Red Underwing Skipper (spialia sertorius)

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2008 photos highlighted green. Click on any photo to go to an enlarged picture, or simply scroll down the page.

A delightful little skipper. It is somewhat smaller than most pyrgus species (which look similar, even though sertorius is not of the pyrgus family) and can be difficult to follow in flight, although it rarely travels far and helpfully often returns to the same spot. It is quite hard to approach for a close-up - and because it is so small, you need to be close - and is usually off before you can get near enough to click. It is quite common, one or two occurring in most localities, but rarely in large numbers. It often seems to have moth-shaped wings, with pronounced "shoulders" and an uph discal mark that is a clear white line, although these features do not appear in the T&L illustrations. It sometimes seems to have a purple-brown tinge, especially when fresh.

11875: I suspect this is a male, based on its puddling-type behaviour, but the body shape does look rather female. There is very little difference in the upperside markings of both sexes. Altitude 1400m.

10546: a rare view of the underside, showing the unmistakeable pattern and the beautiful rich red-brown colouring that gives it its name. Altitude 140m.

11875_male_Alpes Maritimes_1Jul08

10546_male_Var_15May08