Carline Skipper
Common NameCarline Skipper
Scientific NamePyrgus carlinae
FamilyHesperiidae
SubfamilyPyrginae
Wingspan (mm)27
Wing Patternspotted
Primary Colorsbrown, white, grey
HabitatAlpine meadows, rocky slopes, subalpine grasslands
Geographic RangeEuropean Alps, Pyrenees
Host PlantsPotentilla erecta, Potentilla aurea, Helianthemum nummularium
Flight PeriodJune to August
Flight Styledarting
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesOverwinters as a larva. Larvae feed on cinquefoils and rock-roses, pupate in spring, and adults emerge in summer for a single generation.
Identification TipsLook for the specific arrangement and shape of the white spots on the forewing and hindwing, particularly the large, often rectangular spots. The overall darker ground color with prominent white markings helps distinguish it from similar *Pyrgus* species.
Description
A small, robust skipper with dark brown to greyish-brown wings heavily marked with prominent white rectangular and square spots, and a distinct checkered white and dark brown fringe. The body is hairy and often appears greyish-blue.
