Brown Argus (aricia agestis) and Mountain Argus (aricia artaxerxes)
2008 photos highlighted green. Click on any photo to go to an enlarged picture, or simply scroll down the page.
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| 2503_male_Var_8Jul06 - agestis | 7704_female_Var_30Jun07 - agestis | 7696_female_Var_30Jun07 - agestis |
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| 12963_male_Valais, Switzerland_15Jul08 - artaxerxes | 12395_male_Isere_10Jul08 - artaxerxes | 3057_female_Alpes Maritimes_25Jul06 - artaxerxes |
Agestis is quite widespread in the UK and common in France. Artaxerxes occurs at higher altitudes and can co-exist with agestis which can occur at quite high altitudes. Agestis has a full set of upperside orange lunules, especially so in the female, although the male upf lunules may not quite extend past s4. Artaxerxes has an incomplete set of lunules, less in the male, as for agestis. Artaxerxes also has a slightly more pointed forewing apex.
The agestis underside could be (and often is) confused with the female Common Blue (polyommatus icarus) but there is a key differentiator in the unh spots - this is illustrated on the icarus page.
2503: the uph orange lunules in s1-5 are strong with dark spots and slightly white edging in s1-3; the upf lunules are quite marked in s1-4, the extent of the lunules suggesting agestis, and the roundness of the wing edge and tip tends to reinforce this. The angle of the photograph can be deceptive with regard to the angularity of the wing tip, though. I'm guessing it's a male based on the incompleteness of the upf lunules.
7704: a female agestis based on body shape, and the upperside of 7696. The upf lunules extend to s6 but are not especially strong. Altitude 140m.
7696: a female agestis with nice clean brown ground colour and a complete set of strong orange lunules on the unf extending to s6. The hindwing anal angle hints at male, though. 7704 is the upperside, which clearly confirms female. Altitude 140m.
12963: a typical male, with weak uph lunules and only vestigial upf lunules in s2-4.
12395: a male, puddling. I believe this is of the Alpine form allous, although at the bottom end of the altitude range for this form.
3057: the uph lunules are large in s1-5, with the margins unmarked, and quite well marked in upf s1-3. I believe this artaxerxes is of the form montensis whic occurs in the Basses Alpes.
2503_male_Var_8Jul06 - agestis
7704_female_Var_30Jun07 - agestis
7696_female_Var_30Jun07 - agestis
12963_male_Valais, Switzerland_15Jul08
3057_female_Alpes Maritimes_25Jul06 - artaxerxes
