Northern Wall (Lasiommata petropolitana)

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2011 photos highlighted in green. Click on any photo to go to an enlarged picture, or simply scroll down the page.

25507_male_Alpes-Maritimes_08Jun11 25516_male_Alpes-Maritimes_08Jun11 21304_male_Alpes-Maritimes_3Jul10

05_13-11_male_Alpes-de-Haute-Provence_4Jun05

25509_female_Alpes-Maritimes_08Jun11 25527_male_Alpes-Maritimes_08Jun11

The only times I have seen petropolitana were in June 2005 when it appeared in healthy colonies in both the Basses Alpes (around 1300m) and the Hautes-Alpes at 2000m, and then not again until 2010 and 2011. It is a butterfly of medium altitudes and relatively early emergence, the flight period being May-July.

It can de identified for certain by the uph transverse discal line, which does not occur in the very similar male of the Large Wall (L. maera) with which it could otherwise easily be confused.
ref sex

observations

alt. m
25507 M rather worn , but maybe the wear has tended to accentuate the uph discal line. 1320
25516 M a fresh male with quite large and bold ocelli. 1320
21304 M

a male, clearly at the end of the flight period.

1320
05_13-11 M a male, the characteristic transverse line being more clearly visible on the enlarged version below.  
25509 F a female, as indicated by the more extensive orange markings, as well as the body shape. 1320
25527 M an underside of a rather worn male, looking as if it is at the end of the flight period. 1320

 

25507_male_Alpes-Maritimes_08Jun11

 

25516_male_Alpes-Maritimes_08Jun11

 

21304_male_Alpes-Maritimes_3Jul10

 

05_13-11_male_Alpes-de-Haute-Provence_4Jun05

 

25509_female_Alpes-Maritimes_08Jun11

 

25527_male_Alpes-Maritimes_08Jun11