Butterflies of
Europe
Hungarian Skipper
Spialia orbifer
HÜBNER, 1823
Family - HESPERIIDAE
subfamily - PYRGINAE
Tribe - PYRGINI
subtribe -
Hungarian Skipper
Spialia orbifer, female, Rudanovac, Croatia
© Peter Bruce-Jones
Introduction
The genus Spialia
is closely allied to Pyrgus, and comprises of about 30 species. The majority are wholly
or partly Afrotropical in distribution but there are 3 species which occur in Europe.
The most widespread European species is
sertorius which is found across most of western Europe and North Africa. the other 2 species have ranges that overlap:
phlomidis is found in Greece, the Middle East and Russia; and orbifer is found in Sicily, Hungary,
Poland, Serbia, Croatia, Greece, Turkey, Iran, Afghanistan, Russia and the Urals.
Habitats
At lower elevations this species inhabits hot dry flowery gorges and scrubland. At higher
elevations it is found in dry flowery meadows and woodland clearings. It occurs from sea level to 2000m.
Lifecycle
The egg is laid singly on flowerbuds of the foodplant Sanguisorba (
Rosaceae ). When small it lives and feeds within the flower but when larger it constructs a shelter from a folded leaf and feeds on the foliage.
Adult behaviour
The adults have a very rapid and erratic flight, always close to the ground. They nectar at a
wide range of flowers.
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