View allAll Photos Tagged Argus,
Brown Argus (Aricia agestis)
14 September 2018, Cuttle Pool Nature Reserve, Warwickshire Wildlife Trust, Temple Balsall
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Species: Aricia agestis.
Until the 1996s, the Brown Argus had steadily declined as chalk and limestone grasslands were lost to agricultural improvement throughout southern and central England and Wales. Since then, however, it has made a comeback and has increased its range rapidly to the north and east, managing to adapt to other habitats such as railway cuttings, roadside verges and rough, overgrown land. Info: Bloomsbury Wildlife Guidea.
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Although one of the "Blues" both sexes are brown on the uppersides with a band of orange spots at the border of each wing. They can be mistaken for other female blues but the Brown Argus never has any blue scales at the base of the wings like other female Blues often do. It could also be mistaken for the Northern Brown Argus ''Aricia artaxrexes'' were it not for the fact that their ranges do not overlap in the UK, unlike on continental Europe. The underside has the typical "blue" pattern of a greyish/brownish ground colour with black spots outlined in white and a row of orange spots along the border. The pattern of the black spots is the best way to distinguish this species from female Common, Chalk Hill and Adonis Blues as they lack the black spot found near the base of the forewing which is present on these three species. This species has seen an expansion in its range in recent years and is widely distributed across southeast England and most of the Midlands with colonies occurring in Wales and as far north as Yorkshire. These northern sites have seen a lot of confusion in recent years with genetic studies looking at various colonies to separate the two ''Aricia'' spp. Until a few years ago, these northern colonies were thought to be the Northern Brown Argus and more colonies may yet be found to be misidentified. Like other blues it is common on the chalk downlands of southern England but will also use other habitats such as woodland clearings, coastal grasslands and heathland. It is widespread across Europe north to southern Sweden and eastwards to Siberia.
Brown argus (Aricia agestis) butterfly perched on a seed head.
Modraszek agestis (Aricia agestis) siedzący na główce nasiennej.
20221224-2925
Deze mast, volgetouwd met meetapparatuur houdt precies bij hoe het zand van de zandmotor zich gedraagt.
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A 5am start to find some roosting Chalkhill Blues at breezy Barnack Hills and Holes nature reserve proved fruitless, but after an hour and a half of searching I at least found a small group of Brown Argus (Aricia agestis).
All were on ugly roosts except this one on a knapweed bud, which was a fortunate find as by this time the butterflies were semi-active and would not have tolerated being transferred. It was warm enough that this unit flew off without a sunshine bask.
This was taken with my Argus www.flickr.com/photos/lilylove/3196008839/in/set-72157612...
and my crazy TTV contraption back in April.
www.flickr.com/photos/lilylove/3207816150/in/set-72157612...
I just love that Argus ♥