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Northern Brown Argus or Common Blue
Posted: Wed Jun 26, 2013 7:37 pm
by Jonny721
Went looking for Butterflies with a mate at Warton Crag in Lancashire today, and whilst there we spotted this little one.At the time we couldn't decide if it was a Northern Brown Argus or a female Common Blue, and even now after looking at pictures on the internet I'm still not sure! It seems to show a mixture of features between the two. Anyone with more experience of Northern Brown Argus able to help us out on this one?
Re: Northern Brown Argus or Common Blue
Posted: Wed Jun 26, 2013 7:42 pm
by Pete Eeles
I'm pretty sure this is Northern Brown Argus ssp. salmacis.
Cheers,
- Pete
Re: Northern Brown Argus or Common Blue
Posted: Wed Jun 26, 2013 7:52 pm
by Jonny721
That's great thanks Pete! My first sighting of this species having previously missed them at several sites in 2011 and 2012
Re: Northern Brown Argus or Common Blue
Posted: Wed Jun 26, 2013 8:41 pm
by David M
The 'pointier' wings scream Northern Brown Argus ssp. salmacis to me.
Re: Northern Brown Argus or Common Blue
Posted: Wed Jun 26, 2013 9:22 pm
by Padfield
As so often, the fact this is a male rules out the possibility it is a common blue!
Guy
Re: Northern Brown Argus or Common Blue
Posted: Wed Jun 26, 2013 10:39 pm
by MikeOxon
I have noticed myself that salmacis sometimes lack the 'colon' mark on the underside of the hindwing, which is often taken as a discriminator for Brown Argus. in your case, the inner spot of the 'colon' is present but very much reduced.
Mike
Re: Northern Brown Argus or Common Blue
Posted: Wed Jun 26, 2013 10:51 pm
by Pete Eeles
padfield wrote:As so often, the fact this is a male rules out the possibility it is a common blue!
Guy
How on earth did I miss something that obvious?
Cheers,
- Pete