Southern Gatekeeper (female)

Description:

The Southern Gatekeeper, Pyronia cecilia, is a butterfly of southern Europe and north Africa. It is a member of the subfamily Satyrinae in the family Nymphalidae. It is similar in appearance to the Gatekeeper (P. tithonus), which is found further north, and the Spanish Gatekeeper (P. bathsheba). The Gatekeeper has spots on the underside of the hind wind which the Southern Gatekeeper lacks. The Spanish Gatekeeper has quite a different underwing pattern with a prominent while line. The underside is a distinctive grey-white and dark brown giving a marbled appearance. The male upperside is very distinctive. The scent band extends almost from the base of the wing to form a leaf like brown marking - the veins of the wing forming the veins of the leaf. The Southern Gatekeeper, like many Satyrinae, exhibit sexual dimorphism. The male is smaller than the female, the front wing of the male is 15/16mm whereas a female front wing is 20mm, and has patch of scent-producing scales known as the androconia, which can be seen as a dark patch on the upper side of the forewing.

Habitat:

Usually it flies in dry grassy places but with trees or other forms of shelter such as houses, small valleys, low rock faces etc. It is found in Spain and southern France extending south eastwards in increasingly isolated areas and appearing to become more local and uncommon. It can be common in southern France and Spain though flying from as early as June and throughout the summer in a single brood.