www.ukbutterflies.co.uk

Hello all, I have just returned from a visit across the south of France, the Var, Bouches-du-Rhone,and the Pyrénées-Orientales, where I managed to see my target species for the year,the Violet Copper (Lycaena helle). After two days searching I finally found this little beauty perched on my wife's hiking stick when she returned from a little walk, you couldn't make it up !!! see photos and many others including L dispar, a stunning newly emerged male on my website by clicking on this link.
http://jamesgibbs6929.zenfolio.com/f118467859

As I live close to Collards Hill in Somerset it is not far to visit and pay respect to the Large Blue colony ,this year they seem to be doing fine and I have observed good numbers ,photos on website .
http://jamesgibbs6929.zenfolio.com/p577876181#h4b335529

Hello. I've just had a quick browse through these pictures - and some fantastic ones among them. It sounds a very productive holiday.

A couple of comments on the species themselves. Firstly (and I don't do this just to annoy!) I'm unconvinced by some of the Pyrgus (! ) - in particular, some of the carthami (e.g., no 75 ...). When I've got time I'll give a more detailed critique but today is for exam marking and report-writing.

However, I'm fascinated by your mention of Melitaea helvetica. This taxon is presumably that listed in Oorschot and Coutsis (2014) as Melitaea athalia helvetica and described there as an invalid subspecific name for hybrids between M. athalia and M. nevadensis (=celadussa). Clearly, I'm particularly interested in anything bearing the name 'helvetica' - and I'd love to know if more recent authorities count it as a valid species in its own right. What is your source?

Guy