Variation in Adonis Blues
Posted: Wed Dec 28, 2011 8:44 pm
Long dark evenings - time to shuffle through the snaps and see what you missed back in the heady days of summer sunshine.
Looking at my Adonis Blue photos, I noticed that one or two of the males had black spots (with a border crescent of white) around the edges of their hindwings. Most, however, were completely clear. I remembered that the hybrid with the Chalkhill Blue (known as polonus) has this feature and looked at the one on the species pages here for comparison. To be honest, they look the same to me! However, I know mine can't be polonus, because it was seen in August, and polonus appears with the spring brood.
The insect below was seen at Denbies during Susie's walk on 6th August, and I have added a "normal" one for comparison. What I don't know how to do is summon up the image of the definite polonus from the galleries to sit it alongside!
Any observations, anyone? Is this just within normal variation? Is there any other distinguishing feature of polonus to look for?
Dave
Looking at my Adonis Blue photos, I noticed that one or two of the males had black spots (with a border crescent of white) around the edges of their hindwings. Most, however, were completely clear. I remembered that the hybrid with the Chalkhill Blue (known as polonus) has this feature and looked at the one on the species pages here for comparison. To be honest, they look the same to me! However, I know mine can't be polonus, because it was seen in August, and polonus appears with the spring brood.
The insect below was seen at Denbies during Susie's walk on 6th August, and I have added a "normal" one for comparison. What I don't know how to do is summon up the image of the definite polonus from the galleries to sit it alongside!
Any observations, anyone? Is this just within normal variation? Is there any other distinguishing feature of polonus to look for?
Dave