B is for Small Tortoiseshell?

[jdoherty]

I think this is a small tortoiseshell butterfly from what I spotted in the WAB galleries. Can someone confirm this and also let me know if it is a male or female (and any other useful info about this species eg Latin name). On another point. I also posted a pic in the forum and in my Gallery of what could be a Real's Wood White (Wood Whites apparently aren't found in Northern Ireland).

[DL]

Yes Small Tortoiseshell, Aglais urticae. Both sexes are alike in colouration.

[DL]

Not seen a Reals Wood White since 1985 so I might be a bit rusty....

Yes you are correct, Real's Wood White (Lepitidea reali) only in NI. I belive a microscope or DNA analysis is required to tell Real's Wood White and Wood White apart

[nightshade]

Hi JD I assume you have an illustrated alphabet in progress?

[jdoherty]

Originally Posted by DL

Not seen a Reals Wood White since 1985 so I might be a bit rusty....

Yes you are correct, Real's Wood White (Lepitidea reali) only in NI. I belive a microscope or DNA analysis is required to tell Real's Wood White and Wood White apart

have you had a look at the photo I posted in my Gallery? Would I be right in saying that if it isn't a Wood White (seing there are none in N.Ireland) then it is highly likely then that it could be a Real's Wood White?

[jdoherty]

Originally Posted by nightshade

Hi JD I assume you have an illustrated alphabet in progress?

I'm not quite sure what it would have looked like if it had landed on any other letter in of the title 'Belfast Zoo'. I would actually have preferred to get a shot of it on a leaf. Mind you It was a bonus to get the shot as I was at the zoo for bigger stuff. I did have to straighten the image in photoshop and on the whole I'm very pleased with the pic.

[DL]

Had trouble finding the Gallery earlier, but got it now. Yes thats a Real's Wood White, Leptidea reali.

I belive that the strongly white/black banded antenna may also indicate that the individual in your picture is a male but I would double check on this with someone else who is a bit more familiar with them.

[jdoherty]

Originally Posted by DL

Had trouble finding the Gallery earlier, but got it now. Yes thats a Real's Wood White, Leptidea reali.

I belive that the strongly white/black banded antenna may also indicate that the individual in your picture is a male but I would double check on this with someone else who is a bit more familiar with them.

That's good as there isn't a pic of this particular butterfly in the WAB Gallery and one is needed for the WAB Butterfly encyclopaedia. There's a broad smile on my face now. Hope when I go to England I can now get a shot of a wood white.

[John2]

Hello jdoherty,this is a great photo.I thought you'd used photoshop to put the Small Tortoiseshell onto the "B".But after reading your other posts,i see that it landed on the letter "B" of Belfast Zoo.
I think this photo is the best i've seen in a while.I've been photographing butterflies for the last two years & i've come to really enjoy the unusual photographs of butterflies that crop up & this is definately up there with the unusual.The composition is cool,the Small Tortoiseshells shadow is great,the white "B" & background colour just set off the butterfly a treat.Really groovy photo.
If you haven't guessed by now,i love this photo.I hope you're well happy with it coz i'd be chuffed.
Congrats on the Real's Wood White,that's one butterfly i'll have to travel to Ireland sometime & photograph.
John

[John2]

I forgot to put in my last post that as soon as i saw the photo i thought "B For Butterfly".
I'm still really liking this photo jdoherty.
John