SW France and N Spain, help please

[dragnil]

Hello again,

Just back from a super trip to the Pyrenees and then Asturias in Northern Spain. I've catalogued all my bird pictures but, as usual, I have some butterflies which I can't pin down (not literally!). Any help will be gratefully received.

Nos 1 to 4 were in the French Pyrenees and No 4 was interesting in the behaviour. I think I'm right in saying it's an Adonis Blue (sticking my neck out here) and in other years I've noticed small flocks/clusters/herds of them feeding or drinking on animal dung. I've assumed they were just going for moisture but there may be a different thought... I had parked the car for lunch and noticed 10+ butterflies on the front bumper and lights and they appeared to be feeding or drinking. Could they have been attracted to the film of splattered insects? There was certainly no moisture to be had.

The last 2 butterflies were seen in eastern Asturias in the north of Spain; 5 shows the underwing spot hidden and revealed.

Thanks in advance for any help you are able to offer a bird watcher who enjoys the beauty of nature in all its forms.

David

[Chris Jackson]

Hi David,
Here are some possible IDs for your photos. They may be worth contemplating pending an expert opinion.

6. Gatekeeper
5. Meadow Brown
4. This is hardly an Adonis Blue - wrong blue colour, no chequered fringes, etc.
Probably in the 'Lysandra' genus - possibly Chalk-hill Blue ?
3. Mountain Ringlet ? - You need a ringlet specialist on this one !! (Guy ?, Roger ?)
2. Small Heath
1. Marbled White

I think that you can find all of these species in the UK with a bit of traveling - sorry, nothing ABSOLUTELY exotic here species-wise, but as long as you had a good holiday, that's what counts.
Cheers, Chris.

[dragnil]

Many thanks for that, Chris, in today's post was my county trust magazine with a small feature on the Marbled White and I saw the similarity there. But, somehow, you expect different species when in other countries, even though that's quite wrong when you think about it. I'll await confirmation of the blue and ringlet from those with more experience and knowledge than I have in this field - thanks again that was a big help.
D

[Padfield]

Hi David. Yes, the blue is a chalkhill blue. I believe it is not just moisture but also minerals that they enjoy at mud/dung. Although adult butterflies do not need nutrition for growth and repair (because they neither grow nor significantly repair themselves) they do take minerals for metabolic purposes, as well as sugars (from nectar). Sometimes they gather in thousands in the heat of an afternoon ...

The ringlet is a small mountain ringlet, Erebia epiphron.

Guy

[dragnil]

Thanks, Guy, that's really helpful just like this forum always is.