Gatekeeper / Hedge Brown Pyronia Tithonus (Linnaeus, 1771)
78. D ESCRIPTIVE CATALOGUE: NYMPHALIDAE FAMILY Gatekeeper / Hedge Brown Pyronia tithonus (Linnaeus, 1771)
DESCRIPTION Wingspan: From 3.4 to 4.2 cm. Closed wings: The male butterfl ies hindwing is yellow and mottled. It has a series of brown eyespots with vague borders, which split in groups of two. The group are separated by a light stretch. The forewing is orange with yellow margins, and a double eyespot in the shape of an eight. Open wings: They do not often rest with stretched wings. Both sexes are orange with broad brown margins and a double eyespot in the shape of an eight. Female butterfl ies have a small white dot close to the anal angle on the hindwings. Male butterfl ies have a brown spot (androconia) in the centre of the hindwing.
A double eyespot in the shape of an eight
Llighter zone
A series of vague brown eyespots
A double eyespot in the shape of an eight FEMALE
Wide brown margins
Very small white dot
MALE
192 DIURNALNALB BUTTERFLIESUTTERFLIES • GR-249GR 249 Great MalMalaga Path Small Heath: It can be only confused with female butterfl ies, but it has less yellow colour on it, and it is not mottled. It lacks double eyespot on the forewing apex and the series of eyespot is less prominent and entire, not broken. When the Gatekeeper’s wings are open it can be confused with, the Southern Gatekeeper, but its female butterfl ies lack a small dot on the hindwing and the male androconia is clearly lined by veins; and the Spanish Gatekeeper, though both sexes have a series of eyespots on the hindwings.
Small Heath FEMALE Southern Gatekeeper MALE
Spanish Gatekeeper
MALE FEMALE This species counts on only one generation a year, which is active from June to August, especially in July. It fl ies in well-preserved mountainous areas, sparse woodland, scattered thickets, grassland and pasture. It can often be found on the ground which is humid most time of the year , such as springs, water tanks, drinking trough and streams, where mineral salts can be seen on the ground, or fl ying, resting or drinking on blackberries fl owers. Is caterpillars feed on grass plants that belong to, for example, Festuca, Poa and Dactylis genera. Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec This species is rather rare and lives at specifi c places in Málaga. As for the GMP, we only know it exists, and that it is limited to stage 11. It might be found at stages 6, 9 and 23 as well.
Legend: Great Malaga Path Distribution of the species along GR-249 Great Malaga Path • DIURNAL BUTTERFLIESthe GMP 193