dj
Junior Member
Posts: 34
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Post by dj on Mar 20, 2012 9:36:58 GMT -8
Here in BG the Butterflies are out in force. At first look I thought this was a Painted Lady but after a closer look noticed the markings arent the same. Can someone tell me what it is please. Thanks Dj Attachments:
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Post by lepidofrance on Mar 20, 2012 9:54:07 GMT -8
It's Nymphalis xanthomelas ESPER, 1781.  It's a very interesting picture because according some authors (like Tolman & Lewington, Butterflies Guide for Europe and Northern Africa), " this species was common in Bulgaria in the 1920s but is perhaps now extinct ".  |
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dj
Junior Member
Posts: 34
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Post by dj on Mar 20, 2012 10:05:41 GMT -8
Well its definitely not extinct here in BG, really glad I took the pic.
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Post by nomihoudai on Mar 20, 2012 10:22:42 GMT -8
How can you tell for sure that it is N. xanthomelas and not N. polychloros without seeing the legs lepidofrance? I am not doubting your opinion, I am just asking to learn.
Rgds Claude
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Post by lepidofrance on Mar 20, 2012 14:45:58 GMT -8
Sure, it would be better to see the underside and the legs colour (dark in polychloros and clear in xanthomelas). Nevertheless, looking at the design, mainly on the hindwings, I presume this is actually xanthomelas.  Here in France, we don't have xanthomelas ; polychloros is not common but not rare : anyway, in March, the polychloros flying, after months of hibernation, are not that fresh ! |
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Post by thanos on Mar 21, 2012 3:34:50 GMT -8
DEFINITELY a male of N.polychloros. There is no need really to check for the yellow legs of xanthomelas. In xanthomelas,on hindwings, the black (on the inner edge of the blue submarginal spots) is MUCH wider, going through the post discal area. Also, the colour of xanthomelas is more reddish, not that brown like polychloros .
I have good series of both species, all collected myself here. They are quite different. xanthomelas here is a rare butterfly, while polychloros common.
Thanos
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Post by lepidofrance on Mar 21, 2012 9:04:22 GMT -8
Yes, you are right : it's polychloros !  I was misled by the polychloros picture in the Tolman and Lewington's book showing a large black spot on hind wings and we see much smaller in the photo copy of the Bulgarian. I add that in France we do not ask the difference between the two species since we have one! A comparison of two species: |
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dj
Junior Member
Posts: 34
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Post by dj on Mar 21, 2012 10:57:25 GMT -8
Thanks Guys
can anyone give me some good bug books for reference. I only have "insects of britain and western eurpe by michael chinery" I am in Bulgaria so obviously there is a lot here not in the book.
Thanks
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Post by homard on Apr 7, 2012 7:28:58 GMT -8
Thanks Guys can anyone give me some good bug books for reference. I only have "insects of britain and western eurpe by michael chinery" I am in Bulgaria so obviously there is a lot here not in the book. Thanks Hello dj, I'd suggest "Butterflies of Bulgaria" by Stanislav Abajiev, published by VEREN Publishers. It's a good and comprehensive publication, in several parts. I've got pt.1 (Papilionidae & Pieridae) and pt.2 (Libytheinae & Satyrinae). There are text keys for ID, essays for each species, distribution maps, color photos of specimens for each species and some photos of habitats. Here's one link, you can google for more www.nhbs.com/butterflies_of_bulgaria_tefno_45087.html |
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dj
Junior Member
Posts: 34
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Post by dj on Apr 11, 2012 8:37:07 GMT -8
thanks for the recommendations homard I will look into it.
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Post by thanos on Apr 12, 2012 5:58:23 GMT -8
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dj
Junior Member
Posts: 34
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Post by dj on Apr 15, 2012 10:03:01 GMT -8
Thanks Thanos, have saved it looks really good.
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