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Matt Rowlings

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Pyrgus foulquieri

Foulquier's Grizzled Skipper

Var, France, August 2010

Alpes Maritimes, Italy, August 2004

Alpes Maritimes, Italy, August 2004

Alpes Maritimes, Italy, August 2004

Alpes Maritimes, Italy, August 2004

Underside of male abdomen showing extensive white tufting - a key feature in separating foulquieri from alveus.

Alpes Maritimes, Italy, August 2004

Another view of the male's abdomen.

Provence, France, August 2001

At last I am completely satisfied that I have photographed foulquieri. The key feature for me is the underside of the male abdomen. This is thickly covered in white hairs, in contrast with a relatively fine tuft of white hair at the tip of the abdomen in the Large Grizzled Skipper, P. alveus. It is a particularly useful feature when comparing with P. alveus centralhispaniae which shares parts of its range, increasingly so nearer Spain. Other features are the relatively thick upperside basal hairs and bold upperside hindwing markings. Yet another feature is the greenish underside which distinguishes this species from others such as Carline Skipper, P. cirsii.

All this said, any comments on identification of this butterfly would be gratefully received.