Go Back   Wild About Britain > British Wildlife > Insects and Invertebrates > Butterflies

» November 2009

S M T W T F S
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
8 9 10 11 12 13 14
15 16 17 18 19 20 21
22 23 24 25 26 27 28
29 30 12345

» Stats

Members: 32,235
Threads: 48,372
Posts: 524,359
Top Poster: glsammy (13,193)
Welcome to our newest member, schermuly
Welcome to the Wild About Britain forums
Reply

 

LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1 (permalink)  
Old 04-08-2009, 02:36 PM
welsh.lensman's Avatar
Commander of the Wild Empire
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Swansea, S.Wales
Posts: 2,449
Small or Holly blue, ID needed please

I put this in the Gallery as a Small blue, but Dreamer believes it could be a Holly blue, can anyone confirm the ID please, many thanks.
__________________
'A weed is a plant that has mastered every survival skill except for learning how to grow in rows'
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!
Reply With Quote
  #2 (permalink)  
Old 04-08-2009, 02:47 PM
earthdragon64's Avatar
Officer of the Wild Empire
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Aviemore
Posts: 636
Re: Small or Holly blue, ID needed please

The underwings do look very similar, a bit more information about the sighting may help. Where and when did you see it and in what sort of habitat? Did you get a look at the upperwings at all?
__________________
I'd like mornings better if they started later.
My Flickr Site
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!
Reply With Quote
  #3 (permalink)  
Old 04-08-2009, 02:56 PM
Lance Morgan's Avatar
Commander of the Wild Empire
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Grantham, Lincolnshire
Posts: 1,543
Re: Small or Holly blue, ID needed please

Size would be an obvious indication. It is a Holly Blue.
__________________
"We cannot command nature except by obeying her"
Francis Bacon
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!
Reply With Quote
  #4 (permalink)  
Old 04-08-2009, 03:17 PM
earthdragon64's Avatar
Officer of the Wild Empire
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Aviemore
Posts: 636
Re: Small or Holly blue, ID needed please

Quote:
Originally Posted by Lance Morgan View Post
Size would be an obvious indication. It is a Holly Blue.
Size is something that can be difficult to judge in a photograph with nothing in there to compare it to.

I'm not convinced either way at the moment, more information is needed.
__________________
I'd like mornings better if they started later.
My Flickr Site
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!
Reply With Quote
  #5 (permalink)  
Old 04-08-2009, 05:17 PM
welsh.lensman's Avatar
Commander of the Wild Empire
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Swansea, S.Wales
Posts: 2,449
Re: Small or Holly blue, ID needed please

Thanks for your responses so far and I'll try and give you as much information as I can remember.
As for location it was on the South Wales coast about 2 miles from the sea, Habitat was a wide path running through forestry with the occasional open glade with low growing shrubs and long grass, this particular species was amongst the grass.
As for its size it must have been about 15-17 mm long.
I hope this helps.
__________________
'A weed is a plant that has mastered every survival skill except for learning how to grow in rows'
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!
Reply With Quote
  #6 (permalink)  
Old 04-08-2009, 05:38 PM
Knight Commander of the Wild Empire
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 7,440
Re: Small or Holly blue, ID needed please

As Lance says, it's a Holly Blue!
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!
Reply With Quote
  #7 (permalink)  
Old 04-08-2009, 06:05 PM
GuyF's Avatar
Commander of the Wild Empire
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,987
Blog Entries: 26
Re: Small or Holly blue, ID needed please

I think that it's a Small Blue, the black spots seem to have a noticeable pale ring around them which Holly Blues don't tend to have, and also the spots on the forewing look fairly small and rounded, whereas in Holly Blues they usually appear as larger streaks.
Guy
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!
Reply With Quote
  #8 (permalink)  
Old 04-08-2009, 09:42 PM
Commander of the Wild Empire
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Lancashire
Posts: 2,286
Blog Entries: 7
Re: Small or Holly blue, ID needed please

Quote:
Originally Posted by aeshna5 View Post
As Lance says, it's a Holly Blue!
I agree.

Regards, Chris
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!
Reply With Quote
  #9 (permalink)  
Old 04-08-2009, 10:36 PM
Naturenutz's Avatar
Officer of the Wild Empire
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: bristol
Posts: 504
Re: Small or Holly blue, ID needed please

Hi,Is it not a slightly odd place to find holly blue's . in grass ?. When you say they were in the grass,how many did you see may i ask? Maybe there were other blues in the grass and a stray holly blue (your pic if it is holly blue). Just by habitat,i would not expect to find many holly blues in grass ,they prefer to be higher up in shrubs and as far as im aware do not form colonies in grass.i think they are more wanderers like the whites but im happy to be corrected
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!
Reply With Quote
  #10 (permalink)  
Old 04-08-2009, 10:55 PM
Fourwings's Avatar
Commander of the Wild Empire
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Leicestershire
Posts: 4,090
Re: Small or Holly blue, ID needed please

Thats a Holly Blue Wayne, not seen that many this year!
__________________
Steve..
My website - http://fourwings.zenfolio.com/
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!
Reply With Quote
  #11 (permalink)  
Old 04-08-2009, 11:16 PM
Dreamer's Avatar
Wild Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: essex
Posts: 232
Re: Small or Holly blue, ID needed please

here is a good comparison

Google Image Result for http://piccies.flybywire.org.uk/ButterfliesMoths/2006/20060606/SmallBlue6.jpg

holly blue from me
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!
Reply With Quote
  #12 (permalink)  
Old 05-08-2009, 12:18 AM
welsh.lensman's Avatar
Commander of the Wild Empire
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Swansea, S.Wales
Posts: 2,449
Re: Small or Holly blue, ID needed please

My first Holly blue thanks.

And thank you everyone for your contributions to this thread, and a special thank you Dreamer for that fantastic link, I've added it to my favourates.
__________________
'A weed is a plant that has mastered every survival skill except for learning how to grow in rows'
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!
Reply With Quote
  #13 (permalink)  
Old 05-08-2009, 05:35 AM
Knight Commander of the Wild Empire
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 7,440
Smile Re: Small or Holly blue, ID needed please

Quote:
Originally Posted by Naturenutz View Post
Hi,Is it not a slightly odd place to find holly blue's . in grass ?. When you say they were in the grass,how many did you see may i ask? Maybe there were other blues in the grass and a stray holly blue (your pic if it is holly blue). Just by habitat,i would not expect to find many holly blues in grass ,they prefer to be higher up in shrubs and as far as im aware do not form colonies in grass.i think they are more wanderers like the whites but im happy to be corrected
It was seen in a woodland glade which sounds like Holly Blue habitat to me. They often come to the ground to take up salts,etc + found on damp mud, droppings, etc.
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!
Reply With Quote
  #14 (permalink)  
Old 05-08-2009, 11:43 AM
GuyF's Avatar
Commander of the Wild Empire
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,987
Blog Entries: 26
Re: Small or Holly blue, ID needed please

Well I still think it's a Small Blue
Here are a couple of shots from the Gallery to try and illustrate the points I made earlier. First one of your Small Blue shots, note the pale rings to the spots and the fairly small dots on the forewing underside.

And here's a Holly Blue from Jon which lacks obvious pale rings to the spots and shows the dashes on the underside of the forewing.

Also Holly Blues tend to have a fairly uniform metallic bluey silver underside, whereas in Small Blues there is more of a contrast between the metallic blue at the base of the wings and the greyish colour on the rest of the underside, although this feature can depend a lot on the condition of the butterfly!
Guy
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!
Reply With Quote
  #15 (permalink)  
Old 05-08-2009, 04:09 PM
asheleaf's Avatar
Officer of the Wild Empire
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Surrey
Posts: 606
Re: Small or Holly blue, ID needed please

Quote:
Originally Posted by GuyF View Post
Well I still think it's a Small Blue
Here are a couple of shots from the Gallery to try and illustrate the points I made earlier. First one of your Small Blue shots, note the pale rings to the spots and the fairly small dots on the forewing underside.

And here's a Holly Blue from Jon which lacks obvious pale rings to the spots and shows the dashes on the underside of the forewing.

Also Holly Blues tend to have a fairly uniform metallic bluey silver underside, whereas in Small Blues there is more of a contrast between the metallic blue at the base of the wings and the greyish colour on the rest of the underside, although this feature can depend a lot on the condition of the butterfly!
Guy


i'll second that

Ashe
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!
Reply With Quote
Reply  

Bookmarks

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On


Similar Threads

Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Holly Blue Cheryl Butterflies 10 20-04-2009 08:47 PM
Male Holly Blue? Pete Collins Insects and Invertebrates 11 11-05-2008 06:38 AM
Holly Blue? agrumpycow Insects and Invertebrates 3 14-04-2007 11:18 PM
Holly blue Susie Insects and Invertebrates 5 07-04-2007 07:36 PM
Pruning holly re Holly Blue life cycle Airehead Insects and Invertebrates 3 20-07-2006 09:32 AM

» Log in

User Name:

Password:

Not a member yet?
Register Now!

» New Wildlife Posts

Go to first new post leighton moss
Last post by dunlin
Today 05:59 PM
27 Replies, 331 Views
Go to first new post 2 for id please
Last post by Ken Burgess
Today 05:58 PM
4 Replies, 43 Views
Go to first new post Split Gill -...
Last post by thebeard
Today 05:55 PM
13 Replies, 194 Views
Go to first new post various for id please
Last post by Ken Burgess
Today 05:52 PM
7 Replies, 131 Views
Go to first new post RECORDS Syrphid (Hover)...
Last post by JRsbugs
Today 05:46 PM
3 Replies, 48 Views
Go to first new post springtime visit to...
Last post by Sprout
Today 05:38 PM
3 Replies, 36 Views
Go to first new post Unidentified fungus with...
Last post by Ken Burgess
Today 05:35 PM
2 Replies, 31 Views
Go to first new post EXCLUSIVE to WAB readers.
Last post by Jim Ford
Today 05:28 PM
7 Replies, 223 Views

» New Environment Posts

Go to first new post Warm fusion = free clean...
Last post by Dave5xe
Today 05:50 PM
34 Replies, 262 Views
Why not real trees?
Last post by Rich_
Yesterday 09:55 PM
29 Replies, 663 Views
Go to first new post HHO Gas Cars
Last post by Jim Ford
Yesterday 04:41 PM
95 Replies, 9,148 Views
Global warming: Reasons...
Last post by Digit
Yesterday 11:01 AM
18 Replies, 889 Views

» New Activity Posts

Go to first new post canon ef 24-70L f2.8
Last post by dunlin
Today 05:54 PM
0 Replies, 3 Views
Go to first new post Is this tripod just too...
Last post by wizzo
Today 05:13 PM
11 Replies, 174 Views
Go to first new post A Honeysuckle Which...
Last post by moleydee
Today 04:38 PM
8 Replies, 1,584 Views
Go to first new post Cheap 'Gorillapod' clone.
Last post by Jim Ford
Today 04:21 PM
0 Replies, 15 Views

» New Community Posts

Go to first new post Autumnwatch on at a new...
Last post by Dan Salter
Today 05:56 PM
194 Replies, 4,665 Views
Go to first new post adverts`
Last post by Venger
Today 05:56 PM
27 Replies, 171 Views
Go to first new post Please sign palm oil...
Last post by ChrisR
Today 03:43 PM
7 Replies, 96 Views
Go to first new post Johnny Kingdom
Last post by deer boy
Today 02:18 PM
14 Replies, 2,771 Views

All times are GMT. The time now is 05:59 PM.


Copyright Wild About Britain 2009

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 120 121 122 123 124 125 126 127 128 129 130 131 132 133 134 135 136 137 138 139 140 141 142 143 144 145 146 147 148 149 150 151 152 153 154 155 156 157 158 159 160 161 162 163 164 165 166 167 168 169 170 171 172 173 174 175 176 177 178 179 180 181 182 183 184 185 186 187 188 189 190 191 192 193 194 195 196 197 198 199 200 201 202 203 204 205 206 207 208 209 210 211 212 213 214 215 216 217 218 219 220 221 222 223 224 225 226 227 228 229 230 231 232 233 234 235 236 237 238 239 240 241 242 243 244 245 246 247 248 249 250 251 252 253 254 255 256 257 258 259 260 261 262 263 264 265 266 267 268 269 270 271 272 273 274 275 276 277 278 279 280 281 282 283 284 285 286 287 288 289 290 291 292 293 294 295 296 297 298 299 300 301 302 303 304 305 306 307 308 309 310 311 312 313 314 315 316 317 318 319 320 321 322 323 324 325 326 327 328 329 330 331 332 333 334 335 336 337 338 339 340 341 342 343 344 345 346 347 348 349 350 351 352 353 354 355 356 357 358 359 360 361 362 363 364 365 366 367 368 369 370 371 372 373 374 375 376 377 378 379 380 381 382 383 384 385 386 387 388 389 390 391 392 393 394 395 396 397 398 399 400 401 402 403 404 405 406 407 408 409 410 411 412 413 414 415 416 417 418 419 420 421 422 423 424 425 426 427 428 429 430 431 432 433 434 435 436 437 438 439 440 441 442 443 444 445 446 447 448 449 450 451 452 453 454 455 456 457 458 459 460 461 462 463 464 465 466 467 468 469 470 471 472 473 474 475 476 477 478 479 480 481 482 483 484 485 486 487 488 489 490 491 492 493 494 495 496 497 498 499 500 501 502 503 504 505 506 507 508 509 510 511 512 513 514 515 516 517 518 519 520 521 522 523 524 525 526 527 528 529 530 531 532 533 534 535 536 537 538 539 540 541 542 543 544 545 546 547 548 549 550 551 552 553 554 555 556 557 558 559 560 561 562 563 564 565 566 567 568 569 570 571 572 573 574 575 576 577 578 579 580 581 582 583 584 585 586 587 588 589 590 591 592 593 594 595 596 597 598 599 600 601 602 603 604 605 606 607 608 609 610 611 612 613 614 615 616 617 618 619 620 621 622 623 624 625 626 627 628 629 630 631 632 633 634 635 636 637 638 639 640 641 642 643 644 645 646 647 648 649 650 651 652