www.ukbutterflies.co.uk

Thank you to those who helped to ID my last find.

I have another, photographed (rather badly) in the gardens at Beaulieu house today.

Any ideas? I'm thinking it might be a copper but I don't know which one. This was the best shot I could get.

Laura

That looks like a female Common Blue, Laura.

Dave

Ahh thank you! I didn't see any blue on it at all, but I guess some blues aren't that blue!

Hi Laura. I think that's a female common blue. I only say 'think' because it's difficult to judge the fringe structure from this picture. The forewing looks like a common blue fringe but the hindwing suggests Adonis blue is possible. The difference is that common blue has a two-tone fringe, darker on the Inside, while Adonis has a bright white fringe, with chequering that extends to the outside. The forewing fringe on your butterfly looks just right for common blue but it could be an artefact.

I've just seen that Dave agrees with common blue.

Guy

Thanks Guy.

I'm enjoying my first season of this butterfly stuff so far

In the absence of more detail I'd plump for a Common Blue female as well

If the location is Beaulieu in Hampshire (which I assumed it was), then that is not particularly close to any Adonis Blue sites (Isle of Wight may be the closest). I also don't think any second brood Adonis are out in the UK yet, so I think it has to be a Common Blue.

You'll find as you get into this splendid hobby that most female blues aren't very blue at all!

Dave

Padfield wrote:The difference is that common blue has a two-tone fringe, darker on the Inside, while Adonis has a bright white fringe, with chequering that extends to the outside. The forewing fringe on your butterfly looks just right for common blue but it could be an artefact.

Guy, when are you going to write a book on European butterfly identification? Can I pre-order one now?!!

I'm firmly in the female Common Blue camp because I feel that I can see evidence of the double fringe on the hind wings and it is, by far, the most likely.

In UK, there is now only one copper - the Small Copper - which is very distinctive. The others are extinct here. You should get yourself an up-to-date field guide. I'm happy to recommend Richard Lewington's from http://www.britishwildlife.com/viewbook.asp?bookid=33

Identification in Britain is much easier, once you realise that the 'menu' is quite short, though there are various regional variations to look out for, as well. Once you cross the Channel, it all gets a lot more difficult (too difficult for me )

I too am stumped.I have been trying to buy and download the App European Butterflies by Guy and others.I have neither an I phone or an I pad.I have a Blackberry and computers with windows 7 and 10.I have tried and succeeded in downloading the I-tunes store and even buying the app.It appears on my computer solely as the front label and doesn't play.This is really addressed to Guy-is there an easier way of getting it such as from Amazon.
I do want to see it and then I should be able to identify all the European butterflies. P.J.Underwood

P.J.Underwood wrote:I too am stumped.I have been trying to buy and download the App European Butterflies by Guy and others.I have neither an I phone or an I pad.I have a Blackberry and computers with windows 7 and 10.I have tried and succeeded in downloading the I-tunes store and even buying the app.It appears on my computer solely as the front label and doesn't play.This is really addressed to Guy-is there an easier way of getting it such as from Amazon.
I do want to see it and then I should be able to identify all the European butterflies. P.J.Underwood

Hi PJ,

It's only available for iPhone (and iPhone-compatible mode on iPad).

Cheers,

- Pete

I'm very sorry you've bought our app and can't use it, PJ. The iTunes store will refund purchases made in error but only by negotiation, not through some automated procedure. I bought a subscription to Nature some years ago, thinking I was getting access to the complete journal, and successfully got that refunded, even though the error was really mine (as I admitted to them).

I have to say, since getting my first iPhone (3GS) many years ago, and an iPad a couple of years later, I have pretty well sold my soul to the now-deceased Steve Jobs. I use them for everything - navigation, books, newspapers, television, sheet music, camera - the list goes on. Curently, I use my old 4S, without sim card, as satnav in a special holder on my bicycle, downloading the maps and routes before I set off, and my 6 plus (a gift from a student) for all live communications and recording of butterfly locations &c. Unless you've similarly sold your soul to a different company, I can recommend getting an iPhone/iPad the next time you replace your phone/tablet. Then you won't need to beg a refund for the butterfly app!!

Apologies again - the app only exists for iOS.

Guy

Guy,
They have already given me a refund.I will take your advice and change companies.Soon I will have my first I.pad and will be able to see your butterflies.
Philip

BTW - you can get a PDF of Tristan Lafranchis' excellent Butterflies of Europe (with updates and hyperlinks) - from Tatiana (Tristan's wife):

You can pay with paypal 15 EUR on this email address lafranchis@yahoo.fr or by bank transfer to this account

Titulaire du compte : Association Diatheo
IBAN: FR35 2004 1010 0814 6453 8D02 946
BIC: PSSTFRPPMAR
La Banque Postale Marseille

I can transfer the PDF file by wetransfer as soon as you confirm the payment

Cheers,

- Pete