Lepidigi
Butterflies of Europe and the Tropics
VAL D'AOSTA, ITALIAN ALPS, with Alan Bernard in July 2023 based at Valnontey, south-west of Cogne, and Saint Vincent, with valued advice from Mike Prentice
Photos in chronological order
![Vallon di Cogne](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/a74cf6_c685bb55c1384936aab987751b97ba13~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_147,h_98,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/a74cf6_c685bb55c1384936aab987751b97ba13~mv2.jpg)
upon arrival in the Gran Paradiso National Park, 10 July, and some of the butterflies seen each day
![Polyommatus icarus](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/a74cf6_75e1f86f6eec49e88c7c90bc52e3376c~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_122,h_117,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/a74cf6_75e1f86f6eec49e88c7c90bc52e3376c~mv2.jpg)
Common Blue (cell-spot obscured)
![Satyrus ferula](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/a74cf6_9d506656c030408892ab918f995d21ae~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_147,h_146,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/a74cf6_9d506656c030408892ab918f995d21ae~mv2.jpg)
Great Sooty Satyr, male
![Melitaea phoebe](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/a74cf6_adeebaf22f3849eba42e4690c78e8b4f~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_145,h_140,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/a74cf6_adeebaf22f3849eba42e4690c78e8b4f~mv2.jpg)
Knapweed Fritillary, female
![Argynnis paphia](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/a74cf6_16eba5299de8498fb25ed852c589e407~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_140,h_125,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/a74cf6_16eba5299de8498fb25ed852c589e407~mv2.jpg)
Silver-washed Fritillary
![tbi](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/a74cf6_f0095c04ca1d49e580ca42ea7b3a85a3~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_147,h_131,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/a74cf6_f0095c04ca1d49e580ca42ea7b3a85a3~mv2.jpg)
![Polyommatus humedasae](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/a74cf6_f5cc6dab34274024a37275e5a9f352d3~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_152,h_141,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/a74cf6_f5cc6dab34274024a37275e5a9f352d3~mv2.jpg)
Piedmont Anomalous Blue
![Polyommatus humedasae](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/a74cf6_77aa0e31a66b41c3b379a9ea91d59c7a~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_153,h_137,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/a74cf6_77aa0e31a66b41c3b379a9ea91d59c7a~mv2.jpg)
Piedmont Anomalous Blue
![Aricia aegestis](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/a74cf6_96957f5d80d448e5a5d6dbca920787a6~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_97,h_91,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/a74cf6_96957f5d80d448e5a5d6dbca920787a6~mv2.jpg)
Brown Argus? slightly aberrant hindwing
![Plebicula dorylas](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/a74cf6_16931bb6d1fe49f5952041c47cdc264a~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_147,h_124,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/a74cf6_16931bb6d1fe49f5952041c47cdc264a~mv2.jpg)
Turquoise Blue (not entirely definite)
![Valnontey valley](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/a74cf6_a33f2c41107248508ed3eec64221f5ad~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_147,h_110,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/a74cf6_a33f2c41107248508ed3eec64221f5ad~mv2.jpg)
a walk up this stunning river valley on 11 July
![Papilio machaon gorganus](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/a74cf6_42085672ca104b67999a7fb690936a0f~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_153,h_138,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/a74cf6_42085672ca104b67999a7fb690936a0f~mv2.jpg)
Swallowtail
![Cupido minimus](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/a74cf6_eeba11c01cdf453fbdfdf863e2afd4e5~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_105,h_95,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/a74cf6_eeba11c01cdf453fbdfdf863e2afd4e5~mv2.jpg)
Small Blue
![Cupido minimus](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/a74cf6_07a3e9d75b9e4c8fab1c8b3b32c388f4~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_127,h_105,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/a74cf6_07a3e9d75b9e4c8fab1c8b3b32c388f4~mv2.jpg)
Small Blue
![Clossiana titania](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/a74cf6_ea4dca778ec444eaa9ca987011f44f24~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_150,h_136,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/a74cf6_ea4dca778ec444eaa9ca987011f44f24~mv2.jpg)
Titania's Fritillary - found it very difficult to decide whether these 3 photos are of titania or Clossiana dia, Weaver's Fritillary...
![Clossiana titania](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/a74cf6_7b280b452a31449285b5a9e6717497c3~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_142,h_136,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/a74cf6_7b280b452a31449285b5a9e6717497c3~mv2.jpg)
Titania's Fritillary
![Clossiana titania](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/a74cf6_61df2c279f214612a0945135b304101b~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_105,h_96,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/a74cf6_61df2c279f214612a0945135b304101b~mv2.jpg)
Titania's Fritillary
![Leucoma salicis](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/a74cf6_435a29f6cb7d4a8e92299469ec9651c9~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_124,h_123,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/a74cf6_435a29f6cb7d4a8e92299469ec9651c9~mv2.jpg)
White Satin moth (?) queried because i) day-flying ii) clearly caused a destructive infestation here
![Plebejus argus](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/a74cf6_9a38c96417f84d67a57811479a509b7c~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_109,h_99,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/a74cf6_9a38c96417f84d67a57811479a509b7c~mv2.jpg)
Silver-studded Blue
![Clossiana euphrosyne](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/a74cf6_83675286783342fba0d748caa24d95cb~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_101,h_91,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/a74cf6_83675286783342fba0d748caa24d95cb~mv2.jpg)
Pearl-bordered Fritillary
![Clossiana euphrosyne](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/a74cf6_411dbe6aa28e42cfa3c08a51aeaac163~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_105,h_93,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/a74cf6_411dbe6aa28e42cfa3c08a51aeaac163~mv2.jpg)
Pearl-bordered Fritillary
![Erebia mnestra](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/a74cf6_bff06af81b7f4eaf8e33563ff82c4b31~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_134,h_123,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/a74cf6_bff06af81b7f4eaf8e33563ff82c4b31~mv2.jpg)
Mnestra's Ringlet
![Coenonympha gardetta](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/a74cf6_e62acf9e9265468da7d04894c79fdb0b~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_124,h_115,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/a74cf6_e62acf9e9265468da7d04894c79fdb0b~mv2.jpg)
Alpine Heath
![Coenonympha gardetta](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/a74cf6_c2b306e38ba84e68be76e405089dad42~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_105,h_101,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/a74cf6_c2b306e38ba84e68be76e405089dad42~mv2.jpg)
Alpine Heath
![Valnontey valley](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/a74cf6_512d1b299b264648b6ab769918f2fe47~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_147,h_98,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/a74cf6_512d1b299b264648b6ab769918f2fe47~mv2.jpg)
looking further upstream
![Lycaena tityrus subalpinus](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/a74cf6_48758aa89e1641d482f2f88a01c83856~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_145,h_138,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/a74cf6_48758aa89e1641d482f2f88a01c83856~mv2.jpg)
Sooty Copper, female
![Lycaena tityrus subalpinus](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/a74cf6_7240aefd31564403ada55a49d2ba736f~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_105,h_96,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/a74cf6_7240aefd31564403ada55a49d2ba736f~mv2.jpg)
Sooty Copper female
![Eumedonia eumedon](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/a74cf6_da35e245adf14e4888a72fae1bdeaa1e~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_112,h_96,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/a74cf6_da35e245adf14e4888a72fae1bdeaa1e~mv2.jpg)
Geranium Argus
![Erynnis tages](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/a74cf6_37155ab0be5a4860b173b838aa54e935~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_148,h_136,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/a74cf6_37155ab0be5a4860b173b838aa54e935~mv2.jpg)
Dingy Skipper, very worn!
![Erebia meolans valesiaca](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/a74cf6_00e02a85ae124d3f8aad5b0f470ce542~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_119,h_116,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/a74cf6_00e02a85ae124d3f8aad5b0f470ce542~mv2.jpg)
Piedmont Ringlet, a variant known from the Pennine Alps, which includes the Aosta Valley
![Erebia melampus](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/a74cf6_711cdd76bba049618e84953090117e7a~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_147,h_124,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/a74cf6_711cdd76bba049618e84953090117e7a~mv2.jpg)
Lesser Mountain Ringlet
![Erebia melampus](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/a74cf6_af6b3f70391d481388992c7dd160513b~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_147,h_136,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/a74cf6_af6b3f70391d481388992c7dd160513b~mv2.jpg)
Lesser Mountain Ringlet
![Pyrgus carthami](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/a74cf6_f1547517ecfb4b85beb8baa11652a20d~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_131,h_120,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/a74cf6_f1547517ecfb4b85beb8baa11652a20d~mv2.jpg)
Safflower Skipper
![Lysandra coridon](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/a74cf6_2addf5c2a5924dc5bf4f76f6d28b80b4~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_146,h_145,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/a74cf6_2addf5c2a5924dc5bf4f76f6d28b80b4~mv2.jpg)
Chalk-hill Blues
![Hesperia comma](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/a74cf6_335cb61de503471d8c826ae81461c018~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_136,h_102,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/a74cf6_335cb61de503471d8c826ae81461c018~mv2.jpg)
Silver-spotted Skipper
![Valnontey river, again](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/a74cf6_e5cc301f105b454f84efbef3bddaebf3~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_147,h_98,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/a74cf6_e5cc301f105b454f84efbef3bddaebf3~mv2.jpg)
![Mellicta athalia](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/a74cf6_76f68db7419d40eebbeb73f64a3d00be~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_156,h_144,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/a74cf6_76f68db7419d40eebbeb73f64a3d00be~mv2.jpg)
Heath Fritillary
![Cabera pusaria](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/a74cf6_9de7cced9fbe4e7783e5be27bb3b2677~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_107,h_95,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/a74cf6_9de7cced9fbe4e7783e5be27bb3b2677~mv2.jpg)
Common White Wave, or close
![Geometrid species](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/a74cf6_7a809bee648d46b0987a77ebb5d46069~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_140,h_121,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/a74cf6_7a809bee648d46b0987a77ebb5d46069~mv2.jpg)
tbi
![Lilium martagon](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/a74cf6_82694600485c407aad78f47a2d0b95d0~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_147,h_218,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/a74cf6_82694600485c407aad78f47a2d0b95d0~mv2.jpg)
Martagon Lily
![Valnontey valley](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/a74cf6_697de3dcedc842f3bc36769aefb5bc5e~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_147,h_98,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/a74cf6_697de3dcedc842f3bc36769aefb5bc5e~mv2.jpg)
looking downstream this time!
![Agriades glandon](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/a74cf6_46d310bfe7454d2bbd6445ba50dfc3fc~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_105,h_93,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/a74cf6_46d310bfe7454d2bbd6445ba50dfc3fc~mv2.jpg)
Glandon Blue
![Agriades glandon](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/a74cf6_20b5adf0c89e465dbddc96f729778493~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_94,h_86,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/a74cf6_20b5adf0c89e465dbddc96f729778493~mv2.jpg)
Glandon Blue
![Lasiommata petropolitana](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/a74cf6_61fd89ae3a4f43b7b210f69a2ad7f889~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_147,h_122,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/a74cf6_61fd89ae3a4f43b7b210f69a2ad7f889~mv2.jpg)
Northern Wall Brown
![Lasiommata petropolitana](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/a74cf6_e093564a4e234163adacdda3e80587b0~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_140,h_125,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/a74cf6_e093564a4e234163adacdda3e80587b0~mv2.jpg)
Northern Wall Brown
![Erebia cassioides](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/a74cf6_4690909d32ca4de09bcc142032cb5a4f~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_108,h_100,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/a74cf6_4690909d32ca4de09bcc142032cb5a4f~mv2.jpg)
Common Brassy Ringlet
![Eumedonia eumedon](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/a74cf6_cfae1705b82f453086b52cb13094b730~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_137,h_119,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/a74cf6_cfae1705b82f453086b52cb13094b730~mv2.jpg)
Geranium Argus, male on the left, female to the right
![Eumedonia eumedon](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/a74cf6_2d21e0aeb8cf4c65b9b59f9014a141fd~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_147,h_133,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/a74cf6_2d21e0aeb8cf4c65b9b59f9014a141fd~mv2.jpg)
Geranium Argus
![Chamois](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/a74cf6_bb2f8143f0844762a5b048c41019a1c6~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_147,h_98,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/a74cf6_bb2f8143f0844762a5b048c41019a1c6~mv2.jpg)
![Chamois](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/a74cf6_6178ebba1d40426a972928ffb06c8847~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_147,h_143,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/a74cf6_6178ebba1d40426a972928ffb06c8847~mv2.jpg)
cropped photo