A very familiar butterfly, which seems to stay fresh and rarely seems battered (except after hibernating), unlike many other species nearing the end of their lives. It could easily be confused with the Cleopatra (G. cleopatra) in southern France as the wing-shape is almost identical except that rhamni is more "pointy" at the forewing apex and to some extent at the hindwing point at v3. Also the forewing costa of rhamni is usually slightly indented at the centre, giving a sweeping curved appearance, whereas cleopatra is usually slightly convex, although I do not believe this is always the case (see cleopatra 9166 which has this concave costa but is decidedly "unpointy"). I have rather come to the conclusion that it is not always possible to tell the difference with any degree of certainty in some cases.

observations

a typical male.

a male and I think rhamni even though the forewing margin is very straight even to the rather unpronounced apex, usually indications of cleopatra. However, the colouration, and the fact that Aisne is nowhere near the cleopatra distribution, confirm rhamni.

a maleI originally thought this might be cleopatra but the forewing apex is sufficiently pointed for rhamni and the general colouring is probably too yellow for cleopatra. The slight concavity of the rhamni forewing costa is not as apparent as other specimens, but I still think 18228 is rhamni.

I am really not 100% certain about this. I believe it must be a male rhamni but the forewing apex does not look quite pointy enough. However, the overall yellow colouration and general feel is more rhamni than cleopatra and the location is far too far north for cleopatra.

a male, I think, and rather a pale yellow for rhamni, but the degree of pointedness of the forewing apex is conclusively rhamni.

a female.