ID please Butterfly from Valais switzerland

[LCPete]

Hi just got back from a trip to Switzerland to see family
Managed to find some butterflies
I was amazed to see Queen of Spain Fritilary and Bath whites could not believe my luck

I found this blue about the size of a Holly Blue, its probably a Small Blue but the spots are different to the ones I saw in the UK two years ago

[Rogerdodge]

Looks like Green-underside Blue to me.
Very nice, fresh, specimen.
Good photo too.

HTH

[David M]

Yes. Lovely, detailed shot. Good spot.

[Padfield]

Lovely photo. I'd be interested to know the date you saw the butterfly. I last checked at a Valais site on 31st March expecting to see one, but didn't. I've been in the UK since 3rd April (returning to rain and snow a couple of days ago) and I like to keep track of emergence times each year.

Bath whites and Queen of Spain had an excellent March. For your records, the Swiss Bath whites are the eastern species, Pontia edusa, not Pontia daplidice (though some dispute this distinction at species level).

Guy

[LCPete]

Thanks Roger David and Guy for the ID
I saw the Green-underside Blue on the 9th of April (monday afternoon) at Vetroz
The day afterwards I saw a Scarce Swallowtail fly around quite close it was brilliant to see it did not land but made my day to see it

[Padfield]

Thanks Pete. That exactly matches my first last year, on 9th April, a little further along the valley.

This has been a very funny year. February was bitterly cold and put a hold on the vegetation, suggesting it was going to be a late season. March countered this with wall-to-wall sunshine, making it my earliest season ever. Now April is again stamping on the brakes. It will be interesting to see what the butterflies make of it all.

Guy

[LCPete]

Thanks Pete. That exactly matches my first last year, on 9th April, a little further along the valley.

This has been a very funny year. February was bitterly cold and put a hold on the vegetation, suggesting it was going to be a late season. March countered this with wall-to-wall sunshine, making it my earliest season ever. Now April is again stamping on the brakes. It will be interesting to see what the butterflies make of it all.

Guy

agree about the weather turned cold here too frost last night
Did see my first orange tip yesterday a day earlier than last year so hopefully the butterflies won't be affected