Marbled Skipper (Carcharodus lavatherae) and Tufted Marbled Skipper (Carcharodus flocciferus)
2009 photos highlighted in yellow. Click on any photo to go to an enlarged picture, or simply scroll down the page.
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| 5331_male_Var_14May07 - lavatherae | 10510_male_Var_14May08 - lavatherae | 18427_male_Isere_13Jul09 - lavatherae |
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| 5868_female_Var_27May07 - lavatherae | 5315_male_Var_14May07 - lavatherae | 12379_male_Isere_10Jul08 - flocciferus |
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| 16828_male_Alpes Maritimes_27Jun09 - flocciferus | 12616_male_Isere_11Jul08 - flocciferus | 12742_male_Isere_11Jul08 - flocciferus |
I have found lavatherae to be widespread but not particularly common and in Var in 2006. I would say that flocciferus, for a reputedly rare butterfly, was encountered more frequently than I would have expected from reading the textbooks. Lavatherae is quite light with extensive white marks on the uph, especially in the discal series, but also a series of slightly sagittate white submarginal marks. Flocciferus is darker, larger, but has a few white uph discal marks.
The best way to differentiate between the sexes for both species is by size (females are always larger), body shape and the hair tuft at the end of the abdomen which indicates male.
5331: a male lavatherae, showing the extensive white uph markings. Altitude 185m.
10510: a male lavatherae. Altitude 185m.
18427: a male lavatherae, not quite as crisply marked as 5331 which may be due to wear. Altitude 1120m.
5868: a female lavatherae, slightly paler and less strongly marked in the uph marginal region. Altitude 780m.
5315: a male lavatherae underside, the best shot I have, but it does show how light it is, quite noticeable in flight. Altitude 185m.
12379: a rather dark grey male flocciferus, with great contrast for the white markings. Altitude 1120m.
16828: a dark-ish flocciferus, not quite as dark as 12379 though. Some predator has taken a bite out of the upf wing-tip. Altitude 900m.
12616: a male flocciferus, from the same location as 12379, but much more typically coloured, although a rather warm brown. Altitude 1120m.
12742: a male flocciferus, a rare sight of the underside. Very little contrast to the markings, and rather lighter than the illustration in T&L. Altitude 1120m.
5331_male_Var_14May07 - lavatherae
10510_male_Var_14May08 - lavatherae
18427_male_Isere_13Jul09 - lavatherae
5868_female_Var_27May07 - lavatherae
5315_male_Var_14May07 - lavatherae
12379_male_Isere_10Jul08 - flocciferus
16828_male_Alpes Maritimes_27Jun09 - flocciferus
12616_male_Isere_11Jul08 - flocciferus
12742_male_Isere_11Jul08 - flocciferus
