Help to ID on a France Pyrgus

[John Vergo]

Hi
I have seen this little skipper on the road N85 between Barreme and Digne les Baines (Alpes Maritimes) 700m on the 8 of july, for me it looks like a P. cirsii female, can someone confirm that ?? or give an other options
BR
john

[Roger Gibbons]

Can't be sure on an upperside view alone, but my vote goes to malvoides, 90% confidence. If Guy agrees, move that close to 100%.

Roger

[Padfield]

From the photo alone, I'd agree with Roger. It does look very like malvoides and without other information I'd definitely plump for that - the hindwing mark is just too chalky white for cirsii, in my opinion. In the flesh, cirsii should be distinctly bigger too. I do agree, though, that the upperside markings can be surprisingly similar for such essentially different butterflies. I once saw a particularly large malvoides that I spent ages trying to convince myself was cirsii.

Guy

[David M]

Given Roger's pronouncement on my own, very similar, ID issue, I too would err towards malvoides. If the insect was visibly small then I think you can be sure of this.

[John Vergo]

Hi Roger and Guy
Thanks a lot for your reply, I never had Malvoides in my mind, because of the lack of the submarginal series of white spots on both wings (according to the books ) and I am very familiar to the sign of the "sister" malvae here in Demark, so it never cross my mind that it could be malviodes
( and I have only this single picture)
BR
john

[John Vergo]

Thanks David
Yes it looks quit small
BR
john