Kefalonian butterfly

[web4160]

Help with identification appreciated. Apologies for the quality of the photo taken on my phone.

[Padfield]

This is either tree grayling (Hipparchia statilinus) or Freyer's grayling (Hipparchia fatua). From my experience of tree grayling in Switzerland and France, I suggest yours is Freyer's, but tree graylings are very variable and western European experience may not count in Greece! The well-defined black lines on the underside hindwing are indicative of Freyer's and the texture of the wings of your butterfly is quite unlike that of Swiss tree graylings (though to an extent it may be an artefact of the photograph here).

Freyer's is larger and darker, with more scalloped hindwings. Maybe someone with local knowledge of the two species in Greece can confirm one way or the other. My best bet is Freyer's.

Guy

[web4160]

Thanks Guy, looks like my wife was right! I was going Tree Grayling.

[web4160]

Three more from Kefalonia.

[Padfield]

Interesting!

Your first and third pictures look like either Hipparchia volgensis delattini or Hipparchia senthes (formerly Hipparchia aristaeus senthes). According to the maps in Pamperis, both fly in Kephalonia, though he gives more data points for delattini. Comparing with pictures in various books, I would go for delattini, though I don't think it is possible to be certain just from appearances.

The middle picture is either H. fagi or H. syriacus. Pamperis gives a neat way of distinguishing them based on the relative sizes of the dark areas just beyond the end of the cell, and by his criterion, your picture shows syriacus.

I have no direct experience of any of these species except for fagi, so my conclusions should be taken as enthusiastic guesses!

Guy

[web4160]

Thanks Guy

Much appreciated.

David