www.ukbutterflies.co.uk

I was at Alners Gorse in Dorset yesterday 25th July and several of us saw this rather unusual Gatekeeper. The white bands were quite bright and very obvious when it was in flight. I have not seen anything like this before - is it a known aberration?

I've seen a few others post similar images (and I've also seen Meadow Browns with 'washed out' markings). Not sure if it's a bona fide aberration but it is certainly noteworthy.

With the markings being symetrical I would say thats a definate abberation.

Could be ab. antipallidula: "Forewings with at least the outer half ochreous or yellowish, hindwings normal", although the hindwings appear to be affected too.

Possibly ab. lesoudierae: "The entire border of all four wings white, even in the part bordering the margins of the forewings, the orange-brown area is very light and the dark base of the hindwings is very mixed with white scales. This would seem to be a symmetrical pathological form".

http://www.ukbutterflies.co.uk/aberrati ... s=tithonus

Cheers,

- Pete