Blue Pair and a White

[britnik]

Please can you identify these for me

First a pair of blues from Wildmoor Heath near Crowthorne


Next a white (small or large), from Bramshill Plantation


Any pointers for how the id's were decided would be most helpful

[Lindsay-c]

I'd say the blue is a common blue:

UK Butterflies - Similar Species

Durlston - Wildlife - Butterflies - Guide

And the white, I'm pretty sure, could be a large white but not 100%:

This previous thread may help-

Unidentified White Butterfly

... I could be wrong but hope the links are helpful

[aeshna5]

Agree the white is a Large White (the black at the apex is too extensive to be Small White) + is a female.

[britnik]

Thanks for the help,
and to Lindsay-c for the great links.

I didn't realise that there were so many similar species

[PMG]

........ and I will give you a quote straight out of my favourite butterfly book description for Common Blue which says:

....... ' there are a few constant features that distinguish both males and female(s) (Common Blue) from related species. The outer fringes of the wings are clear white and not crossed with dark lines or chequering as in Adonis and Chalkhill Blues. On the underside of the forewing, there is a spot about a quarter of the way out from the body which is absent from the Silver-studded Blue and our two Brown Arguses. Finally, there are orange maarks around the edge of the hindwings, which is not the case with Holly, Small, and Large Blues........' Thus (they say!) the Common Blue is relatively easily identified!!

Hope that helps

Pauline

[faz]

Originally Posted by PMG

........ and I will give you a quote straight out of my favourite butterfly book description for Common Blue which says:

....... ' there are a few constant features that distinguish both males and female(s) (Common Blue) from related species. The outer fringes of the wings are clear white and not crossed with dark lines or chequering as in Adonis and Chalkhill Blues. On the underside of the forewing, there is a spot about a quarter of the way out from the body which is absent from the Silver-studded Blue and our two Brown Arguses. Finally, there are orange maarks around the edge of the hindwings, which is not the case with Holly, Small, and Large Blues........' Thus (they say!) the Common Blue is relatively easily identified!!

Hope that helps

Pauline

it has me only got intoo butterflies in the summer thanks PMG