23634_female_Var_4Sep10

23637_female_Var_4Sep10

This is quite a rarity, easily the most elusive of the four Carcharodus species that occur in France, and baeticus only occurs in the far south. It is quite similar to the Mallow Skipper (C. alceae) in terms of size and colouring, although the spring brood of baeticus is rather more greyish than the brown autumn brood. The uph discal series of white spots is highly indicative, being more extensive than the white marks of the Tufted Marbled Skipper (C. flocciferus) and the uph submarginal series of marks of baeticus is described in books as sinuous, only just about apparent in the rather battered 23634. The underside holds the key to its ID in that it is pale brown and the white discal series is complete, and the key diagnostic feature is the prominent lighter veins; this is not the case for the other Carcharodus species. The sub-marginal unh series of markings also rather reflects the sinuous series of the uph.

I saw baeticus for the first time in 2010, the only one I saw at that location. Curiously, and as is often the case, I saw another in a different location only a few days later.

This species was previously widely known as Carcharodus boeticus but in the new European taxonomy, this species now has the scientific name Carcharodus baeticus. Whereas I have not implemented the other revised names because in those cases the genus names were changed, making these species more difficult to locate in Species Lists etc, I have adopted this one as there was previously potential confusion with the Long-tailed Blue (Lampides boeticus).

observations

the white marks are still clearly in evidence despite 23634 being very much at the end its flight period.

the underside of 23634 demonstrating how important a view of both surfaces can be for positive ID; with just the upperside view, it might not be 100% conclusive to ID this as baeticus.