Foulquier's grizzled skipper

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Foulquier's grizzled skipper
Pyrgus sp.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Hesperiidae
Genus: Pyrgus
Species:
P. bellieri
Binomial name
Pyrgus bellieri
(Oberthür, 1910)

Foulquier's grizzled skipper (Pyrgus bellieri, syn. P. foulquieri) is a species of skipper (family Hesperiidae). It has a limited distribution in central and southern France and adjacent areas of Spain and Italy and also Corsica. Within this range it can be quite common.

As with other Pyrgus species, this is very difficult to identify in the field. It is often paler than most of its congeners with a yellowish suffusion, especially in the female. The hindwings usually have pale markings forming a continuous band. The wingspan is 26–30 mm.See Juan L. Hernández-Roldán and Miguel L. Munguira 2008 for differentiation from P. alveus [1]

The adults are on the wing in July and August.

The larval food plant is Potentilla .

The species name honours Gedeon Foulquier.

Related Research Articles

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Pyrgus malvae, the grizzled skipper, is a butterfly species from the family Hesperiidae. It is a small skipper (butterfly) with a chequered pattern on its wings that appears to be black and white. This butterfly can be found throughout Europe and is common in central and southern regions of England. The butterfly prefers three major types of habitat: woodland, grassland, and industrial. Referenced as a superspecies, Pyrgus malvae includes three semispecies: malvae, malvoides, and melotis. Eggs are laid on plants that will provide warmth and proper nutrition for development. As larvae, their movement is usually restricted to a single plant, on which they will build tents, unless they move onto a second host plant. Larvae then spin cocoons, usually on the last host plant they have occupied, where they remain until spring. Upon emerging as adult butterflies, grizzled skippers are quite active during the day and tend to favour blue or violet-coloured plants for food. They also possess multiple methods of communication; for example, vibrations are used to communicate with ants, and chemical secretions play a role in mating. Exhibiting territorial behaviour, males apply perching and patrolling strategies to mate with a desired female.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oberthür's grizzled skipper</span> Species of skipper butterfly genus Pyrgus

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Burnsius communis, the common checkered-skipper, formerly known as Pyrgus communis, is a species of butterfly in the family Hesperiidae. It is known as the frequently seen Pyrginae species in the northern United States by collectors and watchers alike.

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<i>Spialia</i> Genus of butterflies

Spialia is a genus of skippers in the family Hesperiidae, which are mainly found in Africa and Asia. They are commonly called grizzled skippers or sandmen.

<i>Pyrgus malvoides</i> Species of skipper butterfly genus Pyrgus

Pyrgus malvoides, the Southern Grizzled Skipper, is a species of skipper.

<i>Burnsius philetas</i> Species of skipper butterfly genus Pyrgus

Burnsius philetas, the desert checkered-skipper, formerly known as Pyrgus philetas, is a species of skipper butterfly in the family Hesperiidae. It is found from the southern United States (southern Arizona east to southern Texas, and to southern Mexico. Individuals are also found north to northern Arizona and northern Texas.

Pyrgus aladaghensis, also known as the Aladagh skipper or Aladag skipper, is a butterfly of the family of Hesperiidae that was first described by Willy De Prins and Dirk van der Poorten in 1995. It is found on the Aladaglar massive of the Taurus Mountains near Niğde, in southern Turkey.

References

  1. Juan L. Hernández-Roldán and Miguel L. Munguira: Multivariate analysis techniques in the study of the male genitalia of Pyrgus bellieri (Oberthür 1910) and P. alveus (Hübner 1803) (Lepidoptera: Hesperiidae): species discrimination and distribution in the Iberian Peninsula, Annales de la Societé entomologique de France, Nouvelle Series, 44(2) : 145-155, Paris 2008