Pair of Pyrenean Pyrgus...

[David M]

Can anyone give some suggestions regarding a couple of pyrgus skippers seen recently in the Eastern French Pyrenees?

The first was found at about 1,650m. As ever, I tend to rule species out in this family till I'm left with one or two. This one seems to look more like Olive Skipper than anything else. It was slightly smaller than I'd expect Large Grizzled Skipper to be and the underside looks okay for serratulae:

This one I thought was Oberthur's at first (same altitude) which is probably the most common within this genus in this region at this time of year. However, the hidwing markings don't look to be quite bold enough. Could it be the accretus form of alveus?

[Roger Gibbons]

I would say that the first one is almost certainly serratulae. I can't see how it could be anything else.

For the second, I think you are right also. So little is known about accretus, but if the location and flight period are within range, I would say accretus is more likely than any other contender.

Roger

[David M]

Thanks for this, Roger. I wish I'd paid more attention to the second one and got a few underside images. It really didn't look like any of the regular suspects in this area but I had 11 guests to look after so my time studying it was sadly limited.

[Padfield]

I agree on both, though without an underside for the second I am really only agreeing that accretus is compatible.

I once met an excellent Spanish lepidopterist in the Pyrenees, who when asked about Pyrgus simply replied that he didn't do them. We have to accept that however experienced we get, some individuals will elude identification to species level (unless you resort to violence).

Guy

[Roger Gibbons]

Yes, the French aren't all that keen on Pyrgus either. They seem to prefer Zygènes (Burnets).

My late friend Dany Lartigue (https://www.saint-tropez.fr/fr/culture/ ... papillons/) who passed away a couple of years ago aged 96, was not a Pyrgus fan. He didn't consider them real butterflies and if I mentioned them he turned away and gesticulated as if to spit on the ground.

The museum houses various collections, some of Dany's and some bequeathed to him. He was a collector, but back in the 1940s and 1950s.

Roger

[David M]

Shame about that attitude. This family I find fascinating. Unlike most other species, you have to concentrate and observe forensically to identify them, which adds to the challenge in my view.