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Maniola telmessia

Maniola telmessia

Field Notes

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Samos, Greece, June 2002

Female

 

Samos, Greece, June 2002

Another female but markedly different in most features.
 

Samos, Greece, June 2002

Female underside
 

Samos, Greece, June 2002

Probably a female but again very different from previous picture

 

As with a number of very similar looking species this is found only on specific Greek islands just off the coast of Turkey. I can't tell the difference between these species but conveniently they don't share the same islands so a "Meadow Brown" found here will identify itself. This takes the fun out of identification but it does eliminate errors!

These photographs were taken on the isle of Samos. That makes it Maniola telmessia. We did see the smaller and less brightly marked males but they were very worn and I don't seem to have taken any video of them. Their underside hindwing has prominent eye spots.

Samos island itself has changed hands between Turkey and Greece several times during the last 100 years but the locals are fiercely Greek. It's fairly difficult to get to but it's a beautiful and friendly place.

 

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