Montes Universales, Spain, July 2011
Montes Universales, Spain, July 2011
Field notes and information
An extremely local species with a sporadic distribution in Spain and northwest Africa. It's hard to find even at "good" sites.
Identification & Similar species: There are no similar species.
Distribution & Flight: Only from parts of the eastern half of Spain and the High and Middle Atlas mountains of Morocco and neighbouring Algeria.
Habitat & Behaviour: Very hot dry rocky places with sparse vegetation. In Spain I've found them amongst sparse bushes, in Morocco they (it!) was on a treeless mountain.
Variation: In Spain, I found just a single example of the brown form of the female uhagonis, see photo.
Middle Atlas, Morocco, June 2005
Montes Universales, Spain, July 2011
Montes Universales, Spain, July 2011
A typical resting place, out of the glare and heat of the sun.
Montes Universales, Spain, August 2003 (c) Peter Rowlings
Montes Universales, Spain, July 2011
Montes Universales, Spain, August 2003
(c) Peter Rowlings
Montes Universales, Spain, August 2003
A typical resting position in the dappled shade of a low shrub.
Montes Universales, Spain, August 2003
More unusual position in a tree. In the shade as usual.
Montes Universales, Spain, August 2003
Female of the brown form uhagonis. She was temporarily stunned during capture (a very rare event), hence able to be photographed in the open and with forewing exposed.
Montes Universales, Spain, August 2003
Again in the shade
Montes Universales, Spain, August 2003