65. D ESCRIPTIVE CATALOGUE: FAMILY Southern Brown Argus cramera (Eschscholtz, 1821)

Closed wings: DESCRIPTION Wingspan: From 2.2 to 3 cm. They are brown with plenty of dots. These are perfectly aligned and form and arch on the forewing. The second dot on the hindwing is opposite the fi rst one, while the rest of them, except one which on the inside, are aligned. There are orange spots on both wings outer margins. On the hindwing, they are sharp and black at the top. There are clearly marked black dots behind these spots. Open wings: Their background is brown, and there is a series of orange spots in a shape of a half moon.

Very big orange spots with black tops, and sharp on the hindwings

Black dots behind orange spots on each wing

One spot opposite another Spot which is closer to the inner part than the rest in a line

Series of orange spots in a shape of a half moon on both wings

166 DIURNAL • GR-249 Great Malaga Path Spanish Argus: This species has a smaller dot on the forewing, which cannot be seen in the case of the Southern Brown Argus. The second dot goes towards the inside and it is not aligned with the rest of the dots. The orange dots are smaller, and the dots behind them less clear. The hindwing is rounded and can miss some of the above dots. Mountain Argus: These butterfl ies are larger, lighter brown and their orange dots are smaller.

Spanish Argus Mountain Argus They fl y throughout the year, though they are more common and increase in number from May to July. There are several generations. The species is present in all kinds of habitats, from woodlands and bushes in high mountains, to uncultivated land and rural areas. Its caterpillars feed on different Geraniaceae, such as cicutariumand, Erodium malacoides, as well as on the Cistaceae family plants from genus and Tuberaria guttata.

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec This species is rather common in Málaga, where it can be found on all stages of the path, although it is rarer and limited to specifi c places in the north of the province, where it lives close to olive groves, and along the stages that go through towns on the coast, above all on the 1st stage.

Legend:

Great Malaga Path

Distribution of the species along the GMP GR-249 Great Malaga Path • DIURNAL BUTTERFLIES 167