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Suffolk Natural History, Vol. 40
The Small Tortoiseshell ab. semi-ichnusoides: a Suffolk sighting On 30 September 2003 my wife, Anne Marie, noted an unusual Small Tortoiseshell butterfly feeding high up on our garden buddleia. Observation through our binoculars revealed that there was a much lighter blue border along the hind-wings and that the fore-wings had a border f creamy black with the top points a light white. Very noticeable patches of black were observed along the centre top edges of the fore-wings. This was our first record of the female aberrant form semi-ichnusoides, which is produced by high temperatures during the pupal stage. (Thomas & Lewington, 1991). This would have equated with the hot summer weather in 2003. This specimen was briefly observed on the next day but again fed high up on the buddleia and I was unable to take any photos. Thomas, J. & Lewington R. (1991). The butterflies of Britain and Ireland. Dorling Kindersley, London: p. 123. Richard Stewart ‘Valezina’, 112 Westerfield Road, Ipswich Suffolk. IP4 2XW
Trans. Suffolk Nat. Soc. 40 (2004)