www.ukbutterflies.co.uk

I posted these in my diary recently, but would welcome some identification help please:

The first set are from Haute Savoie region, first week of August:

I wasn't sure what this one is - the closest I could find in my book was Titania's or PBF?

Unidentified Fritillary.


Mountain Clouded Yellow?


Heath Fritillary?

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And this set from Var, second week in August:

The scrubby woodland of the region had plenty of satyridae species. I'm not confident with my identification of these, so any help would be appreciated.Their preference for shade and their alertness didn't make photography easy:


Woodland Grayling


Tree Graylings


Great Banded Grayling


Striped Grayling

Fritillaries also test my identification powers.



Spotted Fritillary?


Spotted Fritillary?


Heath Fritillary?

I think this is a Chalk Hill Blue, but the orange spots confused me:


Chalk Hill Blue?

And I think this is a helice Clouded Yellow?


Clouded Yellow f. helice?

These seemed tiny, but are probably just plain ol' Brown Argus?


Brown Argus?

All help appreciated!

On a quick look with no detailed study:

Your first fritillary looks very good for Lesser Marbled and the next one is False Heath.

Your Chalk-hill Blue could well be Provence; it is rather worn and the colour is rather in between the blue of CHB and the duller blue of PCHB. Normally the date would be a good clue as PCHB is double brooded in Var in May and September, with CHB in between, although there is some overlap in flight periods. I don't think they fly together, and an underisde shot would be (or should be) conclusive. If you saw it in the south of Var it is more likely to be PCHB. My inclination would be toward PCHB.

Your CY looks more like Berger's to me. I'm judging from the closeness of the apical black area to the cell (discoidal) spot and the wing shape. I have found it surprising difficult to tell Berger's from helice. Again, rather easier in the field. If the body shape is male, then it's Berger's.

Your other IDs look OK to me. Striped Grayling is very localised in Var and quite scarce.

Roger

Many thanks, Roger - I really appreciate your expert opinion.

Re the PCHB, here's an underside picture of possibly the same individual - taken on a different day but in the same spot:



And here's another picture of the helice / Berger's if it helps:



If you're interested, the Striped Grayling was here near here: Google maps