David Element

 

 

Wildlife Photography and Digital Video Images

 

_______________________________________________________________ Butterflies 97 – Small Pearl-bordered Fritillaries

 

 

 

A butterfly on a flower

Description automatically generated

 

SMALL PEARL-BORDERED FRITRILLARY Boloria selene (f)

 

A butterfly on a flower

Description automatically generated

 

SMALL PEARL-BORDERED FRITRILLARY Boloria selene (f)

 

A butterfly on a flower

Description automatically generated

 

SMALL PEARL-BORDERED FRITRILLARY Boloria selene (f)

 

A butterfly on a flower

Description automatically generated

 

SMALL PEARL-BORDERED FRITRILLARY Boloria selene (f)

 

A butterfly on a leaf

Description automatically generated with medium confidence

 

SMALL PEARL-BORDERED FRITRILLARY Boloria selene (f)

 

A butterfly on a leaf

Description automatically generated

 

SMALL PEARL-BORDERED FRITRILLARY Boloria selene (f)

 

A butterfly on a leaf

Description automatically generated

 

SMALL PEARL-BORDERED FRITRILLARY Boloria selene (f)

 

A butterfly on a flower

Description automatically generated

 

SMALL PEARL-BORDERED FRITRILLARY Boloria selene (f)

 

A butterfly on a flower

Description automatically generated

 

SMALL PEARL-BORDERED FRITRILLARY Boloria selene (f)

 

A butterfly on a flower

Description automatically generated

 

SMALL PEARL-BORDERED FRITRILLARY Boloria selene (f)

 

A butterfly on a flower

Description automatically generated

 

SMALL PEARL-BORDERED FRITRILLARY Boloria selene (f)

 

A butterfly on a flower

Description automatically generated

 

SMALL PEARL-BORDERED FRITRILLARY Boloria selene

 

·         Small Pearl-bordered Fritillaries Boloria selene are charming little butterflies. In the UK they are increasingly uncommon, as are their closest British relatives, Pearl-bordered Fritillaries B. euphrosyne, and these butterflies can be very difficult to separate in the field at sites where both are known to be present unless a good view can be obtained of their undersides. The Pearl-bordered has just one slightly reflective silvery discal spot on each hindwing, whereas the Small Pearl-bordered has several. To illustrate this, the final image, a (computer-enhanced) copy of an under-exposed transparency of the underside of a Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary has been included. The colours may not be 100% accurate, but the intricate (and very beautiful) pattern is clearly visible. Most of the images above were taken at a site in Scotland where Pearl-bordered Fritillaries were absent. In continental Europe there are a number of potential confusion species, but fortunately there is now an excellent on-line identification guide that will assist with the identification of small, medium and large fritillaries – in most cases: http://www.european-butterflies.org.uk/downloads/EURO%20FRITS%20GUIDE.pdf. Good photographs taken from several angles will enable most small fritillaries to be identifiable to species, provided that the relevant identification features are visible. Some species are more distinctive than others!

 

·         David’s short film of Small Pearl-bordered Fritillaries may be seen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j87Ot0jS14w .

 

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