www.ukbutterflies.co.uk

Hi all, I last posted int the ID section following my return from Skiathos in June. I didn't realise this board was here at the time so being Greek butterflies, I posted here. After a return visit in September, I am now going through some that I have questions and wonder if anyone can help? This hairstreak was taken in June and I am still unable to identify it, sadly this is the only image I got!

Also taken in June were these Wood whites. Are these both the same variety? I have all of these listed as Meadow Brown. Are they simply a mix with different variables? Finally, we saw this Fritillary in September but I got the idea it was late flying. It is probably the biggest of this type that I have seen and while it is difficult to provide sizes in hindsight, I would say it was easily 3 inches + across.
If anyone could help with any of these, I would appreciate it it. Other wise I guess they will have to stay in my mystery folder

Hi Chrissy,

The first one is a male purple hairstreak. The tails are very long and fine and I suspect he is quite freshly emerged, even though the angle doesn't show up the purple.

The meadow browns do all look like meadow browns (jurtina) to me.

Both the last pictures are female silver-washed fritillaries, but the second is form valezina.

The wood whites I won't declare on. They look in many respect like Eastern wood whites but I'm not familiar with the extent and location of the white on the antennae that is supposed to separate these from wood whites and Réal's wood whites. The species are all very variable across their range and although yours are quite different from my local wood whites that is not sufficient for me to say they are not the same species.

One useful feature for Eastern wood white is the humped vein 1 on the forewing. This is not obviously visible in your first picture - the hindwing costa gets in the way. An upperside photo might help.

Guy

Guy, thank you so much. That adds two species to my ever growing list
As for more images...I shall just have to go back next year, LOL

If you have any Grayling tips...tell me now

For the wood whites, see http://www.euroleps.ch/seiten/g_fam.php ... morphiinae. I find some of the book descriptions of the antennae a little confusing but all the photos I've seen of Eastern wood white show much darker antennal clubs than your first picture shows. I'd go for ordinary wood white.

Graylings (the Hipparchia group) can be very difficult! Fortunately, a lot of species can be identified by postcode; but the ones that can't can be very variable across their range!! I have formed various theories from the localities I've watched graylings in but I can't say for certain my theories apply generally.

Guy

padfield wrote:Both the last pictures are female silver-washed fritillaries, but the second is form valezina.

From Chrissy's original description and the fact that both photos seem to be in the identical location, I had assumed that these two Silver-washed Frits are the same butterfly. In that case, she is not valezina; it may just be the lighting on the underside which gives that impression.

Mike

You're right, Mike - I didn't read the small print!!

If they're the same butterfly then it's not valezina - it's just the light, as you say.

Guy