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Satyrus ferula

Great Sooty Satyr

Field Notes

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Valais, Switzerland, July 2006

 

Valais, Switzerland, July 2006

 

Valais, Switzerland, July 2006

 

Valais, Switzerland, July 2006

Exceptional number of spots on the forewing - not so uncommon in western Valais.

 

Valais, Switzerland, July 2006

 

Valais, Switzerland, July 2006

 

Valais, Switzerland, July 2006

 

Valais, Switzerland, July 2005

 

Valais, Switzerland, July 2005

 

Valais, Switzerland, July 2004

 

Valais, Switzerland, July 2004

Male

 

Valais, Switzerland, July 2004

Female

 

Macedonia, Greece, July 2000

 

Valais, Switzerland, July 2003
 

NW Italy, July 2003
 

Valais, Switzerland, June 2003
 

Provence, France, July 2003
 

Valais, Switzerland, June 2003
 

NW Italy, July 2003
 

NW Italy, July 2003

Macedonia, July 2004

Initially I mis-identified this photo as Pseudochazara cingovskii,
Macedonian Grayling. The latter species is extremely local with a
world-wide distribution of only a small part of the Republic of Macedonia.
 

 

Two new species at one site! Fantastic - no just the male and female of the same species. Sexual dimorphism is so extreme I really thought I had two different species when I first found it. The male is dark, almost black on both surfaces and has one large eyespot on the underside and two small white points on the upperside forewing. The female by contrast is brown, has a broad orange band and two large eyespots on both surfaces of the forewing and a pale brown and orange underside.

It is found in many dry grassy and always very hot places. It is very common in the Valais of Switzerland but is also easy to find in the hills of Greece, southern France and the southern slopes of the Pyrenees.

 

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