The 2004 were taken on Whipsnade Downs, Beds. A small colony of lucina was established in this locality and appeared in small numbers every May, but in 2004 there were been excellent numbers. I counted at least 20 and there was another report of 30+ from another site nearby. There has been a concerted management effort recently by the Beds & Northants branch of Butterfly Conservation to remove scrub so that the larval hostplant Primrose (Primula vulgaris) can flourish, so they are to be congratulated on the result.

The male can be quite dark, as seen in 04_10-03. The female generally has lighter markings.

I have not found it common in France by any means, and it does not seem to occur in my local patch in Var. I have seen it in the nearby Alpes-Maritimes and Hautes-Alpes and in more central locations such as the Côte-d'Or.

observations

a male, quite dark by normal standards.

a female.

a female, I believe, based on the rather lighter markings and the fact that it was right at the end of the flight period, as evidenced by the degree of wear. The body shape is inconclusive.

clearly a female on body shape and lighter orange markings.

a male underside.