BACK__________________________________________________________________________________________________

NEWSLETTER No. 42 -  Spring 1999

WEST MIDLANDS BRANCH, BUTTERFLY CONSERVATION

 

Silver-washed Fritillary -Valezina

It was July 16th 1998 and Gunter and I were walking our usual once a week Transect at Wigmore Rolls. We had previously seen some Dark Green/High Brown Fritillaries there and today I carried a small net to try and make a positive identification if we saw any again. We did see one only, which I was able to catch and identify with certainty as a Dark Green.

Near the end of our walk, when Gunter was on his way to the car, I saw a larger butterfly the colouring of which I had not seen before. It flew into the trees, but as I waited, it quickly returned to the path and settled on a dandelion. Triumphantly and very gently I was able to place the net over it and hold it in my hand. I then realised what it was, remembering that I had seen a photograph of it on the front cover of an old “Butterfly Conservation News” (Spring 1993 No. 53). I was able to carry it to Gunter for him to confirm my find. It was a female Silver-washed Fritillary in the form VALEZINA.* I then released it and hopefully, if it was able to breed, I shall see more in 1999.

*Valezina
On the upper side, the ground colour is greenish grey, with black markings. On the underside the hindwing is similar to that of the normal form but the ground colour of the forewing is pinkish grey. Variations occur in the shade of green and the amount of white on the upper side.

Beryl Petters