Northern Wall (lasiommata petropolitana)

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2008 photos highlighted green. Click on any photo to go to an enlarged picture, or simply scroll down the page.

The only time I have seen petropolitana was in June 2005 when it appeared in healthy colonies in both the Basses Alpes (around 1300m) and the Hautes Alpes at 2000m. It is an early season specialist (in my experience), found only at altitude, and rather local, so I was delighted to chance upon it twice. It can de identified for certain by the uph transverse discal line, just visible in 05_13-11, and not found in the very similar male of the Large Wall (L. maera) with which it could otherwise easily be confused.

05_13-11: a male, the characteristic transverse line being more clearly visible on the enlarged version below.

05_17-22: a male underside.

05_13-11_male_Alpes de Haute Provence_4Jun05

05_17-22_sex?_Hautes Alpes_6Jun05