Wednesday 22 July 2020

Butterfly variants and unusual subspecies from Norway

While browsing the Facebook group British Butterfly Aberrations, I remembered that some butterfly variants and an interesting subspecies have been photographed on travels here in Norway, so I decided to search the archive and unearth them again. Instead of letting them slip back into the darkness again I decided to present them collectively here.


Green-veined White (Pieris napi adalwindi) female - Nordland, Norway 24/6-2010
1. Green-veined White Pieris napi female from Reine, Moskenes, Nordland on 24th June 2010 - A dark variant which partially resembles a Dark-veined White Pieris bryoniae from southern Europe. The situation with forms, subspecies or possibly different species is much confused throughout its European range although in northern Fennoscandia where this image is taken, a single brooded 'fuzzy grey' subspecies has been decribed as Pieris napi adalwindi which is what this individual presumably is. Otherwise in Fennoscandia there is also a dark mountain subspecies described as Pieris napi bicolorata.



Silver-studded/Idas Blue male 'missing spots variant' - Vestfold, Norway 30/6-2018 

Silver-studded/Idas Blue male 'missing spots variant' - Vestfold, Norway 30/6-2018

Silver-studded/Idas Blue male - normal individual for comparison
2. Silver-studded/Idas Blue Plebejus argus/idas male from Trollsvannet, Sandefjord, Vestfold, Norway on 30th June 2018 - an individual with many missing spots on the underside and showing abnormal rounded forwings, see first two images and compair with the third image showing a normal individual.


False Heath Fritillary female 'pale variant' - Vestfold, Norway 4/6-18

False Heath Fritillary female 'pale variant' - Vestfold, Norway 4/6-18

False Heath Fritillary female - normal coloured individual for comparison
3. False Heath Fritillary Melitaea diamina female from Merkedammen, Tønsberg, Vestfold, Norway on 4th June 2018 - a very pale individual resembling a Heath Fritillary M. athalia somewhat on the topside but with diagnostic False Heath Fritillary underside. Compare the third image of a normal coloured female with the first two images.




Dark Green Fritillary 'unusual coloured rear wing underside variant' - Vestfold, Norway 3/7-17

Dark Green Fritillary 'unusual coloured rear wing underside variant' - Vestfold, Norway 3/7-17

Dark Green Fritillary - normal coloured individual for comparison
4. Dark Green Fritillary Argynnis aglaja from Merkedammen, Tønsberg, Vestfold, Norway on 3rd July 2017 - an individual with unusual white spotting on the underside of the rear wing and also unusual dark wing patern on the upperside. Compare the third image of a normal coloured individual with the first two images.


Monday 13 July 2020

Butterflies during late June and early July 2020

The following is a summary of butterfly observations made locally during this period in and around Horten and generally in Vestfold province of southern Norway. 
In late June it was clear that the numbers of butterflies were down compared to 2019, with the exception of Orange Tip Anthocharis cardamines, which has had an exceptional good year. However, the outlook for the remaining spring looked promising particularly concerning the blues sp. and the variety of species seen and those reported by others on our reporting system. For me, Moorland Clouded Yellow Colias palaeno was probably the most exciting as it was a lifer although no photos were obtained of this fast fly-past pair and only briefly seen. Otherwise there were some interesting local species including, two Small Blue Cupido minimus, several Idas Blue Plebejus idas, the usual several Mazarine Blue Cyaniris semiargus, several Amanda's Blue Polyommatus amandus, a Queen of Spain Fritillary Issoria lathonia, several Cranberry Fritillary Boloria aquilonaris, several False Heath Fritillary Melitaea diamina, plenty of Large Wall Brown Lasiommata petropolitana and the usual several Large Heath Coenonympha tullia. During this good butterfly period until early July, we had some extremely hot temperatures reaching +30 C, then the weather changed dramatically with several days of cold wet and windy weather seriously effecting the butterfly populations. By the 13th July it was clear that not only butterflies, but dragonflies and other flying insects including bumblebees were all almost non-existent. This may be a local phenomenon but one that certainly is affecting the whole of the western side of the Oslofjord. Also, at this time of year we should be finding migrant butterflies on our flowering Buddleia bushes which surely will not be pollinated this year without a significant change of circumstances.   


Little Blue, male - Horten, Vestfold 16th June 2020

Little Blue, male - Horten, Vestfold 16th June 2020

Idas Blue, female - Vestfold 2nd July 2020

Idas Blue, female - Vestfold 2nd July 2020

Mazarine Blue, male - Skoppum Vestfold 10th June 2020

Mazarine Blue, male - Skoppum, Vestfold 10th June 2020

Amanda's Blue, male - Vestfold 2nd July 2020

Amanda's Blue, female - Vestfold 2nd July 2020

Queen of Spain Fritillary - Horten, Vestfold 26th June 2020

Cranberry Fritillary - Vestfold 18th June 2020

Cranberry Fritillary - Vestfold 18th June 2020

False Heath Fritillary, female - Vestfold 2nd July 2020

Large Wall Brown - Vestfold 25th June 2020

Large Heath - Vestfold 18th June 2020

Broad-bordered Bee Hawk-moth - Horten, Vestfold 26th June 2020


Great Grey Owl at Larvik, Vestfold on 6th March 2023

A Great Grey Owl Strix nebulosa had been repeatedly reported from an area near Larvik in Vestfold during February, but the exact locality w...