Bizarre specimen...

[David M]

Just after midday today, whilst on Whiteford Burrows on the north Gower coast, I came across this butterfly:

Quite apart from its strange appearance, with the left side practically washed out, what intrigues me is that, given it appears to be a male, it cannot be anything other than a Brown Argus, a species I wouldn't expect to see round here until early May even in a warm spring.

This site is a reliable one for this species during its normal flight period, but I was very surprised to see one in mid-April.

Any reassurance would be welcome!

[Padfield]

It's certainly a brown argus. I can't explain its early emergence!

Guy

[David M]

Thanks, Guy. Any ideas as to what might have caused the malformed markings on the left side?

[Wurzel]

The earliest I've had a Brown Argus was 1st May 2011 ( but I don't know how many others had seen it before me) but that's still 2 weeks later than this one David Could the faltering start to Spring have brought it on more quickly - how did its size compare to more normal BAs?
As for the markings could that have been caused by 'trauma' or water damage during the final stages of development or emergence?

Have a goodun

Wurzel