96. D ESCRIPTIVE CATALOGUE: FAMILY Large Tortoiseshell / Blackleg Tortoiseshell polychloros (Linnaeus, 1758)

DESCRIPTION Wingspan: From 5.4 to 6.9 cm. Open wings: They are bright orange, with golden scattered scales, which make it seem dirty. The forewing has three large black spots rising on the front margin, other three which are aligned and go across the wing, and a fourth one that is separated and close to the anal angle. There is a small black spot on the on the inner side of the hindwing. T o a lesser or greater extent, the black spots are sprinkled by vague attached yellow dots. Both wings have irregular outer margins, with a black stripe covered in blue and yellowish spots. Closed wings: The inner side is mottled with brown and grey colours, and it has a broad stripe in the middle, which is also mottled with brown and creamy white colours. The outer margin is grey.

Three black spots

Three aligned spots Black spot

Black spot

Irregular outer margins Black stripe on the margin with blue and yellowish spots

Broad mottled brown stripe

Grey stripe

Irregular margins

228 DIURNALN AL BBUTTERFLIESUTTERFLIES • GR-249GR-249 Great MalagaMal Path : It is smaller. When it opens the wings it seems cleaner than the above species, as there are no scales. It lacks a dot which is close to the forewing anal angle, and this is the key feature that can be used to make a difference between it and the Large Tortoiseshell. There is more grey colour on its closed wings, as well as a yellowish spot on the forewing.

There is only one generation a year, which hibernate as adult butterfl ies. They can be seen almost throughout the year, especially from January to March, when those species that hibernate, get active for reproduction cycle. Their young create a new generation and can be mainly spotted in May or June. They live in well-preserved forests, whether these are in the mountains or on river banks, but also in rural areas, above all, at places where almond trees grow. Their caterpillars feed on wild or cultivated bushes and trees, such as hawthorns ( monogyna), trees (Ulmus spp.), poplars ( nigra), hackberry tree (Celtis australis), almond trees ( dulcis) and Iberian (Pyrus bourgueana). Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Even though this species is present on all stages of the GMP, it is rare and limits to certain areas, especially along coastal routes and in the north of the province, where it can only be seen on river banks, in forests and around abandoned almond groves where little amount of biocide was used.

Legend:

Great Malaga Path

Distribution of the species along the GMP GR-249 Great Malaga Path • DIURNAL 229