A tale of two fritillaries
Thanks to Kim for situating the diptych!
It is often hard if not downright difficult to identify fritillary butterflies from their upperwings. In this instance it is possible. The butterfly to your right, as you look at the screen, is a male Silver-washed Fritillary (Argynnis paphia) photographed at a small RSPB reserve on the Dosret / Wiltshire border. Note the four dark thick veins on each forewing.
The butterfly to the left is a Dark Green Fritillary (Speyeria aglaja), probably a female. It was photographed on the chalk grasslands of the Purbeck Ridge, Dorset. This is much more difficult to identify from the upperwings because there are several other similar species in the UK. However, the key here is local knowledge as none of the other UK possibilities can be found anywhere near where this was photographed at this or any other time of the year.
These two fritillaries are the UK's most common. The Silver-washed Fritillary largely uses broad-leaved woodland and is more than holding its own in suitable habitat in the southern half of England and Wales and also in northern Ireland. The Dark Green Fritillary, although declining, can still be found in suitable habitats throughout Britain.
(I've geotagged the photo to Garston Wood which is where the Silver-washed Fritillary was photographed.)
A tale of two fritillaries
Thanks to Kim for situating the diptych!
It is often hard if not downright difficult to identify fritillary butterflies from their upperwings. In this instance it is possible. The butterfly to your right, as you look at the screen, is a male Silver-washed Fritillary (Argynnis paphia) photographed at a small RSPB reserve on the Dosret / Wiltshire border. Note the four dark thick veins on each forewing.
The butterfly to the left is a Dark Green Fritillary (Speyeria aglaja), probably a female. It was photographed on the chalk grasslands of the Purbeck Ridge, Dorset. This is much more difficult to identify from the upperwings because there are several other similar species in the UK. However, the key here is local knowledge as none of the other UK possibilities can be found anywhere near where this was photographed at this or any other time of the year.
These two fritillaries are the UK's most common. The Silver-washed Fritillary largely uses broad-leaved woodland and is more than holding its own in suitable habitat in the southern half of England and Wales and also in northern Ireland. The Dark Green Fritillary, although declining, can still be found in suitable habitats throughout Britain.
(I've geotagged the photo to Garston Wood which is where the Silver-washed Fritillary was photographed.)