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Post by nomad on Dec 24, 2014 12:24:09 GMT
Many ssp. were not described after a long study. Many of them were described after rather short series collected during one seaason. And of course when you will collect several specimens from one location during few days they will all look similar and different from other specimens. How do you know if they were isolated for 10000 or 100 years?? Phenotype will not tell you this. An isolation of just 50 years can make a big difference in phenotypes, but it does not mean that we have a new ssp. If you study a population you must have in mind much more than only butterflies. If you tear the populaion out of context, of course you will come to a conclusion that it is a separate ssp. Well you know from the geologists that study rock formations that some Island populations of butterflies have been separated from the mainland of Britain for thousands of years. Also areas such as the Great Ormes Head in North Wales were once a Island. As I have already mentioned the U.K has been separated for the continent of Europe for 10,000 years. I have also mentioned I do not agree with the subspecific status of all those on the list, this is the current thinking of the U.K butterflies website and even they point to some now being best regarded as geographical forms. It is my opinion whether you regard races to be subspecies or variation in any given population, if they show good differences in appearance, then they are both equally desirable to collect or to study.
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Post by nomad on Dec 24, 2014 12:48:45 GMT
Again nice specimens dunc. I have seen Coenonympha tullia subspecies davus near Witherslack at Meathop Moss. Interesting that this, the most lovely of our British races with its large eye spots also occurs in Germany from whence it was described. I have also seen Erebia epiphron scotica in two locations in the Breadalbane hills of Perthshire in Scotland, but some time ago. I am certainly going to Scotland in 2015 and that is one that I hope to meet again.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 24, 2014 14:11:03 GMT
Of all the butterflies I have not seen Carterocephalus palaemon would have to be the one I would like to see the most in Scotland, a lovely little butterfly.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 31, 2014 11:22:12 GMT
Any chequered skipper would do, I went to Loch Arkaig about 8 years ago but saw nothing, it is one of the few British butterflies I have yet to see.
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Post by nomad on Jan 4, 2015 11:52:47 GMT
Any chequered skipper would do, I went to Loch Arkaig about 8 years ago but saw nothing, it is one of the few British butterflies I have yet to see. Yes, Carterocephalus palaemon. Only one Scottish race- too much xmas wine . A lovely little insect, typical skipper, you do not see them and then they appear like magic, so fast they are on the wing. Here is a selection. Some I have posted before. These were taken at the NNR reserve of Glasdrum Wood. Delightful days but beware those army of ticks. The images are of males, except the last which shows the paler female. Enjoy.
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Post by mygos on Jan 4, 2015 13:05:30 GMT
Absolutely beautiful pictures Peter !
A+, Michel
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Post by Deleted on Jan 4, 2015 13:50:16 GMT
On my last visit to Scotland I came back with a sheep tick buried into my shin bone, the hospital had to dig it out, not a pleasant experience.
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Post by bobw on Jan 4, 2015 17:08:28 GMT
Any chequered skipper would do, I went to Loch Arkaig about 8 years ago but saw nothing, it is one of the few British butterflies I have yet to see. Dunc
When I went to Scotland many years ago looking for C. palaemon I didn't find Loch Arkaig to be very good at all - 2 days with one possible sighting. Then I tried Spean Bridge and saw plenty along the roadside; if you go again I suggest you try there.
I also picked up quite a few ticks there.
Bob
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Post by Deleted on Jan 4, 2015 17:29:50 GMT
Bob, I stayed at a campsite at Roysbridge near Glen Spean, should have saved my petrol and looked nearer there.
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Post by nomad on Jan 10, 2015 10:56:57 GMT
A British endemic subspecies. The Northern Brown Argus ssp salmacis. Photo taken at Yewbarrow in Cumbria, Northern England. White ringed black eye-spots in this locality. The habitat at Yewbarrow. Rocky Limestone hills.
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Post by nomad on Jan 10, 2015 11:23:36 GMT
A British endemic. The Mountain Ringlet - Erebia epiphron ssp mnemon. Smaller and duller than continental subspecies. Here this species here only flies in the sunshine, which is a bit of a problem in the English Lake District in Northern Britain where the ssp mnemon flies. It is nearly always wet or misty in the mountains there. I visited in a damp wet week, searching a locality all morning in the mist, which resulted in no butterflies, but as the weak sunlight peeked through the cloud cover in the afternoon, the butterflies appeared as if like magic from the tussocks of grass. Male. Female. Freshly emerged Male. Habitat. Wet mountain slopes with a few of the inhabitants.
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Post by nomad on Jan 10, 2015 12:33:20 GMT
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Post by nomad on Jan 10, 2015 13:52:16 GMT
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Post by frohawksghost on Jan 12, 2015 16:26:00 GMT
he British subspecies of Coenonympha tullia that is found in the North-west of England and central England, has long been regarded as ssp davus (Fabricius 1777) which was described from Germany. Tom Tolman in the superb ' Collins butterfly guide of Britain and Europe ' has suggested that the most northern population of the race pictured below belongs to ( ssp rothliebii Herrich-Schaffer 1851) which also occurs in Belgium, but it may be extinct there. This is the most striking of the Coenonnympha tullia races with the very dark upper wings and large ocelli on the verso of the hindwings.
Habitat. Wet low lying mossland -boggy moorland in Cumbria - Northern England. Seeing the habitat photos - especially that lovely portrait perched on Bog Asphodel - makes me wistful that this species isn't found in Shetland. Its absence is one of those quirks of geography, but the habitat looks spot on, the foodplant is there, and they're tough little fellas.
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