Dusky grizzled skipper facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Dusky grizzled skipper |
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| Scientific classification | |
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Pyrgus
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| Species: |
cacaliae
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The Dusky Grizzled Skipper (Pyrgus cacaliae) is a small, fast-flying butterfly. It belongs to a group of butterflies called skippers. Skippers are known for their quick, darting flight. This butterfly lives in the high mountains of Europe.
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What Does the Dusky Grizzled Skipper Look Like?
The Dusky Grizzled Skipper is a fairly large butterfly. It has white spots on its front wings, but these spots are quite small. The underside of its back wings is a faded olive-green color. It has a special mark on the inner edge of its back wing. This mark looks a bit like an exclamation mark.
This butterfly is similar to another one called the Alpine Grizzled Skipper. However, the Dusky Grizzled Skipper's mark is not as clear. Also, the Alpine Grizzled Skipper usually lives at lower altitudes. Both male and female Dusky Grizzled Skippers have the same markings. But the males are usually a little darker.
Caterpillar and Pupa Stages
The caterpillar of this butterfly is usually dark in color. It has a darker line along its back. Its head is black.
When the caterpillar turns into a pupa, it looks very interesting. The pupa's head and wing parts are bluish with a frosty look. Its body is brown, but the lines between its body segments are clear. The underside of the pupa has a cool pattern. It has a black line in the middle and two black dots on each side. The back of the pupa also has black dots and lines.
Where Does the Dusky Grizzled Skipper Live?
This butterfly is found in the central Pyrenees mountains. It also lives across the Alps mountains. This includes countries like France, Italy, Switzerland, Germany, and Austria.
You can also find Pyrgus cacaliae in other mountain ranges. These include the Dinaric Mountains in Bosnia-Herzegovina. It also lives in the Carpathians in Romania. And it's found in the Rila, Pirin, and Stara Planina mountains of Bulgaria.
What Kind of Places Does It Like?
The Dusky Grizzled Skipper lives in different types of places. It likes wet areas, such as along streams or in marshy spots. But it can also be found in dry, grassy areas in the mountains. These areas often have rocky parts.
In the Alps, these butterflies usually live at high altitudes. They are found between 1,700 and 2,500 meters (about 5,500 to 8,200 feet) above sea level. In Bavaria, Germany, they are seen at altitudes of 1,500 to 2,300 meters (about 4,900 to 7,500 feet).
Life Cycle of the Dusky Grizzled Skipper
The adult Dusky Grizzled Skipper butterflies fly from late June to early August. You can see them flying every year.
The female butterfly lays her eggs one by one. She places them on the underside of the leaves of certain plants. These plants include Potentilla erecta, Potentilla crantzii, and Potentilla aurea.
The caterpillars hatch from the eggs after about eleven days. They eat plants for a few days. Then they get ready for winter. They spend the winter as caterpillars. Some observations show that their development can take two years. They might spend their first winter as young caterpillars. Then they spend their second winter as older caterpillars or even as pupae.
Is the Dusky Grizzled Skipper Endangered?
Good news! The Dusky Grizzled Skipper is not currently considered endangered in the Alps. This is because it mostly lives in areas that are not used for farming. Or it lives in mountain pastures where animals graze only a little. This helps protect their natural homes.
How Did It Get Its Name?
The scientific name cacaliae comes from the word "Cacalia." This was an old name for a plant. It likely referred to a plant called Adenostyles alpina.
However, the name of the butterfly usually has nothing to do with what the caterpillar eats. So, even though the name comes from a plant, it's not necessarily the plant the caterpillar feeds on.
