Small heath?

Miss Caretaker · #1 (**permalink**) 23-06-2010, 09:07 PM

Hi, can someone tell me if this is a small heath or not? I thought it was a gatekeeper at first but thought the wing shape was wrong. Could be the angle though...
this pic is cropped and blown up

this is the original pic so you can see the size (it's in the bottom right corner

)

Ta, jo

Jason Claxton · #2 (**permalink**) 24-06-2010, 04:05 AM

Hi Jo
It looks like a Meadow Brown to me ,which are on the wing now.

Cheers Jason.

Miss Caretaker · #3 (**permalink**) 24-06-2010, 05:51 AM

Right you are as usual! I couldn't find a pic of the underside for comparison but have now and it def looks like meadow brown. It usually takes me a few weeks to get my head around the butterflies again!
Jo

MetalMoth · #4 (**permalink**) 24-06-2010, 01:53 PM

I am relatively new to butterfly ID and I don't think I have ever seen the Meadow Brown at the site I usually go to. I have seen Small Heath there a lot so I recognise it. I was interested in your pic so was just comparing pics of the Meadow brown and Small heath and they really do look very similar with their wings closed. I am guessing the Meadow brown is larger? It looks it from the pics I looked at. I am just wondering how you tell the two apart. I don't have my FSC chart with me at the moment or else I would compare them on there to see!

Jason Claxton · #5 (**permalink**) 24-06-2010, 04:52 PM

Hi Metalmoth

Yes Meadow Browns are larger than a Small Heath,but I didn't make my I.d based on size as judging scale from a photo can sometimes be difficult.The underside of the Meadow Brown and the Small Heath are recognizably different,but it is difficult to describe.Try also looking at the UK Butterflies site to help get your eye in for these.Also WildGuides Britain's Butterflies by David Tomlinson and Rod Still have photos of them with their wings closed.

Cheers Jason.

MetalMoth · #6 (**permalink**) 25-06-2010, 08:58 AM

Yes I understand that using size as an ID sign is problematic, especially from photos, however in the field you can get a good eye for size differences. I would recognise Small heath well now and so if I saw something much larger than it I should be able to check. I got home last night and had a look at more pics and my FSC chart and could see how their undersides looked different. Now I just need to try and see a Meadow Brown in the field to test my skills! Cheers for the help!

Harry Eales · #7 (**permalink**) 27-06-2010, 09:07 AM

I believe from the photograph that it is a Meadow Brown. The Small Heath has a string of small pearl like spots on the underside of the hindwing that don't show on this photograph. I must admit the latter does leave something to be desired though.

Harry

Miss Caretaker · #8 (**permalink**) 27-06-2010, 12:07 PM

I know the picture isn't great but the darned things will fly away when you're trying to photograph them! Having 2 dogs in tow doesn't help much either...
Thanks for the help,
Jo

MetalMoth · #9 (**permalink**) 29-06-2010, 08:47 AM

I finally saw Meadow Brown and Small Heath on the same day at the site I reguarly visit for butterflies. The difference was immediately clear and I will never confuse them in the field now. Meadow Brown is much large and its wings darker on their upside. So when it flies it looks quite brown. Small Heath is more orange and paler and flies different.

And yes I know it does take a long time to get a decent photo of a butterfly! I tried for a long time and eventually managed to get some of the Meadow Brown but have not yet managed to get one of a Small Heath!

Jason Claxton · #10 (**permalink**) 29-06-2010, 10:20 AM

I'm glad to see that you have seen both now Metal Moth

I'll try and describe the differences of the underwing,though I think you may have this all worked out now .With Meadow Brown you can see almost three bands of colour,the darkest and thickest band/zone at the front,then next back the palest band which has a couple of spots and then a darker band near the back.
In Small Heath you have the dark zone/band at the front ,but to the top right of this near to the top centre of the underside there is a flash marking almost like a "reversed c" or a J shape.There are also more dots/pearl markings on the underside(just two in the Meadow Brown)as Harry has already mentioned.
As you say size is very useful,with the Small heath being much smaller and it often does appear quite orangey.It would be great Metalmoth if you could post a picture of a Small Heath(if they will let you photograph them

) on this thread for comparision.

Cheers Jason