Spanish Skippers for ID from Pete

[Pete Eeles]

So that I don't hijack Robin's thread, I'll post my images here. All help appreciated! All taken in north-east Spain near Tremp.

1. Safflower Skipper

2. Safflower Skipper (same individual as above)

3. Large Grizzled Skipper

4. Large Grizzled Skipper (same individual as above)

5. Large Grizzled Skipper

6. Large Grizzled Skipper

7. Unknown ID

8. Unknown ID

9. Unknown ID

10. Unknown ID

Cheers,

- Pete

[Roger Gibbons]

First impressions:

1 / 2. Safflower Skipper (Pyrgus carthami)
3 / 4. Large Grizzled Skipper (Pyrgus alveus) – more on the basis of the underside shot
5. Safflower Skipper (Pyrgus carthami)
6. Safflower Skipper (Pyrgus carthami)
7. Oberthur's Grizzled Skipper (Pyrgus armoricanus) – hard to say as it is worn – was #8 the underside?
8. Oberthur's Grizzled Skipper (Pyrgus armoricanus)
9. (same butterfly as 10?) possibly Safflower Skipper (Pyrgus carthami) mainly on the basis of the charcoal grey colouring, although the uph markings are weak and so would not rule out Rosy Grizzled Skipper (Pyrgus onopordi)

Roger

[Pete Eeles]

Thanks Roger - just leaves #9 and #10 which I think *ARE* the same butterfly - with one image coming out grey and the other brown. Doh!

Just wish I had that underside shot

I'll await a second opinion and "default" to Safflower. And thanks again for your tremendous help.

Cheers,

- Pete

[Padfield]

I've been answering things in great haste recently, as it's so busy at school at the moment. And I missed this thread.

Anyway, 3 & 4 do look good for centralhispaniae or equivalent. Here is one of my photos of this (taken with the old 35 mm SLR):



I'd come down quite strongly in favour of carthami for the last two (which I agree are the same insect), though as I've noted before, in the flesh this species can't be mistaken even in flight for onopordi as it's about twice the size. Do you remember it's size, Pete?

Guy

[Pete Eeles]

Thanks Guy - #3 & 4 look like alveus to me You've got to love those taxonomists

I've spent most of my life convincing myself that size doesn't matter. In this case, the critter was quite large as I recall, so carthami it is

Thanks both, as ever, for your superb help!

Cheers,

- Pete