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Maniola jurtina
Medium sized butterfly. Brown and violet-ish wings with a black fake eye on top.
Found near flowers
Hi typhonragewind, we have been looking at this spotting and wondering about the ID. This actually looks more like a Sardinian Meadow Brown with the two spots but that is only found in Sardinia. Meadow Browns are a very variable species.
We do have one query regarding your spottings, we do not see the map on any of them, do you see it? If not, can you tell us which platform you are using to upload so that we can try to identify the problem.
I Agree with Kirsten as your butterfly had less fur(hairyness) than Heath butterfly. I feel Kirsten is very much expert on Surface Invertebrates..!! Heath had White dots on Underwing in ventral view not matching your butterfly with Black dots.
I'll wait a bit more before changing, but Kirsten, considering the photos by Ashish it does look like a Heath....
Kirsten... I agree with you... This is Meadow brown... Fur is also less here...!!
I got difference here...!!
The ruffled wing shape and description as a mid-sized butterfly are what caught my eye and pushed me toward Meadow Brown. Meadow Browns are variable in coloring and even in the number of small spots found on the lower wing and are common throughout Portugal. They are a mid-sized butterfly with a ruffled shape to their lower wing.
Small Heath...
http://pdubois.free.fr/espece.php?MyEspe...
Meadow brown
http://www.bio-foto.com/displayimage-861...
I think saar is right... upper wing matches with Heath.. What you say Kirsten.. and Hairy fur..?
I've been trying to find out but it seems the Small heath is smaller version of the Meadow Brown with slight colour diferences.
That's what i found so far...so it's kinda difficult to decide
I do see why there are 2 contenders for this spotting. This is a tough one. Anyone else care to take a look??