Good question. I really couldn’t say, mainly because I have so little experience of
bellieri (
foulquieri), but these are the thoughts wandering aimlessly around in my head.
I would agree that the
cirsii cell/discoidal spot is not as wide as you would expect for
cirsii, but I have found the odd few
cirsii where this is the case. This is one:
http://www.butterfliesoffrance.com/html ... Var_1Sep13_
This was definitely identified as
cirsii from the underside.
The upf marks are certainly jagged (paint splashes) which is usually a trademark of
bellieri, but I have found
cirsii can be a little like this and the splashes are not so exaggerated as to preclude
cirsii. Almost, though.
The hindwing discal mark is slightly cleft, whereas in
cirsii I have found it always to be solid. The mark seems more indicative of
armoricanus (Oberthur’s). Also it is quite white (comparatively), whereas
cirsii is often yellowish to a varying degree. The overall look look and feel is one of
armoricanus and if it wasn’t for the jagged marks, I’d say it was a strong candidate.
The location and date seem right for both
cirsii and
bellieri.
I think you would need an underside shot to be definitive, but I’m sure we’d have seen one if one existed. Or a view of the underside of the abdomen (it is a male) but is this only a way of telling
bellieri from
alveus?
My question is: did it seem large in the field? If it did, then
bellieri is much more of a possibility. I had a similar problem specimen earlier this year:
http://www.butterfliesoffrance.com/html ... ar_27May14_
This was very large, much much larger than the
armoricanus also flying there. Despite the wear, the jagged marks strongly suggested
bellieri and the unh marks all ticked the
bellieri boxes. But it was seen in May, way too early for
bellieri.
In conclusion, it’s a case (for me) of which species has the least reasons why not. I think I’d say
cirsii 50%,
bellieri 30% and
armoricanus 20%.