(c) Peter Rowlings NE Tunisia, April 1999 (m)

NE Tunisia, April 1999

Field notes and information

We found this species at the very edge of an urban area in northeast Tunisia in 1999. In 2005, I revisited the area and work in progress on a dam which puts at serious risk the available habitat for this species.

Identification & Similar species: The underside hindwing ground colour is rosy brown separating it from similar species. The ground colour is white in similar species.

Distribution & Flight: Tunisia and Algeria. Local in hills dominated with Cistus bushes. They fly throughout most of the spring and summer in consecutive broods.

Habitat & Behaviour: They fly fast and low below the level of the Cistus bushes which dominate the habitat. These plants grow about 75cm high and each one is surrounded by completely parched dry earth. This provides a network of "paths" along which the butterflies fly and where they are extremely hard to follow.

(c) Peter Rowlings NE Tunisia, April 1999

The female is the larger insect.

(c) Peter Rowlings NE Tunisia, April 1999 (m)

NE Tunisia, April 1999