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Here are a few recent shots from the mid-northern Italian Alps and environs, more will be added in due course, hope they have been worth posting...at least it shows what one might see with a bit of effort in that region, though being a very late season, probably more indicative for mid-late June than early July!.


This was our first encounter... (a not) Silver Studded Blue





then a Carline Skipper....



and what I think is a Knapweed Fritillary...



expect further uploads soon!

Certainly worth posting - lovely pictures!

I agree that's a knapweed fritillary.

Look forward to the Erebia challenge to come ...

Guy

Here are some more, from what was a cool overcast mountain pass, hence the paucity on our second day...

A Heath Fritillary...



then a series of Dewy Ringlets...









A Grizzled Skipper...



and an Olive Skipper....



interesting to see the mutual "looks like I'm gonna get wet" pose, heads against the stems.

Many more to come, as the weather hots up, and we learn where to look... ie not too low, or too high

Our first trip to Albula region didn't come off too well...

Almond Eyed Ringlet...



Dusky Grizzled Skipper...



and underside...




Then back at base, the weather still not very kind...

Marbled white...



Knapweed Fritillary, I think, though less certain...



Small Pearl, in "mosquito alley" ( Power Line cut), them bites still hurt...

4th Day, the mountain we stayed on, at a brilliant Trattoria called Fordeccia.... much recommended... onward to the upper reaches of the Alpe di Mezzo......

A normal male Mazarine...



and a more unusual female....





The books don't seem to indicate orange spot Mazarines from other than Greece

Then the privilege of an unfurling Mountain Ringlet....





Also a beautiful female Silver Stud, or is it Reverdin's ???





and finally a classic darwiniana...



more to come yet

Hi Paul. More brilliant pictures! I agree with your knapweed but it's difficult to see epiphron in the ringlet ... Is this the one you were considering mnestra for? I would incline towards mnestra on this view alone, but of course I don't know what else you saw of it. The silver-stud is a silver-stud, not argy (apart from anything else, female argy has white fringes)! Lovely pictures of the dusky grizzled skipper - totally unambiguous from upperside or underside.

As we discussed in the car, that female mazarine is very interesting.

Guy

Hi again... this wasn't a ?mnestra, I wish!!
I have developed the only glimpse of upperside I have on camera, deliberately lightened to show up the dark interior.... not one to hang on the wall!...
I'll sort Andy's photos out, he was the only one energetic enough to get to the erebia in time to get record shots, rather than portraits.... watch this space!

here is a selection of Andy's queries....

1) 2) 3) 4) 5) medusa I believe... ... and in the new way of GP....

5th day... back to Albula region, better weather....

Large Blues





Glandon Blue



A welcome second ever sighting and a much better photo of the brilliant Alpine Grayling..



Alpine Blue... still gorgeous....



Dewy Ringlet



forgiven for tricking us into thinking it might be Little Fritillary, but is really Marsh Fritillary form debilis...



Alpine form of Purple Edged Copper..



an emergent Amanda's Blue...



Alpine Heath...



Geranium Argus...



Woodland Ringlet...



and finally Mountain Argus...

Second last full day... with Guy in Switzerland, most of which he covered in his diary ! Just a couple of photos, and a lifer for me, the Mountain GVW...



and the other "Alpine" in it's name not so far depicted... the Alpine Grizzled Skipper.....

Last full day, and only a few to add, though it includes my best of the trip, Thor's Fritillary, encountered somewhere we were not expecting it or much else for that matter.... proves you don't have to visit known square inches to see things when abroad, unlike our butterfly museums over here...

Lesser Mountain Ringlet...





then the intermediate form of Alpine/Darwin's Heath..



another Purple edged Copper..



Sooty Copper...



The legendary Thor's (again)..



and last but very much not least, a Large Ringlet....

More brilliant pictures, Paul!

I think all Andy's queries are epiphron, ssp. aetheria.

I was really glad to join you for the end of your holiday. And, as I said, it was only your text the next day saying you had stumbled across thore that suddenly gave me the idea to look for this species myself! Weird that P.J. happened across the same species the same week!

Guy

Wow, what an amazing selection of butterflies. They would all be lifers for me! Thanks for sharing them.

I would be very grateful for any advice regarding these skippers from Itally, previously posted, but not responded to on....

viewtopic.php?f=14&t=7065

They still sit uncertainly in a file... I would really appreciate advice

I would be very grateful for any advice regarding these skippers from Itally, previously posted, but not responded to on....

viewtopic.php?f=14&t=7065

They still sit uncertainly in a file... I would really appreciate advice