Southern marbled skipper
Common NameSouthern marbled skipper
Scientific NameCarcharodus boeticus
FamilyHesperiidae
SubfamilyPyrginae
Wingspan (mm)31
Primary Colorsbrown, grey, white
HabitatDry, rocky grasslands, scrubland, open woodlands, often on calcareous soils
Geographic RangeSouthern Europe (Iberian Peninsula, parts of France, Italy, Balkans), North Africa, Middle East
Host PlantsMarrubium vulgare, Stachys species
Flight PeriodApril to October
Flight Styledarting
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesEggs are laid singly on host plant leaves. Larvae feed on the leaves, often creating a silk tent, and pupate in a loose cocoon near the ground or on the host plant.
Identification TipsLook for the mottled brown and grey-white upperwings with irregular pale spots, a checkered fringe, and the robust body typical of skippers. It often rests with its wings partially open.
Description
A small, robust skipper with mottled brown, grey, and white wings, featuring an irregular pattern of pale spots and a distinctive checkered fringe.
