butterfly ID

[jamesandpip]

[img]http://www.wildaboutbritain.co.uk/Gallery/files/1/0/4/9/dragonflyetc186_original.jpg

Hi,

Can anyone tell me whether this is a brown argus or some female blue species, such as a silver-studded perhaps?

Many thanks,

James

[wildone]

Hi Jamesandpip

You didin't manage to copy all of the BB code so this hopefully should do it



Cheers

PS Sorry cannot ID for you.

[DL]

It looks most like a Brown Argus or Northern Brown Argus. The location may well help whatever species it is.

[pheonix]

i would go for female common blue or female brown argus (lacks the white spots for northern brown argus).

Im going to go with brown argus i think..

[DL]

They dont all have white spots, see last weeks instalment

http://www.wildaboutbritain.co.uk/fo...ics-added.html

[pheonix]

a hah, i see!

[jamesandpip]

Thanks for the reply's (and correcting the script), we took the photo in Bernwood Forest in Oxfordshire so I think that rules out the Northern Brown Argus!

[DL]

In that case I would guess at Brown Argus. I have never seen Silver-studded in the flesh but they appear to have more black dots and less bright orange markings. The detail of the markings on Common and Chalkhill Blue's is slightly different to the individual in your photograph.

[pheonix]

i have just had a look at bernwood on uk butterflies (http://www.ukbutterflies.co.uk/) and they dont appear to have records of brown argus, in which case i would say common blue female!

[DL]

I think this database map may be more up to date, but I do not know if it covers that site.

http://www.searchnbn.net/interactive...MSYS0000501397

Someone on the ukbutterflies messageboards will know.

When I illegaly switched my monitor settings to my preference while someone else was out of the room I agree it could also be a Common Blue.