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Pyronia cecilia /Southern Gatekeeper
Çeçilja
Nymphalidae - Satyrinae
Pyronia cecilia (Vallantin, 1894). TL: Morocco.
 
  
1a. Pyronia cecilia, distribution map.  Historical data ;  Additional data from the 2018 update ;  New observations since the 2018 update.
1b. Pyronia cecilia ♂ underside. Spain (© Tom Kristensen)
1c. Pyronia cecilia ♀ upperside. Spain (© Tom Kristensen)
1d. Pyronia cecilia ♀ underside. Spain (© Tom Krsitensen)
1e. Pyronia cecilia ♂ upperside. Spain (© Lazaros Pamperis)
Description
♂♂
Small butterfly. Fw: 15-16 mm.
Ups: fulvous gc, darker brown on costa, large dark brown marginal band.
Upf: quadrilateral sex-brand disrupted by orange veins, double white-pupiled apical ocellus.
Unf: orange gc, conspicuous double white-pupiled apical ocellus.
Unh: lightly marbled grey gc, no white dots.
♀♀
Slightly larger.
Unh: lightly marbled grey gc, no white dots.
Similar species
Life cycle
Adults: single generation from end-June to August.
Egg: short stage.
Caterpillar: overwintering as small larva.
Pupa: short stage.
Habitat
Pyronia cecilia inhabits rough grasslands with scattered bushes in hot localities from lowland up to 700 m a.s.l.
Spatial requirement modest, population density can be high.
Foodplants
Caterpillars feed mainly on Deschampsia caespitosa, Poa annua and P. nemoralis, also mentioned are Agrostis capillaris, Brachypodium phoenicoides, B. pinnatum, B. sylvaticum, B. retusum, Dactyllis glomerata and Festuca oviina.
Butterflies feed on a large variety of flowers.
Distribution
Albania: local (more research needed)
Balkan: AL - BG - BIH - GR - HR - NMK - MNE - RKS - RO - SLO - SRB
Europe: IB - IT - ALP* - BAL - NWE - UK - SCA - EEU
Asia Minor*
Conservation status
Pyronia cecilia is not endangered.
Albanian Red List: NE.
IUCN Red List, category at the Mediterranean level: LC.
Useful links
Pyrgus.de
Lepiforum
Euroleps
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slightly larger or similar.
triangular plain sex-brand.
sex-brand less disrupted by orange veins.
dark basal area.