www.ukbutterflies.co.uk

Last year I thought I'd got a pic of a SA, it turned out to be a Meadow Brown with two spots, anyway on Thursday I took some pic's and thought they were all Small Heath until I looked more closely, I'm sure now I've got a Scotch Argus pic, can some one confirm this please. Two Pic's One SA seems Paler than the other ,could they be Male and Female Goldie M

Pretty sure those are Small Heaths. It's too early for SAs, isn't it?

From this site: "Butterflies emerge at the end of July, peaking in mid-August with a few individuals surviving into September"

They are Small Heath, Goldie.

Where did you take the photos?

Cheers

Lee

When you do find Scotch argus, Goldie (and you will ), you will find they are much larger and darker than these small heaths. Fresh males look silky black and females are also dark above though the undersides are paler. Unlike small heaths they readily rest with the wings open, revealing the reddish bands and black eye-spots. I don't think you'll have any difficulty about identifying them, or any doubts!

Guy

PS - I think the twin pupils are quite unusual for small heath.

I took the photo's in Ainsdale Dunes at Southport it's very sheltered there in the scrub. If their Small Heath's why have they got the twin spots? My other pics taken same day same area of what I think or Small Heath haven't got the twin spots. I know you can't always go off what the books say, but my book said early June, so I took this to be a maybe.
Here are two more shots I took of (what I think ) or Small Heath . The markings are very differant Goldie OH! the first was takn 19th of May the 2nd 25th May when I took the other pics.

I think both your photos show the same insect, even though you took them some days apart - the markings are remarkably similar. They are definitely not Scotch argus - not even a maybe!! Keep looking (but not just yet, even this year...).

Guy

I still Don't understand why in my first two Pic's the butterflies have twin spots and the other's haven't Goldie Looks like I'll just have to go to Spec Savers Goldie

That does happen occasionally with the browns, even the Meadow Brown sometimes has twin spots, or no spots, or more spots...they can be quite variable.

The Small Heath ground colour on the underside hind wing can also vary, from very pale to very dark, some with a row of spots, some without.

Cheers

Lee

Hi Goldie

Here's some photos of Scotch Argus males and females taken at Arnside Knott last year on 1st August.
Hope these shots help

Thanks Paul, you must have read my mind, I was going to ask if anyone had any pics of the SA so I'd have an idea what to look for next time. I'll also put the date you saw them in my diary, if I don't see them before that, I'll be up there then Thanks everybody for your input it's very helpful and educational I'm learning all the time : Goldie M