tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7432461418078268195.post1048308442907088971..comments2024-03-27T17:21:08.606+00:00Comments on Butterfly Notes: Scotch Argus - Erebia aethiopsNick Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06431235724349702199noreply@blogger.comBlogger26125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7432461418078268195.post-63756313642084907462015-12-03T19:58:10.480+00:002015-12-03T19:58:10.480+00:00Thanks DavidThanks DavidNick Morganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06431235724349702199noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7432461418078268195.post-30318781718712309532015-12-03T17:57:19.870+00:002015-12-03T17:57:19.870+00:00Great job. Some nice images here.Great job. Some nice images here.David M. Gascoigne,https://www.blogger.com/profile/17229638811027153569noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7432461418078268195.post-16354476124146699392015-12-01T00:01:46.914+00:002015-12-01T00:01:46.914+00:00Thank you Sunita. Dad is back home, so I hope he s...Thank you Sunita. Dad is back home, so I hope he stays out of hospital for a while.<br />It would be nice to think that people would leave space for these butterflies. Sadly I don't think most people care that much about them. I think that the area these ones were in is protected, but it would be lovely to be able to provide more areas for them to live in.Nick Morganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06431235724349702199noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7432461418078268195.post-32222727849116677822015-11-30T02:31:20.607+00:002015-11-30T02:31:20.607+00:00Sorry to read about your father, Nick. I hope he i...Sorry to read about your father, Nick. I hope he is better now? <br />Such a pretty butterfly, Nick! And I find its habit of 'playing dead' quite endearing. <br />It is interesting that they prefer areas where the grass has not been mown. What a great incentive to return the land to its wild state!Sunita Mohan https://www.blogger.com/profile/16395671437601246093noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7432461418078268195.post-46919318359317015362015-11-28T09:15:08.458+00:002015-11-28T09:15:08.458+00:00go for it! Perhaps they only display this behavior...go for it! Perhaps they only display this behavior due to the absence to predators on the ground.Bluebottlehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02667008363720497894noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7432461418078268195.post-31034043916722496222015-11-25T22:14:23.757+00:002015-11-25T22:14:23.757+00:00Yes, it is an interesting strategy, but I suppose ...Yes, it is an interesting strategy, but I suppose that if they stay completely still they just look like a dead leaf. Nick Morganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06431235724349702199noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7432461418078268195.post-7499279057260922102015-11-23T13:50:51.594+00:002015-11-23T13:50:51.594+00:00Hi Nick, nice of you to drop by. That part regardi...Hi Nick, nice of you to drop by. That part regarding the caterpillar and adult butterfly playing dead is interesting. I've come across them in this state and was wondering what has happened to them.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01083409767851425580noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7432461418078268195.post-13451078998236258212015-11-19T20:04:21.585+00:002015-11-19T20:04:21.585+00:00Hi Jonny,
Yes, maybe this behaviour explains why t...Hi Jonny,<br />Yes, maybe this behaviour explains why their numbers are declining in the UK! On the other hand I certainly didn't notice any ants in the area. I usually consider ants as living in dry areas and the Scotch Argus tends to like damp grassland. The next time I go and look for them I will also see if I can find any ants in the area.Nick Morganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06431235724349702199noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7432461418078268195.post-8323179961797995172015-11-19T05:33:45.025+00:002015-11-19T05:33:45.025+00:00Nice pictures! I'm intrigued by their behaviou...Nice pictures! I'm intrigued by their behaviour of plaving dead and dropping down. It does make them difficult to spot or reach... but maybe makes them more vulnerable to passing armies of predatory ants?Bluebottlehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02667008363720497894noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7432461418078268195.post-70204546209472406602015-11-16T20:51:13.732+00:002015-11-16T20:51:13.732+00:00Thanks Maria. They are lovely butterflies. I will ...Thanks Maria. They are lovely butterflies. I will try hard to get some better pictures next year a little earlier in the year when they will be a little brighter.Nick Morganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06431235724349702199noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7432461418078268195.post-33266854672651022772015-11-15T23:01:30.022+00:002015-11-15T23:01:30.022+00:00I love these images Nick, specially the last one. ...I love these images Nick, specially the last one. Mariahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08064368615178870750noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7432461418078268195.post-46181262983963124802015-11-14T11:14:51.577+00:002015-11-14T11:14:51.577+00:00This comment has been removed by the author.Peter Hunthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11661293125506181887noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7432461418078268195.post-72843230441810198102015-11-13T19:52:11.020+00:002015-11-13T19:52:11.020+00:00Thanks Peter, it is strange to think that this but...Thanks Peter, it is strange to think that this butterfly that is so scarce here is widely distributed elsewhere. I believe that there are many, very similar species in that part of Europe. I suppose that one advantage of having so few species here in Scotland that it is easier to identify what they are!Nick Morganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06431235724349702199noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7432461418078268195.post-60506901553315685312015-11-13T19:46:47.010+00:002015-11-13T19:46:47.010+00:00Thanks Andrea. I would have liked to have had bett...Thanks Andrea. I would have liked to have had better light to show the colours and make the pictures sharper. Much of our summer this year was overcast, so I am not a fan, I am afraid!! However, I can imagine in a hot country it is nice to have some relief from the heat of the sun. I remember noticing how the butterflies disappeared in St Lucia when it was just about to rain. I would see them flying into a bush, but they would be completely camouflaged.Nick Morganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06431235724349702199noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7432461418078268195.post-63719298455083094142015-11-13T08:33:59.206+00:002015-11-13T08:33:59.206+00:00Interesting entry Nick,particularly on this butter...Interesting entry Nick,particularly on this butterflies distribution.I have one photo of this species taken some years ago,no idea where the location was.As I holiday a lot in the Greek Islands maybe it was there.Peter Hunthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11661293125506181887noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7432461418078268195.post-8500236360592575082015-11-13T04:53:03.109+00:002015-11-13T04:53:03.109+00:00You said the pictures are dull, for me they aren&#...You said the pictures are dull, for me they aren't. I love taking photos during overcast days. They are easier to shoot too in that weather as they cannot fly freely because of the air saturated with moisture. That condition is seldom seen here in our hot tropics, and when it is about to rain those butterflies can't be seen anymore hiding in areas very secret to me!Andreahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05848957958059476177noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7432461418078268195.post-6911079303918646662015-11-07T20:57:23.967+00:002015-11-07T20:57:23.967+00:00Thanks Noushka, You have to make the most of any o...Thanks Noushka, You have to make the most of any opportunity to see butterflies here in Scotland. They were still flying here until about a week ago, but I doubt I will see any more now until next year. I will have to search for hibernating butterflies to keep me occupied!Nick Morganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06431235724349702199noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7432461418078268195.post-44535779474372298492015-11-07T07:33:29.489+00:002015-11-07T07:33:29.489+00:00Hi Nick,
I find you brave to go go out and take pi...Hi Nick,<br />I find you brave to go go out and take pictures in such conditions!<br />Considering, I think you did great.<br />I still see many butterflies here and even dragonflies, but we are enjoying temperatures up to 24°C and bright sunshine.<br />Thanks for your kind words, blogger friends are precious when you feel so blue.<br />Enjoy your weekend :)Noushkahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11583459949373167021noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7432461418078268195.post-84345575012417161662015-11-05T07:34:43.302+00:002015-11-05T07:34:43.302+00:00Thank you Tammie Lee. Yes, it is always a little s...Thank you Tammie Lee. Yes, it is always a little sad for me at this time of year. However, I always look forward so much to seeing the first butterfly of the year in the spring.Nick Morganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06431235724349702199noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7432461418078268195.post-81763806541721846802015-11-05T02:33:28.836+00:002015-11-05T02:33:28.836+00:00such lovely butterflies
it will be so long until t...such lovely butterflies<br />it will be so long until they are here againTammie Leehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09018402134070834516noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7432461418078268195.post-60933812260521656082015-11-05T00:26:36.976+00:002015-11-05T00:26:36.976+00:00Alistair,
I have had a look at the distribution ma...Alistair,<br />I have had a look at the distribution maps and it appears that the Scotch Argus doesn't occur on the east of Scotland. Maybe it is just too sunny in Aberdeen!! Nick Morganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06431235724349702199noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7432461418078268195.post-47206963525758337292015-11-04T17:59:41.166+00:002015-11-04T17:59:41.166+00:00I have lived all these years and have never heard ...I have lived all these years and have never heard of the Scotch Argus. I guess it never ventured as far North as Aberdeen where we spent all of our life until two years ago.Alistairhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17104382970502166560noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7432461418078268195.post-998466649092051122015-11-04T14:07:42.033+00:002015-11-04T14:07:42.033+00:00Thank you Sonjia. My father is enjoying being back...Thank you Sonjia. My father is enjoying being back home now.<br />The contrast of the dark brown wings and orange markings is striking and the little white spots in the black spots contrast well. I would love to see them in bright weather!<br />I am sorry to hear about the weather in southern Portugal. That sounds awful. Glad to hear you haven't been affected so badly. We are in a period of fog and drizzle just now, having had six weeks of beautiful weather (by Scottish standards). The log stove is on here, too!Nick Morganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06431235724349702199noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7432461418078268195.post-80690775152585340292015-11-04T08:18:41.146+00:002015-11-04T08:18:41.146+00:00Hello Nick!:) Sorry to hear your father is in hosp...Hello Nick!:) Sorry to hear your father is in hospital, and hope he will soon be well. The Scotch Argus is a beauty with such dramatic colouring, which shows even on a dull day, and by looking at the outer wings I would never have guessed what depth of colour lay within. I have not been out with my camera for a week now as the sunny autumn days have been replaced by heavy rainfall. The south of Portugal has had flooding,particularly in Albufeira where the streets were under two meters of water, lives were lost and properties destroyed. Here,it's not as bad, and rather nice to stay in by an open fire and catch up on reading for a change. <br />Best RegardsBreathtakinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03883608347810648676noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7432461418078268195.post-39618044989580720662015-11-04T00:15:34.090+00:002015-11-04T00:15:34.090+00:00Thank you Michelle. It is a lovely little butterfl...Thank you Michelle. It is a lovely little butterfly. The white spots on the wings really stand out and I am sure they would do more so in the sun!Nick Morganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06431235724349702199noreply@blogger.com