Small pearl bordered fritillary ab.

[owen figgis]

Spotted this very pretty aberrant small pearl bordered fritillary today at Screel, Dumfries and Galloway.

Owen

[David M]

That's a magnificent specimen, Owen. I've never seen one quite like it.

[owen figgis]

Nor me David. In fact its the first aberrant one I've seen in many hundreds - they seem to be very homogenous - if that's the right word. Pearl borders on the other hand are much more varied in their markings - at least in this area - and I've seen several similar to this one. This is one from Mabie Forest.

Owen

[Padfield]

It's difficult putting a name to abs like this because the ab descriptions are often quite vague and Boloria in particular shows many melanic forms of many species. BUT, it's worth noting this is very similar to Nick Morgan's picture, which I presume also comes from Scotland, and also Gruditch's, which might or might not, on this page:

http://www.ukbutterflies.co.uk/aberrati ... ies=selene

Guy