CARCHARODUS LAVATHERAE (ESPER, [1783])
(MARBLED SKIPPER)
C. lavatherae male
Schweiz, Leuk, e.o. 21. 06. 2008
C. lavatherae male
Switzerland, Leuk, e.o. 21. 06. 2008
C. lavatherae female
Switzerland, Leuk, e.o. 6. 07. 2007
C. lavatherae male
Switzerland, Leuk, e.o. 21. 06. 2008
C. lavatherae female
Switzerland, Leuk, e.o. 6. 07. 2007
Original description
„Papilio (Pleb. Urb.) Lavatherae“ Esper, E. J. C., [1783]: Die Schmetterlinge in Abbildungen nach der Natur ... 1 (2): 148; Taf. 82, Fig. 4 (Weibchen). Locus typicus: „France and .. Switzerland“.
Figure from the original description (Esper 1783)
Diagnosis
The brightest coloured species of the genus. Colour of upper side grey-brown with large white hyaline spots. Fresh butterflies look greenish when on the wing. Male without hair tuft on forewing underside. Underside of hindwings almost white.
Genitalia
C. lavatherae Männchen
Greece/Kastoria
July 1983
C. lavatherae Valve
Greece/Kastoria
July 1983
(Female genitalia to follow)
Subspecies
Several subspecies have been described. Of special interest is ssp. tauricus which is distributed from Greece eastwards.
Distribution
From the Iberian Peninsula throuth Southern Europe to Iran. The northern boundary of the distribution crosses the Alps. An isolated population in the Middle Rhine Valley (might be extinct). In Northern Africa the species can be found in Morocco and Algeria.
Flight time
In Central Europe a single generation from June to August. In South Tyrolia a second generation has been reported. The half grown caterpillar hibernates.
Ecology and habitats
Dry, warm and often rocky habitats.
Hostplants
Lamiaceae: Stachys recta in Central Europe.
Important literature and internet links
Eurobutterflies (Matt Rowlings)
Guy Padfield‘s European Butterfly Page
Moths and Butterflies of Europe and North Africa (Paolo Mazzei et al.)
Les Carnets du Lépidoptériste Français
Butterflies of France (Roger Gibbons)
Carcharodus on www.nic.funet.fi
Lepidoptera of Ukraine (Vladimir V. Savchuk) (Ukrainian)
„Alexanor“, Ukrainian Butterflies (S. G. Popov)
Butterflies of Dagestan (V. Tikhonov)
(Literature to follow)
Male (Switzerland/Valais, July 2007)
Egg in flower of Stachys recta
(Switzerland/Valais, Leuk, 2007)
Larval shelter
(Switzerland/Valais, Leuk, 2007)
Forth instar (studio photograph)
(Switzerland/Bern, Bolligen, 2008)
Pupa (studia photograph)
(Switzerland/Bern, Bolligen, 2008)
Habitat (Switzerland/Valais, 2007)
Host plant Stachys recta
(Switzerland/Valais, 2008)
© 2009-2026 Martin Albrecht