Cinquefoil skipper

The cinquefoil skipper (Pyrgus cirsii) is a species of skipper butterfly (family Hesperiidae). It has a scattered distribution in central and southern Europe, and several isolated populations in north-eastern Turkey and in Armenia.[2]

Cinquefoil skipper
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Hesperiidae
Genus: Pyrgus
Species:
P. cirsii
Binomial name
Pyrgus cirsii
(Rambur, 1839)

This species has a wingspan of 26–28 mm and, typically of its genus, can be very difficult to identify in the field. It is sometimes considered a subspecies of the carline skipper (P. carlinae) as the two are known to interbreed where their ranges overlap in the Alps but can usually be recognised by the prominent squarish, rather than c-shaped, white spot near the costa of the forewing and the usually deeper red-brown underwings. The cinquefoil skipper flies in July and August.

The larval food plant is spring cinquefoil (Potentilla neumanniana).

References
Notes
  1. van Swaay, C.; Wynhoff, I.; Verovnik, R.; Wiemers, M.; López Munguira, M.; Maes, D.; Sasic, M.; Verstrael, T.; Warren, M. & Settele, J. (2010). "Pyrgus cirsii". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2010: e.T39481A10240539. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-1.RLTS.T39481A10240539.en.
  2. Butterfly Conservation Armenia http://www.butterfly-conservation-armenia.org/pyrgus-cirsii.html
Bibliography
  • Van Swaay & Warren (2000). "Pyrgus cirsii". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2000. Retrieved 11 May 2006.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link) Database entry includes justification for why this species is vulnerable.
  • Whalley, Paul - Mitchell Beazley Guide to Butterflies (1981, reprinted 1992) ISBN 0-85533-348-0


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