They do overlap somewhat at the site. This is an underwing, and confirms your identities, hope you don't mind me picking your brains.

Michael:

No floating triangles

OK,,, so now tell me about the floating triangles,,, LOL i am a complete novice in Frit identification.

Wait! I think i have it. the PBF has indeed floating triangles, many thanks Michael.

In small pearl-bordered fritillary, the wings edges are bordered internally by linked arches. In pearl-bordered, these arches are replaced by detached (in the male - not always detached in the female) triangles, which 'float' inside the marginal line.

This is pearl-bordered:



There are many other differences of detail, which combine to a very different overall appearance.

Guy

Thank you Guy, all becomes clear, and i progress along the butterfly track a few inches more.

Zonda,
sometimes I do forget which of the two species has the 'floating triangles' When you get to my age, the hard drive on the memory has somewhat filled up! When I was in France recently I kept on having this voice inside my head going "if you want the folks from UKbutterflies to identify this, you'd better get an underwing shot as well!" so ....I'm always trying to get an 'underwing' shot too just to confirm things. Not always possible, of course.
As always, wonderful images.
Michael

Thanks for this tip - really useful.

Michaeljf:

Where did you take it?

Sorry Mike i forgot to reply,,,,, Bentley Wood.