Skippers

[Denise]

Hi all,

I posted these images in the Species-Specific Albums as Oberthur's Grizzled Skipper.

I took them on holiday in Hungary this summer. They were ID'd by the trip leader (Vic Tucker) and the local guide (Saffi) as Oberthur's Grizzled Skipper, but now there is a question of them being Safflower Skipper.
Can anyone help?

Thanks
Denise

[Padfield]

Hi Denise,

Although these are a little different from the safflower skippers I see in Switzerland (which is not surprising), I would certainly identify them as this. The real key feature I can't judge from the pictures, and that is size. Safflower skipper is huge. But the other things that stand out are:

The broad, continuous, white band around the outer edge of the hindwing underside. This is very characteristic of safflower:


(safflower)

In contrast, Oberthür's lacks this band, so the ground colour reaches the edge of the wing:


(Oberthür's)

You notice that Oberthür's also has conspicuous bright veins on the underside hindwing.

The male upperside hindwing of safflower has, like your first picture, a witch doctor's necklace of teeth - sometimes much more conspicuous than in your picture. Oberthür's doesn't usually look like this.


(Safflower)

Oberthür's usually has a rather conspicuous central mark on the upperside hindwing:


(Oberthür's)

There are other features, but I don't need to go on. These are safflower skippers to me!

Guy

[Denise]

Thank you Guy.

I did see both species, but I got them mixed up. What would I do without you

Happy new year.
Denise

[Padfield]

Happy New Year, Denise!

Guy

[Roger Gibbons]

That's a great Safflower upperside photo, Guy, of an immaculate fresh specimen with that beautiful charcoal grey colouring so characteristic of the male this species.

And you took this with a compact-type camera?

Roger

[Padfield]

Thanks Roger! Yes, the same old Canon Powerpoint A710IS I think it's called.

All real credit to the butterfly though - it was a cracker!

Guy