Northern grizzled skipper | |
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Scientific classification ![]() | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Class: | Insecta |
Order: | Lepidoptera |
Family: | Hesperiidae |
Genus: | Pyrgus |
Species: | P. centaureae |
Binomial name | |
Pyrgus centaureae (Rambur, 1839) | |
Synonyms | |
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The northern grizzled skipper (Pyrgus centaureae) is a Holarctic species of skipper butterfly (family Hesperiidae) with a range in North America from the subarctic to the north, New Mexico to the south, and the Appalachian Mountains to the east.In the Palearctic the species which was described from Norway is distributed across Scandinavia and the northern part of European Russia across the Urals through northern Asia to the Altai. [1]
While generally similar to most other Pyrgus species, this species has a greyer brown background colour with bold white spots on both the forewing and hindwing. Unlike most other Pyrgus species, the veins on the underside are obviously lined white. Wingspan is 25 to 33 mm. Seitz describes it- H. centaureae Rambur. (86 a) large, dark, with very distinct white dots and spots. Underside of hindwing dark brown or blackish with a greenish tint. The brown band which forms the outer border of the white band, bears spots and forms the inner border of a white terminal band, which appears divided by a row of strong brown dots so that there are two white bands beyond the median band. Scandinavia, Finland, the Altai; also in North America; in June and July. [2]
It occurs in the northern taiga, forest tundra and southern shrub tundra. One generation is produced per year in its southern range from March to May. Two years are required for each brood in the subarctic. Larval food plants include cloudberry (Rubus chamaemorus), wild strawberry (Fragaria virginiana), dwarf cinquefoil (Potentilla canadensis), and varileaf cinquefoil (Potentilla diversifolia). [1]
Named in the Classical tradition a Centaur is a creature from Greek mythology with the upper body of a human and the lower body and legs of a horse.
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.
Oberthür's grizzled skipper is a species of skipper.
The carline skipper is a butterfly and a species of the skipper. It is a montane butterfly only found in southwestern areas of the Alps. It can be an abundant species within this restricted range.
The rosy grizzled skipper is a species of skipper.
Pyrgus sidae, the yellow-banded skipper, is a species of skipper. It is found in from the Iberian Peninsula through southern and eastern Europe, southeast France, the northwestern coastal areas of central Italy, then Istria and the Balkan peninsula, across Turkey, Transcaucasia, to Iran and Afghanistan. East of the Southern Ural mountains the range extends to northwest Kazakhstan and the west of the Tien Shan in the north.
The sandy grizzled skipper is a species of skipper. It has a restricted range in southeastern Europe with a small relict population in central Spain.
Melitaea diamina, the false heath fritillary, is a butterfly of the family Nymphalidae.
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Boloria dia, the Weaver's fritillary or violet fritillary, is a butterfly in the family Nymphalidae. The name Weaver's fritillary is in honor of Richard Weaver, an English insect collector who claimed to have obtained the specimen within ten miles of Birmingham around 1820. However, B. dia is very rare in England and the few specimens known from there are thought to be from possibly accidental introductions.
Melitaea didyma, the spotted fritillary or red-band fritillary, is a Palearctic butterfly of the family Nymphalidae.
The safflower skipper is a species of skipper butterfly.
The Alpine Grizzled Skipper is a species of skipper.
Favria is a monotypic genus of spread-wing skippers in the butterfly family Hesperiidae. This genus was formerly a synonym of Muschampia, and its only species, Favria cribrellum, was formerly a member of Muschampia. The species is commonly known as the spinose skipper.
Muschampia proto, the sage skipper, is a butterfly of the family Hesperiidae. It is found in Morocco, Algeria, the Iberian Peninsula and southern France.
Muschampia tessellum, the tessellated skipper, is a butterfly of the family Hesperiidae. It is found from the southern Balkan Peninsula through Ukraine, southern Russia and Asia Minor, southern Siberia, Mongolia, east to the Amur region.
Chazara persephone, the dark rockbrown, is a butterfly species belonging to the family Nymphalidae. It can be found from Crimea across the Caucasus and north of the Middle East to Iran; from the southern Urals across Kazakhstan to the southern Altai and west Siberia.
Pyrgus centaureae wyandot, the Appalachian grizzled skipper, is a small, brown, gray and white butterfly known to inhabit parts of the Appalachian highlands and Northern Michigan. It can be identified by its characteristic checkered wing pattern formed by the scales on the fore- and hindwings. The butterflies are known to prefer sites with minimal vegetation, such as open areas in hardwood forests, as well as sites of recent disturbance. The skipper's main larval food plants include Canada cinquefoil and wild strawberry depending on the specific population's range. The butterfly is listed as a federal species of concern and holds a stated-endangered title in Ohio and New Jersey.
Pyrgus speyeri is a small butterfly found in the East Palearctic that belongs to the skippers family.
Carterocephalus argyrostigma is a species of butterfly found in the East Palearctic that belongs to the skippers family.
Erebia dabanensis is a small butterfly found in the East Palearctic that belongs to the browns family.