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Potentially present (PP)
Pelopidas thrax / Millet Skipper
Shpejtakja-njollavogla e zbehtë
Hesperiidae - Hesperiinae
Pelopidas thrax (Hübner, [1821]) TL: Cairo, Egypt.
 
1a. Pelopidas thrax, distribution map.  Historical data ;  Additional data from the 2018 update ;  New observations since the 2018 update.
1b.Pelopidas thrax. ♂ above, ♀ below (©Richard Lewington)
Note
Pelopidas thrax was regularly recorded since the beginning of this century from the southern Dodecanese islands (Cuvelier 2009) and the North-Aegean island Samos. P. thrax was also discovered in the beginning of the century in the North-Aegean island of Chios (first record in 2002) and recorded and confirmed from Lesbos (Cuvelier 2014).
In recent years, P. thrax reached contintental Greece where it has been expanding rapidly.
On 28.ix.2023, Christian Dollé observed P. thrax some kilometers south of Parga (Epirus) and Lazaros Pamperis informed us about another locality near the sea, south of Perdika (map).
P. thrax is now included as a potential species for Albania after confirmed recent sightings (August 30th to November 16th 2023) from different sites in the north of the island of Corfu. Suitable habitats with documented foodplants are available.
Description
♂♂
Small butterfly. Fw: 15-16 mm.
Ups: dark brown gc.
Upf: distinct hyaline spots, conspicuous sex-brand.
Uns: paler gc.
Unf: distinct hyaline spots.
♀♀
Slightly larger than ♂♂.
Ups: paler brown gc.
Upf: distinct hyaline spots, slightly larger than ♂♂.
Uph: 2-3 small hyaline spots.
Uns: paler gc.
Unf: distinct hyaline spots, slightly larger than ♂♂.
Similar species
Gegenes nostrodamus
Gegenes pumilio
♂♂ of both Gegenes do not have a sex-brand.
Ups and uns of both Gegenes lack or have only small pale spots.
Life cycle
Adults: two generations, May-June and September-November. More common in late summer-autumn.
Egg: likely a short stage.
Caterpillar: depending on the generation.
Pupa: short stage.
Habitat
Gegenes nostrodamus inhabits areas with reeds, often in partially dry river beds. It is very mobile and in search of nectar it is often found in gardens and parks. The butterfly is known only from lowland localities.
Spatial requirement modest despite the fact that it may well fly distances, population density low.
Foodplants
Caterpillars feed on grasses: Arundo sp., Oloptum miliaceum, Phragmites sp. and Tripidium sp.
Arundo donax and A. plini, occur mostly in the western part or coastal areas. Phragmites australis is present in the western parts, the Prespa area and are recorded from some bogs, like in Kukes. Piptatherum miliaceum (Oloptum) is also present in the western part or coastal areas, whereas P. holciforme is found near Kukes.
Saccharum ravennae occur again in the western part and in Berat, whereas A. strictum is found around Shkodra and Tirana.
(communication: Lulëzim Shuka).
Butterflies are seen nectaring on flowers in gardens and parks on different ornamental plants.
Distribution
Albania: not recorded.
Balkan: AL - BG - BIH - GR - HR - NMK - MNE - RKS - RO - SLO -SRB
Europe: IB - IT - ALP - BAL - NWE - UK - SCA - EEU
Asia Minor, Near East, Arabia and further east.
Conservation status
Pelopidas thrax is not endangered.
Albanian Red List: NT.
IUCN Red List, category at the Mediterranean level: LC.
Useful links
Pyrgus.de
Lepiforum
leuroButterflies
(url) Cuvelier S. 2009. Pelopidas thrax, a new species for the Island of Kós and an update of its distribution in Greece (Lepidoptera: Hesperioidea & Papilionoidea). — Phegea 37(3): 84-93.
(url) Cuveleir S. 2014. The Butterflies and Skippers of the North-Aegean Islands of Híos, Psará and Lésvos (Greece). New observations and an update on their distribution (Papilionoidea & Hesperioidea). — Phegea 42(3): 58-70.
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