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Spanish Pyrgus...

Posted: Fri Aug 07, 2020 3:20 pm
by David M
Just the one from my week in Spain.

This pyrgus stood out like a sore thumb as it was surrounded by a dozen or more cirsii whilst puddling.

It was easy to get into my vial (it didn't even realise until I moved the container to force the butterfly to the top), and I spent several minutes scrutinising it.

1,200m was the altitude. I thought it might be onopordi but the uppersides don't look quite right:
01.IDpyrgus1(1).jpg
1.IDpyrgus2(1).jpg

Re: Spanish Pyrgus...

Posted: Fri Aug 07, 2020 3:28 pm
by selbypaul
Hi David
I'm absolutely not an expert at these things, but I do like to test myself! Looking through Tolman, the closest it looks like to me is Oberthur's Grizzled Skipper (pyrgus armoricanus).

Did you rule this out?
Best Wishes
Paul

Re: Spanish Pyrgus...

Posted: Fri Aug 07, 2020 3:37 pm
by Roger Gibbons
It might have been surrounded by a dozen cirsii for a reason... my guess is that it was one of them.

Roger

Re: Spanish Pyrgus...

Posted: Sat Aug 08, 2020 1:48 pm
by David M
Thanks, both.

Paul - it was the dark edges to the well-developed 'anvil' that got me thinking of onopordi, and that pretty much ruled out amoricanus.

Roger - based on the upperside then it resembles cirsii, but the underside was hugely paler than regular cirsii. Here's the usual uns ground colour:
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