www.ukbutterflies.co.uk

Must admit, I've never seen anything like this:

It's a dead ringer for this ab. :http://www.nhm.ac.uk/research-curation/ ... scientific

The definition of ab. reichstettensis is: On the upperside of the forewings only the two basal spots are normal. All the margins are broadly dusted black, especially on the inner margin from whence this black dusting reaches the centre of the discus in the form of a black triangular blotch. Hindwings even more heavily dusted with black so that only a small streak of normal ground colour remains at the base and on the fringes. Gaede in Seitz Macrolep.Suppl.1.p.344 says the correct name for this form is reichstettensis Fettig but gives no reference. This description is taken from that of Ruhl.

However, I'm not sure if your specimen conforms to "On the upperside of the forewings only the two basal spots are normal", but it does seem to match the BMNH specimen!

Cheers,

- Pete

Thanks for that, Pete. Yes, that ab in the Cockayne collection does seem to be identical to this individual.

I do have an underside, though it's not a perfect image:

Wow!

Tony M.

Absolutely stunning butterfly!!