Argyrophorus argenteus

[daveuk]

A high altitude "silver" satyrid from Chile
Picture one. Two males verso
Picture two: Pair recto
Picture three: Same pair photographed at an angle to show off the silver colouration. Especially in the male.
A species which needs to be seen "in the flesh" as photographs really do not do it justice.

[Trehopr1]

Ah' yes indeed a really great species and one of the most unusual satyr butterfly species.

Very happy you posted a picture of a pair. Very nice to see the discernible difference between the sexes color tones.

I have yet to find a decent specimen myself but, it is one I always keep an eye out for....

Bravo Dave

[daveuk]

Ah' yes indeed a really great species and one of the most unusual satyr butterfly species.

Very happy you posted a picture of a pair. Very nice to see the discernible difference between the sexes color tones.

I have yet to find a decent specimen myself but, it is one I always keep an eye out for....

Bravo Dave

ThankYou.
The pair came from an insect fair here in the U.K. in 2011.
The two underside males were from Chuck Ianni about 20 years ago. Have been at high altitude in Chile but sadly did not see this species.

[bobw]

A couple of colleagues of mine saw them in 2001, i was with them in Peru but came home when they moved on to Chile. They found them in several places and they told me that when they flew in sunny conditions it was like somebody was continually flashing a mirror in their eyes.

[daveuk]

A couple of colleagues of mine saw them in 2001, i was with them in Peru but came home when they moved on to Chile. They found them in several places and they told me that when they flew in sunny conditions it was like somebody was continually flashing a mirror in their eyes.

Did not get to Peru sadly. I did see Andean Condors in the high Andes in Chile & some interesting Pieridae but not this species.
Can imagine how incredible it must be to see on the wing