Var, France, May 2012

SE Serbia, June 2012

Field notes and information

The only example of a brightly coloured species amongst the grizzled skippers, Pyrgus.

Identification & Similar species: The underside hindwing yellow bands are unique.

Distribution & Flight: Southern France, central Italy and southeast Europe. An isolated area of central western Spain. The upperside has a row of white markings in the submarginal and post discal areas. Flies from the end of April to early July depending on location: late April in east Greece, mid May in France, fresh in Serbia in mid June...

Habitat & Behaviour: Hot dry grassy places, often in the vicinity of scrub. In France usually with an abundance of its larval food plant Ptentilla. Appears to patrol areas of grassland. I'm not sure if this is territorial behaviour or simply that they remain in areas they like - I've never found enough in one place to be sure.

Var, France, May 2006

SE Serbia, June 2012

Evros, Greece, May 2004

Var, France, May 2006

Rome, Italy, May 2003

Pirin Mts, Bulgaria, July 2004

Macedonia, Greece, July 2004

Provence, France, June 2003