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Hi all,

Last summer I came accross this pyrgus. I photographed it on 25 July at 1700m altitude (northern slope) near Barcelonnette, Ubaye, France. It was a small pyrgus, although the lack of direct comparison with other pyrgus makes such a claim rather subjective. Sofar, I have left it unidentified as I am stuck between a small and a sparsely marked alveus / a serratulae with a less characteristic unh / and a to lower altitudes dispersed (and perhaps slightly too heavily marked?) warrenensis. Anyone any better idea? Thanks for any help!

Kind regards, Bert-Jan

Hi Bert-Jan. I can't see any possibility of serratulae there, and from my own experience it doesn't look like warrenensis. A small alveus is possible - I have come across very diminutive individuals of this species. But have you considered carlinae?

Guy

Hi Guy,

Thanks a lot for your valuable thoughts on this specimen. My earlier considerations can be summarised as follows:

a. alveus
+ unh pattern
+/- uph / upf pattern (too sparsely marked to be typical)
+/- ground colour upperwing quite warm coloured, but wear and late afternoon sunlight might enhance this impression(?)
- small size

b. serratulae
+ small size
+ weak / almost unmarked uph and sparsely marked upf
- atypical unh pattern

c. warrenensis (NB: no experience with, unlike you)
+ small size
+ or +/- weak / almost unmarked uph
+ or +/- sparsely and finely marked upf
- (?) unh pattern
- altitude / habitat

I have considered carlinae too, but canceled it from the shortlist based on:
+ or +/- forewing cell mark slightly concave, but within range for other pyrgus
+/- weak / almost unmarked uph and upf very sparsely marked, but within range for females
- 2023 was a late season and most carlinae were still very fresh, while this individual was already worn
- unh atypical for carlinae without rufous ground colour, while the white markings are large (basal S7, marginal S1+2, discal S1, 4/5 and 7) and angular shaped (basal S7, discal S1).

Kind regards, Bert-Jan