www.ukbutterflies.co.uk

Chasing butterflies and getting that elusive shot has always been a big part of the fun and challenge of this hobby. Incidentally I think most UKB members are keen to record and inform on the number of species they see in a season or on any particular day. However, what I would like to know is whether anyone has any multiple species shots, (specifically those with three or more) in a single photo frame?

I've attached three photos (poor quality granted) in which each has three different species. The first one would've had four had the Purple Hairstreak not decided to weigh anchor when I was getting my camera ready. Three lycaenids (one from each sub-family) on a single shot ... now that would've been something.

I think multiple species shots are hard to come by so I'm intrigued to see what anyone else may have, the species combinations and also the habitats/environments that they've been found in. I'm sure someone must have a buddleia bush shot that can better 3, or a Chalkland shot for that matter.
Quality of the pictures doesn't matter providing they are identifiable. Get posting.

Interesting. I have certainly seen 5 species in close proximity on a buddleia (which isn't too difficult), but getting 3 or more of the non-garden species in any single shot where all are clearly identifiable at relatively close range is pretty good going. I can envisage someone posting a pic with 4 but I doubt very much if anyone can produce a photo with 5 upwards.

Is it cheating to stick in a photo from a flowery track in the Pyrenees?

This was taken in 2008 and has 7 species in it:



They're not obvious but are, from left to right: Escher's blue, false heath frit (f. vernetensis), marbled frit, marbled white, purple-shot copper, pearly heath and ilex hairstreak.

Guy

Any more photos like that, Guy, and you will earn the epithet "The Annoying Swiss"

I'm still trying to get a photo showing Common and Adonis Blues together, in order to show off the intensity of the Adonis colour, independent of the saturation setting in Photoshop.

Mike

padfield wrote:Is it cheating to stick in a photo from a flowery track in the Pyrenees?

Initially I was going to say UK species only and no Butterfly house photo's, but then I thought, why put limitations, lets see what comes back. Fantastic shot by the way Guy I had trouble seeing the hairstreak .. but he's there.

OK - a butterfly house shot with four individuals (the one down near West Wittering in Sussex).

No, I haven't a clue what they are...

Dave

I got this photo of three butterflies together at Speke Hall near Liverpool on 13/9/11.

Three butterflies (Knapweed Fritillary, Grizzled Skipper and Provence Chalk-hill Blue if my identification is correct) from the Alpes-Maritimes in June 2010:
--
Colin

millerd wrote:OK - a butterfly house shot with four individuals (the one down near West Wittering in Sussex).

Green one is a Malachite (Siproeta stelenes) Orange banded one is Shoemaker (I think don't remember latin name) and outer one is Common Eggfly or Diadem (Hypolimnas bolina?), The middle one I've no idea.

Reddog wrote:I got this photo of three butterflies together at Speke Hall near Liverpool on 13/9/11.

Nice shot and combination. They turned up a bit late to nectar on the Rosebay willowherb tho

millerd wrote:No, I haven't a clue what they are...

The green one is Siproeta stelenes - a central and South American Nymphalid. On the right is a female Hypolimnas bolina, a widespread Asian Nymphalid (note the white-spotted body, imitating a Danaid). The remaining two are both Catonephele sp. - probably acontius, from South America.

Guy

EDIT: Philzoid - sorry, I didn't see you'd already posted these IDs!

Reddog wrote:I got this photo of three butterflies together at Speke Hall near Liverpool on 13/9/11.

I like that one, Reddog. Not often that you see a Red Admiral and a Speckled Wood posing next to each other.

Why do butterflies seem to like that stringy white stuff on Rosebay Willowherb though?

padfield wrote:Is it cheating to stick in a photo from a flowery track in the Pyrenees?

Do you really need an answer to that?

I've only got a couple of "multiple species photos" so I'm going to cheat and add in a "multiple forms" photo (good luck finding them both) with my pair of multiple species! Have a goodun

Wurzel

Wurzel wrote:I've only got a couple of "multiple species photos" so I'm going to cheat and add in a "multiple forms" photo (good luck finding them both) with my pair of multiple species!

Marbled Whites and Meadow Brown ..... Chalkhill Blue and Adonis blue ....... Silver washed Fritillary and ...another Silver-washed Fritillary
Is that nicely camouflaged green one an underside shot of a valezina? ... I thought that's what a typical SWF looks like
I took this pic at Bookham Commons in 2008. Is that a valezina?

Philzoid wrote:I took this pic at Bookham Commons in 2008. Is that a valezina?

'Fraid not, Phil. You can make out the normal colouring on the forewing upperside.

Cheers,

- Pete

Well, I can find some unusual pairs... However, three different species is much more tricky!

Dave

Philzoid wrote: "Is that nicely camouflaged green one an underside shot of a valezina?"

It is a Greenish in the background, but I from that distance how you could have worked that out I'm not sure- I know it was because I was there but as for everyone else... Hopefully someone will be able to tell me how to differentiate the forms from that particular view

Have a goodun

Wurzel

It's not an ID point, but your picture does illustrate something often said about valezina females - that they prefer the shade.

Intentionally or otherwise, your picture tells a story: the male is zooming around in the sun and poor old valezina is lurking in the gloom. This is sometimes cited as a reason for valezina having less mating success than normal females.

Guy

Thanks Pete, Wurzel and Guy. You've cleared up that issue nicely

Some great combinations there Dave
I particularly like the Orange Tip and Wood White with the Lulworth Skipper and Common Blue a close second

Phil