Wild orchid identification...

[Dave 123]

Okay, so I know my Alliums etc. But there is one family of plants that can be a bit tricky to identify, and they're beyond my knowledge. These were taken last week near the summit of the north side of the Col de Granier in the Chartreuse alps. Can you give me some help. All terrestrial orchids, no taller than 12".
They were all in a 100m stretch along the road verge-

 

[Dave 123]

As an aside these were fluttering about...

 

[twentysix by twentyfive]

Moths/Butterflys

1) Burnet Moth (6 spot?)
2) Don't know
3) a Fritillary species

Orchids are very difficult. Leaves can be an important clue. Have you pics of the leaves?

 

[nickyboy]

Moths/Butterflys

1) Burnet Moth (6 spot?)
2) Don't know
3) a Fritillary species

Orchids are very difficult. Leaves can be an important clue. Have you pics of the leaves?

6 spot burnet
Think the fritillary is Marbled Fritillary but they're tricky

 

[rich p]

There was a young lady named Hilary
Who spotted a Spanish fritillary
............................................ ...
...........................................
With the Royal Artillery

 

[Dave 123]

Moths/Butterflys

1) Burnet Moth (6 spot?)
2) Don't know
3) a Fritillary species

Orchids are very difficult. Leaves can be an important clue. Have you pics of the leaves?

No leaves. There was a ditch and a steep bank. I couldn't be any more intricate!

 

[Dave 123]

There was a young lady named Hilary
Who spotted a Spanish fritillary
............................................ ...
...........................................
With the Royal Artillery

Whilst smothered in butter
She was all of a flutter

 

[Heltor Chasca]

I’m going 6 spot and dark green frit.

Digging deeper for that Moff. EDIT: It’s a box tree moth. A pest I read. Interesting.

Need foliage. Have you got Rose’s book @Dave 123 ?

 

[rich p]

6 spot burnet
Think the fritillary is Marbled Fritillary but they're tricky

Silver washed fritillary possibly but difficult to gauge the size?

 

[Heltor Chasca]

Silver washed fritillary possibly but difficult to gauge the size?

I would go with you based on the underwings. Habitat (woodland or other?) could help too. The antennae confused me a bit.

 

[furball]

Second one looks like a box tree moth. It's becoming a problem in the UK. The RHS are carrying out an ongoing survey on its presence.

 

[Fnaar]

There was a young lady named Hilary
Who spotted a Spanish fritillary
............................................ ...
...........................................
With the Royal Artillery

There was a young lady named Hilary
Who spotted a Spanish fritillary
And spotting a chance
Did The Butterfly Dance
For the men of the Royal Artillery