Gatekeeper (Pyronia tithonus) and Southern Gatekeeper (Pyronia cecilia)
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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| 05_21-27_male_Herts, UK_16Jul05 - tithonus | 2535_male_Var_9Jul06 - tithonus | 18886_male_Aisne_21Jul09 - tithonus |
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| 2375_male_Var_7Jul06 - cecilia | 2294_male_Var_4Jul06 - cecilia | 02_31-19_female_Var_Jun02 - cecilia |
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| 2391_female_Var_7Jul06 - cecilia |
These two species are superficially quite similar, but there are a number of clear differentiators. The unh are completely different, cecilia being lighter with a clear discal line and no small white ocelli. The female cecilia upperside is extensively orange, especially the uph, and there is no ocellus at the anal angle; the forewings are concave (tithonus is slightly convex) and the upperside margins are whiter. In the male, the cecilia uph orange is also more extensive, but the key is that the upf brown androconial patch is transected by the orange veins. Cecilia is generally smaller and rounder, and is generally a butterfly of the hotter regions even though it seems to spend most of its time trying to escape the intense heat by staying in the shade of the undergrowth, although it was rather partial to the Buddleia in our garden, and its flight period continued into late September.
05_21-27: a male tithonus.
2535: a male tithonus. There are quite large ocelli in s2 and s5 both with large white pupils, and a smaller ocellus in s1, and a vestigial one in s3. Altitude 230m.
18886: a fairly normal male tithonus from northern France and therefore similar to UK specimens. Altitude 80m.
2375: a typical male cecilia, the orange veins clearly transecting brown area of forewing cell. Altitude 60m.
2294: a male cecilia. The unh discal line is strong, and the white band is clear, wide, and well developed, tending to pale yellow in s3, and a very round hindwing shape. Altitude 230m.
02_31-19: a female cecilia.
2391: a female(?) cecilia. I think this might be a male from the markings and limited hindwing scalloping, but overall the hindwing shape suggests female. Altitude 60m.
05_21-27_male_Herts, UK_16Jul05 - tithonus
2535_male_Var_9Jul06 - tithonus
18886_male_Aisne_21Jul09 - tithonus
2375_male_Var_7Jul06 - cecilia
2294_male_Var_4Jul06 - cecilia
2391_female_Var_7Jul06 - cecilia
