Tortoiseshell Sp from Poland

[RobinD]

Hi,

Can anyone help with the id of this tatty tortoiseshell taken on May 25th in the Biebrza marshes of Poland. At the time I assumed it was a Large, Nymphalis polychloros but it has been suggested it is Yellow-legged, Nymphalis xanthomelas. Are the legs pale enough - I have no experience of this for or a good enough book!

Thanks,

Robin

[Padfield]

I tentatively go for xanthomelas, though I wouldn't be certain because I have got photographs of polychloros with legs this pale.

My reasons are:

The legs and palpi are appropriately pale (see close-up of xanthomelas here: http://ftp.funet.fi/index/Tree_of_life/ ... las-2v.jpg)
The ups colour near the base of the forewings is deep and relatively unobscured by greenish scaling.
The cell-spot on the upf is split in two (from the pictures, this is commoner in xanthomelas)

Against xanthomelas is the faint yellow edging to the dark border of the ups, which is commoner in polychloros.

Fresh individuals are far easier to identify - I have seen just one xanthomelas (way off course, in Gibraltar) and I was immediately confident of its identity. As that is my only real-life experience you should wait for others to pronounce before cracking open the champagne.

Guy

[RobinD]

Thanks Guy,

Perhaps I can convince my friend now! The frustrating thing is i saw another tatty 'Large' Tortoiseshell a couple of days later in a different area but never got a picture...

ATB

Robin