Adonis or Common blue?

[pammosley]

Which one is it
Taken in the Midlands in woodland. It was a very bright blue & has a bit of a chequered edge but I`m not sure
Thanks for taking the time to look

[Harry Eales]

Hello Pam,

Your description of 'taken in the Midlands' is not really helpfull, (sorry), a county name or a placename would have been much better. Ask 10 people around the country where the Midlands are, and you'll get 10 totally different answers.

Common Blue male, I believe, for several reasons.

1. Adonis is a chalk or limestone open grassland species. Restricted in distribution.

2. In Adonis the black banding extension of the wing veins reaches to the very edge of the white wing fringe.

3. Adonis is a very different shade of blue.

4. Common Blue can be found in wooded areas where the foodplant grows on or near forest tracks.

Harry

[pammosley]

Hi Harry, thanks for the info. It was taken in the Wyre forset near Bewdley.
I guess that when & if I see an Adonis the difference in the blue will be very apparent! As you say habitat also suggests Common Blue. Thanks for taking the time to answer

[Ron Nash]

pammosley,

Photographed on the North Downs, on the Orpington/Kent borders.

I have the same doubts about this butterfly; it is smaller than the one below:




I'm fairly certain this is a Common Blue; photographed about a mile away from the above.



Anybody help us out please?

Ron

[pammosley]

Hi Ron, I think your 1st one may be a Common Blue as well, but I`d wait for someone else to come along!!

On sorting our daughters photos from the same time & location we have came across this....presumming a female Common Blue.

[aeshna5]

Originally Posted by pammosley

Hi Ron, I think your 1st one may be a Common Blue as well, but I`d wait for someone else to come along!!

On sorting our daughters photos from the same time & location we have came across this....presumming a female Common Blue.

Hi Pam, a blue female Common Blue indeed. These tend to be more numerous further north, so I see far more regular brown ones, but occasionally one like this.

[pammosley]

That`s great Aeshna, thanks, I was reading how vaiable the females can be. It`s lovey isn`t it

[Ron Nash]

pammosley,

Thanks.

Looks like a female; according to my books. I've seen quite a few male Common Blues but, as yet, I don't think I've seen a female; I didn't realise there were variations; I'll have to check my literature, in case I've seen one and not realised it.

No takers on your original photos, yet!

Ron

[pammosley]

Ron-I think it is a Common Blue as Harry says, habitat & fringe looks right for it.
Enjoy your butterfly spotting Welcome to WAB by the way