One for the experts

[bugboy]

Sadly I didn't get any underside shots but this little chap turned up in the south of Spain on March 18th approx 30 mins north of Gibraltar. not sure about altitude. These guys are somewhat outside my comfort zone but my money is currently in the Red Underwing camp (of which I understand there's now 2 identical species in Spain).

[Chris Jackson]

Hi Bugboy,

Pending any other advice, it looks like a Red-underwing Skipper to me.
There are 4 aligned white apical spots (therefore not Pyrgus sp.) and a series of white marginal markings which point towards this.
And probably male (tuft of hairs on the abdomen).

Any other takers ?
Chris

[David M]

This is almost certainly spialia rosae, the Spanish version of sertorius.

[essexbuzzard]

Yes, I have seen Spanish re-underwing Skippers near Malaga in March, so I too would go with that. I’m no expert, though!

[Padfield]

My understanding is that rosae is a montane species, present in the south of the country but more widely in north central Spain. See: https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Dis ... _322281175

For this reason, I'd say the default position is sertorius.

Guy

[bugboy]

I was reading Matt Rowlings accounts of the species before starting this thread which corresponds with Guys thoughts more or less. Although I don't know the altitude it's fair to say I was in hilly country rather than montane. I'll probably never know with 100% certainty but thanks for the comments and I'll stick with sertorius for now