satyrus ferula/satyrus actaea

Great Sooty Satyr (Satyrus ferula) and Black Satyr (Satyrus actaea)

2009 photos highlighted in yellow. Click on any photo to go to an enlarged picture, or simply scroll down the page.


3297_male_Alpes Maritimes_27Jul06 - actaea	17845_male_Isere_11Jul09 - actaea	3292_female_Alpes Maritimes_27Jul06 - actaea

16926_male_Var_30Jun09 - ferula	13005_male_Valais, Switzerland_15Jul08 - ferula	13007_male_Valais, Switzerland_15Jul08 - ferula

2256_male_Alpes de Haute Provence_1Jul06 - ferula	16930_male_Var_30Jun09 - ferula	17009_female_Var_30Jun09 - ferula

2733_female_Italy_16Jul06 - ferula	2426_female_Var_7Jul06 - ferula	2728_female_Italy_16Jul06 - ferula

Ferula appears to be quite common in its localities, which are usually at medium altitude of around 1000m. It is very similar to actaea although ferula has two ocelli on the forewing while actaea has only one, and ferula is generally larger. However, the lower ocellus is quite low down the forewing and may not be visible when settled with the wings closed when the lower part of the forewing is obscured. The unh of both ferula and actaea are only slightly different, with male actaea having a more jagged discal line and a distinctive white submarginal band. The upperside could be confused with the Dryad (Minois dryas) but the centres of the ocelli on the dryas upf are blue (especially in the female) and ferula white.

There is a huge degree of variation, especially in the female ferula, in both the colouring and the markings, as can be seen from these shots. The female also seems to outnumber the males by around 2:1 whereas in most species it appears to be the other way round, mainly because the males are more active. Ferula can often, unusually for Satyrids, be seen with its wings open basking in the sun, again usually the female which holds its wings almost flat.

3297: a typical male actaea underside, a white irrorated post-discal band. Altitude 1000m.

17845: I think this is a male actaea on the basis of the jagged discal line, but is it jagged enough for actaea or just a more-than-average jagged ferula? There is very little else to go on, with the forewing hidden so that the presence or absence of a lower unf ocellus cannot be confirmed. Altitude 1120m.

3292: a weak but very jagged discal line, characteristic of female actaea, and a generally irrorated unh especially in the basal area. Altitude 1000m.

16926: a beautifully fresh male ferula. Sooty indeed! The body shape looks decidedly female, though, but it cannot not be a male (could it?). Altitude 920m.

13005: a male ferula, rather dark and with very little contrast across the discal line. Altitude 1700m.

13007: a lighter male ferula, but not quite light enough to suggest female. Altitude 1700m.

2256: a typical male ferula underside, with a quite well-defined white post-discal band. Altitude 950m.

16930: a male ferula, no real doubts given the rounded nature of the discal line. Altitude 920m.

17009: a beautifully fresh female ferula, getting the best of the sun's rays on a rather overcast day. Altitude 920m.

2733: a grey-brown female ferula unh, a strong discal line and good contrast across it. Altitude 990m.

2426: a very pale grey female ferula underside, a strong discal line and clear contrast across it, and strong black unh ocelli at s1 and s2. Altitude 780m.

2728: a quite brown female ferula unh, a strong discal line but limited contrast across it. Altitude 990m.

3297_male_Alpes Maritimes_27Jul06 - actaea