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Pyrgus cinarae

Sandy Grizzled Skipper

Field Notes

Macedonia, Greece, 2004

Macedonia, Greece, 2004

Macedonia, Greece, 2004

Macedonia, Greece, 2004

When I first saw this species in Greece there was little doubt as to its identity. It is large in flight and the extensive white markings are obvious. It is the large forewing markings and bold bright hindwing upperside markings that are key to its identification. The underside is distinctive too. It flies in the Balkans where it is largely finished by mid to end July. There is a much smaller subspecies clorinda that flies in a very small area of the western part of the Montes Universales. This subspecies by contrast flies much later in the year starting at the end of July. We found one in 2003 when its much larger upperside markings distinguished it from the abundant Cinquefoil Skipper, P. cirsii with which it was flying.

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