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Post by lizb on Oct 30, 2015 19:29:40 GMT
Sorting my pictures for the year I came across some which I had tentatively identified as Small Blue or Holly Blue butterflies. These are new ones for me and, looking again, I am not sure I can distinguish between the two as the only sure distinction I know of is size. Can anyone advise please?
1) Kew gardens July 2015. I thought was Small Blue?
2) Surrey North Downs august. I thought was Holly Blue?
 aaa2 small blue-1 by Wabi Gallery, on Flickr  aaaz small blue-1 by Wabi Gallery, on Flickr |
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Post by lizb on Oct 30, 2015 19:31:39 GMT
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Post by ayjay on Oct 30, 2015 21:30:58 GMT
I'm leaning towards them all being Holly Blues, (it's been a good year for them btw). Small Blue is a tiny butterfly, I'm sure you would have noticed the size difference had it been one. Also the markings on the underwing of a Small Blue is less like streaks and more spotted, (as below, a pair of Small Blues in cop).  IMG_4114-c-r-f by Wabi Gallery, on Flickr |
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Post by aeshna5 on Oct 31, 2015 5:39:58 GMT
Agree. Small Blue would be a very unusual sighting from Kew Gardens- have never heard of any records there.
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Post by lizb on Oct 31, 2015 10:15:12 GMT
Thank you both. This is the first time I have taken pictures of or attempted to identify this butterfly, so now I can add it to my collection.
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Post by grumpyaudeman on Nov 1, 2015 22:36:51 GMT
Hi The left is a Small Blue and the right a Holly Blue Small Blues never have a blue upperside Steve  |
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