6932
Hesperiidae : Hesperiinae

Pigmy Skipper

GEGENES pumilio (Hoffmannsegg, 1804)

Subspecies
G. p. gambica Mabille, 1878 Africa : Lebanon : Turkey to N Pakistan : Kashmir
G. p. monocroa Rebel, 1907 Yemen : Socotra
Picture
Life Cycle Guide-Adult Only
Picture
Description
Alternative Name: Dark Hottentot
Wingspan: 25-30mm-Male & Female
Worldwide Distribution: Southern Europe-Mediterranean coastal regions : Morocco : Iran : Himalayas : sporadically through Africa : W Asia
European Conservation Status -
  • Least Concern - Relatively rare, butterfly only found sporadically in the Mediterranean coastal regions
Original Species Name -
  • Papilio pumilio Hoffmannsegg,1804
Type Species - Gegenes
  • Papilio pumilio Hoffmannsegg,1804
Type Locality -
  • Africa
Flight Period: April-October-Multivoltine-depending on location.It is normal for a third brood to show an increase in butterfly numbers.
Elevation: Sea Level-2000m
Habitat: Grassy places : Cultivated areas : Dry places : usually found from sea level to 500m but up to 2000m in the mountains in Lebanon
Observations: Sightings in Cyprus were rare,found by roadside paths next to agricultural land,dry riverbeds & rocky areas with sparse low vegetation, all in the lowland coastal area.
All butterflies seen were resting in/out of the sun with wings closed if not feeding on plants like the Lantana.See Photo 5 (L-R) below.

Although similar species fly together in Europe like the Mediterranean Skipper,identification of above is based on the fact that only "gegenes" genus found in Cyprus as being the Pigmy Skipper.
Subspecies
G. p. pumilio Hoffmmansegg,1804-Southern Europe : Cyprus : Middle East : India : Saudi Arabia : Yemen : Oman

Larval Food Plants Worldwide

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Taxonomy
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Subspecies:
Animalia
Eumetozoa
Arthropoda
Hexapoda
Insecta
Lepidoptera
Papilionoidea
Hesperiidae
Hesperiinae
Gegenini
GEGENES Hübner, [1819]
Gegenes pumilio (Hoffmannsegg, 1804)
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Papilio pumilio (Hoffmannsegg, 1804)
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PAPILIO pumilio (Hoffmannsegg, 1804)
= Papilio pygmaeus Cyrillo 1787
= Gegenes pygmaeus Cyrillo, 1787
= Hesperia aetna Boisduval 1840
= Philoodus lefebvrii Rambur, 1840
= Papilio aetna Boisduval, 1840
= Gegenes aetna Boisduval, 1840
= Gegenes lefebvrei Rambur, 1840
= Pamphila gambica Mabille, 1878
= Pamphila occulta Trimen, 1891
= Parnara ursula Holland, 1896
= Gegenes monochroa Rebel, 1907
= Gegenes major Ragusa, 1919 
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Mag. f. Insektenk. (Illiger) 3: 202
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Africa
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G.p.pumilio Hoffmannsegg, 1804-Southern Europe : Middle East : India : Saudi Arabia : Yemen : Oman
G.p.gambica Mabille, 1878-Africa : Africa : Arabia to Lebanon : Turkey to northern Pakistan : Kashmir
G.p.monochroa Rebel, 1907-Yemen: Socotra