Safflower skipper
| Safflower skipper | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Hesperiidae |
| Genus: | Pyrgus |
| Species: | P. carthami |
| Binomial name | |
| Pyrgus carthami (Hübner, 1813) | |
The safflower skipper (Pyrgus carthami) butterfly is a species of skipper butterfly (family Hesperiidae). It is a widespread species of continental Europe but is absent from northern France, the Netherlands, the British Isles and Scandinavia. It frequents meadows and other grassy places and in some parts of its range is fairly common.
The wingspan is 30–34 mm, the female being on average slightly larger than the male. This species is typical of the genus, with dark brown wings marked with paler spots, and can be difficult to separate from its congeners. It is most often confused with the large grizzled skipper (P. alveus) as the two species are often found in similar habitats. P. carthami can usually be separated from this species by the more closely grouped white spots on the forewing and a band of evenly sized pale spots in the postdiscal area of the hindwing. The underside of the hindwing is usually strongly marked with large pale spots with characteristic dark edges. The adult is on the wing from June until September.
A single generation is produced each year, the larva feeding on Alcea and Malva species.
Subspecies
- Pyrgus carhami carthami (central and northern Germany)
- Pyrgus carthami nevadensis (western Germany, France, the Iberian Peninsula)
- Pyrgus carthami moeschleri (southern and eastern Europe)
References
- Whalley, Paul - Mitchell Beazley Guide to Butterflies (1981, reprinted 1992) ISBN 0-85533-348-0