The southern grizzled
skipper is the south-western counterpart to the grizzled skipper, Pyrgus malvae,
and effectively indistinguishable from it in the field. The dividing
line between the two species passes through Switzerland (and is
probably more complex than the map above suggests), so in my local
region of Vaud only malvae
flies, while in the Rhône Valley of Valais, malvoides flies.
All the butterflies above were taken in Valais or in France, near Lyon,
where I also know the species is malvoides.
Together, these two butterflies are the commonest and most widespread Pyrgus
species in Europe, flying in all sorts of terrains including open
hillside, grassy meadows, woodland rides and waste patches in
cultivated areas.
Because this species is effectively indistinguishable from the grizzled
skipper (while alive - the genitalia are distinct), I take the liberty
of copying and pasting this description from my grizzled skipper page. "Pyrgus is a
notoriously
difficult genus, especially for beginners. The butterflies are small
and difficult to follow, often only the upperside or the underside can
be seen (depending on the time of day), and above all, there is
enormous variation within species. Nevertheless, it is usually possible
to be sure you have malvae/malvoides
(though not which one!). They are smaller than most similar species and
the upperside markings are cluttered, well defined on forewing and
hindwing, and pure white (rather than cream). The central marking on
the hindwing is usually shaped like a molar tooth but may be reduced to
a line and there is usually a bright, complete submarginal series
outside it. S.1 of the forewing has two double spots in the basal and
discal regions. The underside is also distinctive. The ground colour of
the hindwing varies but is often rather a brick red, and the central
white mark is molar-shaped, with the flat face inwards (basal) and the
roots pointing outwards. The postdiscal series of white spots is
usually broken, with those in ss.1 and 2 small (or in s.2,
absent)." The southern grizzled skipper is said to be on
average
larger and paler, but this is not something discernible in the field,
especially as you are only likely to have one of the two species
present.
The foodplants are Potentilla
species, as well as wild strawberry, blackberry and agrimony. The
species hibernates as a pupa and flies in two (or, I suspect, three)
broods from March or April till September at lowland sites, or in a
single brood in June and July at altitude. I have seen individuals
already on the wing in the first half of March in the Rhône Valley of
Switzerland.
