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Yellow Banded Skipper
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Evros, Greece,
May 2004 |
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Var, France,
May 2006 |
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Yellow Banded
Skipper
Pyrgus sidae
Distribution: SE France, northern Italy (not Alps) and the Balkans.
Also from a small area of W Spain.
Identification: Unmistakable. The only Skipper with two yellow or
orange bands on a white background on the underside hindwing. The upperside has
a row of submarginal spots, particularly bold and well defined on the hindwing.
Flight time: Mid May to June.
Habitat: Flies in flowery grassland, typically with scrub or light
woodland. In France usually with an abundance of Potentilla, the larval
foodplant.
Behaviour: 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.
Additional notes: This is a lovely butterfly, rather surprising for
this genus of very similar and arguably rather dull butterflies.
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Var, France,
May 2006 |
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Macedonia,
Greece, July 2004 |
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Macedonia,
Greece, July 2004 |
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Pirin Mts,
Bulgaria, July 2004 |
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Rome, Italy,
May 2003 |
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Rome, Italy,
May 2003 |
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Rome, Italy,
May 2003 |
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Rome, Italy,
May 2003 |
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