UK Butterflies

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Large Blue Aberrations

This page provides access to all named aberrations of a given species and Goodson & Read (1969) is a key resource in this regard.

Introduction

Description to be completed.

Unclassified Photos


All Aberrations

Natural History Museum
britishbutterflyaberrations.co.uk

ab. nov

This section contains those aberrations that are considered new, and have yet to be formally defined.

britishbutterflyaberrations.co.uk (all aberrations)

ab. cotswoldensis (le Chamberlain.Entom.1908.41.p.202.)

If the Cotswold specimens constitute a race this name must be raised to subspecific rank. The specimens in series certainly appear very different from the Devon and Cornwall specimens, as le Chamberlain has noted with the following description: All the wings more or less thickly sprinkled with black scales, giving a very dark or melanic appearance, constituting an approach to the alpine var. obscura Christ.

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ab. pallida (le Chamberlain.Entom.1908.41.p.202.)

The upperside with pale washed-out appearance.

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ab. grisea (Courvoisier.Ent.Mitt.1913.2.p.294.)

The upperside light grey with very pale rosy reflection. Underside light yellowish-grey.

Natural History Museum
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ab. czernyi (Diószeghy.Rov.Lapok.19.p.128.)

Description from Seitz. The upperside of a silvery-blue with a violet sheen.

Natural History Museum
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ab. oftenia (Tutt.Ent.Rec.1909.21.p.198.)

Dull coloured examples. The male very thinly scaled with blue, the female greyish with only a tinge of blue scaling towards the base of the inner margin.

Natural History Museum
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ab. alconides (Aurivillius.Nord.Fjar.1888.p.15.)

= immaculate Mosley.Nat.Journ.1896.Suppl.p.10.pl.4.f.13.
= obsoleta Frohawk.Brit.Butts.1914.pl.54.f.23.

On the upperside the wings quite, or almost, unspotted, except for the discoidal spot of the forewings which is always present. The underside presumably normal.

Natural History Museum
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ab. arthurus (Melvill.Ent.Mon.Mag.1873.9.p.163.)

On both upper and underside all spots except the discoidals are absent. This must be an extremely rare form in England.

Natural History Museum
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ab. pseudo-alcon (le Chamberlain.Entom.1908.41.p.202.)

= alcon Stephens.(in error).Ill.Brit.Ent.Haust.1827.1.p.88.

The wings above completely immaculate, completely unspotted. Stephens thought this to be the Continental alcon [Phengaris alcon, Alcon Blue], so the discoidal spots are present, despite le Chamberlain’s description. The underside is presumably normal.

Natural History Museum
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ab. supra-impunctata (Oberthür.Etudes.1896.20.p.15.pl.3.f.19.)

Remarkable for the diminution of the black spots on the upperside of the forewings. The figure shows three very small black spots on each forewing and hindwing, all which remain of the normal row. The discoidal spots are normal. The underside presumably normal.

Natural History Museum
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ab. unicolor (Hormuzaki.Entomologische Nachrichten.1892.18.p.1.)

On the upperside of the forewings the discoidal spot is very faint, often however absent altogether, the other spots are absent except for an indistinct one between the second and third median nervures (Cell 3). The ground colour dark blue with the blackish-brown border extending inwards. Hindwings unicolorous, the spots rendered faint by the dark ground. Underside normal.

Natural History Museum
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ab. parvimacula (Aigner.Rov.Lapok.1907.14.p.214.)

On both upper and underside only the discoidal spot is distinct, the other spots becoming mere traces. Transitional to ab. arthurus Melvill.

Natural History Museum
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ab. postero-immaculata (Tutt.Brit.Lep.1914.XI.p.324.)

= subunicolor Pionneau.Echange.1928.44.No.431.p.3.

On the upperside of the hindwings the spots are absent. Tutt regarded the type [typical form] as having a row of spots in the disc.

Natural History Museum
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ab. telegone-maculata (Bergsträsser.Nomenc.1779.3.p.8.pl.52.figs.5-6.)

= multo-maculata le Chamberlain.Entom.1908.41.p.202.

On the upperside of the hindwings a row of black spots in the disc, smaller than those of the forewings. The authors regarded the type [typical form] as having no such spots, the opposite from Tutt’s opinion.

Natural History Museum
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ab. caeruleomarginata (Tutt.Brit.Lep.1914.XI.p.309.)

On the upperside of the hindwings the dark border is absent leaving only the blue ground colour.

Natural History Museum
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ab. punctifera (Grund.Int.Ent.Z.1908.2.p.87.)

On the upperside of the forewings the border is narrow. On the hindwings it is merely a line inside of which are the black border-dots in undefined whitish circles.

Natural History Museum
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ab. albofasciata (Vorbrodt.Schmett.Schweiz.1912.1.p.157.)

Upperside of the hindwings with the black spots showing white circles surrounding them.

Natural History Museum
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ab. supraddenda (Verity.Farf.Diurn.It.1943.2.p.152.pl.8.f.76.)

On the upperside of the forewings extra spots appear in diverse places. The underside normal.

Natural History Museum
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ab. basipuncta (Tutt.Brit.Lep.1914.XI.p.322.)

On the upperside of the forewings there are black basal spots, usually one, sometimes more.

Natural History Museum
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ab. punctatissima (Tutt.Brit.Lep.1914.XI.p.319.)

On the upperside of the forewings there are three basal spots, two in the cell and one below them near the inner margin. The submedian spots are well-developed and much elongated. Hindwings with the semilunar spots distinct, a row of four rather large spots in the disc. On the underside all spots strongly developed except the ones on the inner margin, which are much reduced, those of the hindwings also strongly developed.

Natural History Museum
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ab. suprapuncta (Obraztsov.Z.Ost.Ent.Ver.1936.21.p.47.)

Female. On the upperside of the forewings the basal spot of the underside shows up in the form of a small line in the median cell. On the hindwings there is a median spot at the end of the cell and three crescent-like spots.

Natural History Museum
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ab. glomerata (Tutt.Brit.Lep.1914.XI.p.308.)

The submedian spots brought inwards to form a sort of semicircle around the discoidal spot. Tutt did not describe the form under arion, merely stating that it occurs in this species. Were it not for the fact that glomerata and discreta are described in the same volume of his Brit.Lep. under coridon [Polyommatus coridon, Chalk Hill Blue], the two forms would be nomen nudum.

Natural History Museum
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ab. discreta (Tutt.Brit.Lep.1914.XI.p.308.)

The submedian spots thrown outwards away from the discoidal spot in an almost straight line against the marginal series. Tutt described the form under coridon [Polyommatus coridon, Chalk Hill Blue] and merely states that it occurs in arion.

Natural History Museum
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ab. conjuncta (Tutt.Brit.Lep.1914.XI.p.308.)

On the upperside of the forewings the lowest but one of the submedian spots is connected to the lower basal spot. Tutt’s actual description says, “the junction of the upper half of the inner-marginal spot with the lower basal”.

Natural History Museum
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ab. imperialis (le Chamberlain.Entom.1908.41.p.202.)

= elongata Courvoisier.Ent.Z.1910.24.p.203.

The black submedian spots of the forewings elongated into pearl-shaped streaks giving the appearance of a diadem or crown.

Natural History Museum
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ab. obscura-imperialis (Tutt.Brit.Lep.1914.XI.p.323.)

On the upperside the wings are dusky to blackish and the submedian spots elongated into pearl-shaped streaks.

Natural History Museum
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ab. insubrica (Vorbrodt.Schmett.Schweiz.1912.1.p.156.)

The spots on the upperside of the forewings elongated into long stripes. Large build, shining blue ground colour, the margins broad and dark. Hindwings presumably normal.

Natural History Museum
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ab. coalescens (Gillmer.Soc.Ent.1904.18.p.180.,fig.Herrich-Schäffer.Syst.Bearb.1.pl.108.f.519.)

= lacrymosa Oberthür.Lep.Comp.1910.4.p.328.,fig.Herrich-Schäffer.Syst.Bearb.1.pl.108.f.519.
= radiata Courvoisier.Ent.Z.1910.24.p.203.,fig.Herrich-Schäffer.Syst.Bearb.1.pl.108.f.519.

On both upper and underside the submedian spots of the forewings are elongated into long thick stripes. On the hindwings they are similarly lengthened although not so extreme, some of the spots being merely oval. All three authors refer to the same figure in Herrich-Schäffer’s Syst.Bearb.Vol.1.

Natural History Museum
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ab. discojuncta (Courvoisier.Iris.1912.26.p.50.)

= Confluentia simplex c.m. Courvoisier.Ent.Z.1910.24.p.203.

On the upperside of the forewings the discoidal spot is connected with a submedian spot to form a stripe or streak. Courvoisier’s ‘Confluentia simplex c.m.’ includes this form but it is doubtful if he was naming it so the more definite name discojuncta is used here although two years later.

Natural History Museum
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ab. parallela (Courvoisier.Ent.Z.1910.24.p.203.,Iris.1912.26.p.50.)

Upperside with two submedian spots connected with the discoidal spot to form two parallel stripes or streaks.

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ab. fasciata (Gillmer.Soc.Ent.1904.18.p.180.)

= fasciata Skala.Verh.Nat.Ver.Brunn.1912.50.p.63.

The submedian spots of the forewings coalesce into a black transverse band except the two lowest near the inner margin. The margins very broad and very black with no admixture of brown.

Natural History Museum
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ab. caeruleomarginata-fasciata (Tutt.Brit.Lep.1914.XI.p.324.,fig.Ent.23.pl.3.figs.6-7.)

Upperside of the forewings with the spots of the submedian row coalescing, forming a transverse band. The spots of the hindwings are absent at the margins, which blend from dusky into blue. The two specimens figured have the submedian spots of the forewings merely lengthened into rather long pear-shaped spots, hardly coalescing as Tutt states. The hindwings of the two specimens are different, one having a very dusky border (fig.6), the other a very pale washed-out border disappearing into the blue (fig.7). The form hardly deserves a special name being covered by le Chamberlain’s imperialis.

Natural History Museum
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ab. obscura (Christ.Freyer.Lep.Schweiz.1880.p.22.)

This has crept into literature as an aberration but is a mountain form on the Continent and should not be used for British specimens. Frohawk, in Vars.Brit.Butts.pl.32.f.1, wrongly gives this name to a very dark English specimen.

Natural History Museum
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ab. obscura-major (Tutt.Brit.Lep.1914.XI.p.317.)

Large specimens connected with obscura Christ and not applicable to the British race.

Natural History Museum
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ab. magnifica (Heydemann.Ent.Z.1910.23.p.177.)

Large and with the ground colour remarkably blue and with the dark marginal band 5mm broad. Underside with the eye-spots enlarged.

Natural History Museum
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ab. aldrovandus (de Selys.Mem.Soc.Liege.1844.p.35.)

Very large. Upperside with the outer half of the wings dark and not powdered with blue. Almost as dark as erebus (arcas) [syn. Phengaris nausithous, Dusky Large Blue]. Possibly racial and confined to the Continent.

Natural History Museum
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ab. marginata (le Chamberlain.Entom.1908.41.p.202.)

Upperside of all wings with very broad black margins.

Natural History Museum
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ab. semi-obscura (Frohawk.Vars.Brit.Butts.1938.pl.32.f.3.)

The figure shows not only the margins of both fore and hindwings very broad and dark but also the costa, which had a broad band from the outer marginal band down to the base, leaving only the blue ground showing on the inner marginal area of the forewings.

Natural History Museum
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ab. major (Oberthür.Lep.Comp.1916.12.p.486.)

Very large specimens.

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ab. occidentalis (le Chamberlain.Entom.1908.41.p.202.)

= nana Courvoisier.Lyc.Basel.1910.p.163.

Very small specimens, some not larger than aegon (argus) [syn. Plebejus argus, Silver-studded Blue].

Natural History Museum
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ab. parvipuncta (Courvoisier.Z.Wiss.Ins.1907.3.p.74.)

The underside with the spots very small.

Natural History Museum
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ab. semi-crassipuncta (Pionneau.Echange.1937.53.No.469.p.11.)

The underside with the spots of the forewings greatly enlarged. The hindwings normal.

Natural History Museum
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ab. paucipuncta (Courvoisier.Iris.1912.26.p.63.)

= f. paucipunctae Courvoisier.Ent.Z.1910.24.p.203.

On the underside the spots tend towards obsolescence. Courvoisier’s pluripunctae was obviously a group name, not meant for the single form.

Natural History Museum
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ab. antico-obsoleta (Tutt.Brit.Lep.1914.XI.p.326.)

On the underside of the forewings the spots, with the exception of the discoidals, are absent.

Natural History Museum
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ab. subtus-impunctata (Oberthür.Etudes.1896.20.p.15.pl.3.f.20.)

= arthurus Gillmer.(nec.Melvill).Soc.Ent.1904.18.p.180.
= caeca Courvoisier.Iris.1912.26.p.63.
= obsoleta Frohawk.Vars.Brit.Butts.1938.pl.32.f.2.

On the underside all the spots on both wings are absent with the exception of the discoidals.

Natural History Museum
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ab. teleius (Bergsträsser.Nomenc.1779.2.p.71.pl.43.figs.5-6.)

= jasilkowskii Hormuzaki.Verh.zool.-bot.Ges.Wien.1897.47.p.138.
= impuncta Courvoisier.Mitt.Schweiz.Ent.Ges.1903.11.p.24.

The underside of the forewings with no basal spots.

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ab. unipuncta (Courvoisier.Z.Wiss.Ins.1907.3.p.74.)

The underside of the forewings with one basal spot.

Natural History Museum
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ab. bipuncta (Rebel.Berge’s.Schmett.1910.Ed.9.p.75.)

The underside of the forewings with two basal spots.

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ab. tripuncta (Courvoisier.Mitt.Schweiz.Ent.Ges.1903.11.p.22.)

The underside of the forewings with three basal spots.

Natural History Museum
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ab. subtus-maculis-extensis (Oberthür.Etudes.1896.20.p.15.pl.3.f.20.)

The underside with the spots exaggerated and somewhat elongated. Whether or not Oberthür meant this as a name is open to doubt.

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ab. oolitica (le Chamberlain.Entom.1908.41.p.202.)

The underside with fewer spots, some of them coalescing, a mixture of obsolescence and striation.

Natural History Museum
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ab. addenda (Tutt.Brit.Lep.1914.XI.p.325.)

= pluripuncta Courvoisier.Iris.1912.26.p.58.

The underside with small extra spots appearing in the area between the discoidal spot and the submedian spots of the forewings.

Natural History Museum
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ab. striata (Tutt.Brit.Lep.1914.XI.p.325.)

Tutt says, after giving the description of striata, which reads, “The usual ocelli on the inferior wings are elongated into a series of streaks (Sheldon)”, “Any form possessing striated spots on the underside”. Presumably it can therefore apply to forewings as well as hindwings or both.

Natural History Museum
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ab. retrojuncta (Courvoisier.Ent.Z.1911.25.p.83.)

On the underside of the hindwings the third basal spot is connected with its opposite submedian spot in a streak.

Natural History Museum
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ab. imojuncta (Courvoisier.Iris.1912.26.p.50.)

On the underside of the hindwings an extra basal spot appears between the normal third and fourth and is connected to an opposite submedian spot in a streak.

Natural History Museum
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