Greek Whites & Skippers

[Robin]

Final lot from Greece. First the whites:
1

2

Now the skippers:
3

4 - a very worn Dingy?

[traplican]

Skipper at pict. 3 - I have an idea: It may be the Orbed Red-underwing Skipper: http://www.eurobutterflies.com/species_ ... rbifer.htm.
In any case it isn't P. malvae since the skipper on the picture has 4 white spots on the frontal distal wings of the first pterygia. P. malvae has only 3 ones. It is Spialia orbifer or something very similar.
Compare with:
http://www.lepidoptera.cz/klic/sertorius.pdf
http://www.lepidoptera.cz/images/941.jpg

[Padfield]

I'm sure you're right. It is definitely Spialia, and I'm pretty sure sertorius doesn't fly in Greece (I'm at work, without books to check in, unfortunately). The patterns in Spialia are different from those in Pyrgus, notably that unbroken line of submarginal white dots.

The whites have the appearance of mannii but in the first picture it is (I think) possible to make out the fork in v.7 of the forewing. That would rule out mannii if the fork really is present (it may be absent in rapae but is never present in mannii). They don't look like rapae, so I would suggest ergane (I don't know if that has the fork or not). Two of the whites in the second picture also have the very pale appearance that ergane often has.

Guy

[Robin]

Guy and Traplican(?) thanks for your input.
Guy, you are correct sertorius doesn't fly in Greece(according to Tolman). The markings look bang on for Spialia orbifer. We had previously identified them on the trip from photos of the underwing (much more straightforward).

Regarding the whites, the apical patch on the second looks more like mannii. This shows up more if you play with the photo contrast. And also v7 doesn't appear to fork so I think I'll go for mannii with that one.
The first white is more difficult. The apical patch doesn't look square which would rule out ergane and v7 might be forked so that would suggest rapae. I would have liked to call it ergane but I think I will have to go with rapae, unless anyone can persuade me differently.
Thanks
Robin

[Padfield]

The second white is entirely consistent with mannii and although the first is very dark and well marked it is essentially consistent with rapae. Not having visited Greece in summer I won't try to persuade you otherwise!

Guy

[Pete Eeles]

And my last batch too - again, whites and skippers. Gut feel is this is a Southern Small White (on the left) and Grizzled Skippers. As ever, any help is much appreciated!

Cheers,

- Pete

[Padfield]

I agree with the grizzlies. I'd be interested to know why you go for mannii for the white on the left - my gut instinct is rapae. The shape of the visible dark markings support this as does the wingshape and what I can see of the scaling on the hindwing, though males are harder than females.

This is male mannii (but spring brood, so perhaps not fully comparable):



The scaling is dense and uniform.

Normally the extension of the apical patch down the outer margin is even clearer on the underside than on the upperside. This is the same male:



Another feature is the shape of the postdiscal spot on the forewing upperside, which is usually flatter on the outside than the inside in mannii.

I've been looking through my 2009 piccies for a summer brood male but I can't find one. I'll have to get one next year. I was very excited to find I have the species flying in my mountain village of Huémoz this summer - it has been extending its range recently along the valley and up into the mountains, despite the cooler summers. Most probably it is something to do with learning to use a different foodplant.

Guy

EDIT - I've found this summer female where I photographed the scaling of the hindwing in close-up. Although it is slightly less dense than the spring brood male it is uniform and quite characteristic. Perhaps you can see the detail of the scaling in your original picture.

[Pete Eeles]

thanks Guy - I'm sure you're right - Grizzlies and rapae it is!

Cheers,

- Pete