Cinquefoil Skipper (Pyrgus cirsii)
Cinquefoil Skipper (Pyrgus cirsii)
Cinquefoil Skipper (Pyrgus cirsii)
Cinquefoil Skipper (Pyrgus cirsii)
Cinquefoil Skipper (Pyrgus cirsii)
Cinquefoil Skipper (Pyrgus cirsii)

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Cinquefoil Skipper (Pyrgus cirsii)


Photo © Albert Vliegenthart
FamilyHesperiidae
SubfamilyPyrginae
GenusPyrgus
Speciescirsii
Authority(Rambur, 1839)
English NameCinquefoil Skipper
European Red List 2010Vulnerable (VU)
EU 27 Red List 2010Vulnerable (VU)
European Red List 2025Least Concern (LC)
EU 27 Red List 2025Least Concern (LC)
Habitats Directive
Bern Convention
CITES

Description

This grizzled skipper occurs on warm, flower-rich grasslands, preferring those in sheltered situations, for example, on slopes, or near shrubs or woodland. In the northern part of its range, it is only found in very warm places. The female lays her eggs singly on the underside of the leaves of various cinquefoils (Potentilla spp.), choosing the smaller plants. This butterfly hibernates as a very tiny caterpillar in the egg, in which it remains until the spring. It then emerges and spins itself a small shelter from leaves. In the last larval instar, this is replaced by a parchment-like shelter. It pupates in a cocoon. It is single-brooded.

Distribution

Andorra / Austria (Regionally Extinct) / France / France: Mainland / Germany / Italy / Italy: Mainland / Netherlands (Irregular Vagrant) / Spain / Spain: Mainland / Switzerland /

Larval Foodplants

#OrderFamilyGenusSpeciesVernacular NameLink
1RosalesRosaceaePotentillacinerea
2RosalesRosaceaePotentillahirta
3RosalesRosaceaePotentillapusilla
4RosalesRosaceaePotentillareptansCreeping Cinquefoil
5RosalesRosaceaePotentillavernaSpring Cinquefoil