English name:
Mallow Skipper
Full scientific name:
Carcharodus alceae (Esper, 1780)
Croatian name:
Sljezov debeloglavac
Flight Period and Life Cycle
Up to 4 broods per year. Caterpillar overwinters at the foot of the host plant.
Distribution in Croatia
The entire territory including islands. More common in the coastal area. Check the included map.
External Morphology Characteristics
The upper side of wings is dark brown or brown. Compared to the similar Muschampia floccifera, in Carcharodus alceae, the prominent white spots on the upper side of the hindwing are missing. In males of Carcharodus alceae, the hair tuft on the underside of the forewing is missing too.
Behavior
Males are territorial. Imago feeds with the nectar of various flowers.
Caterpillar Host Plants
The mallows, family Malvaceae and giradol (Chrozophora tinctoria) (Dubi Benyamini 2005).
Habitat
From gardens, fallow and waste land to flower meadows overgrown with bushes. More common in dry habitats. Elevations: 0-1200m.
Remark
Is capable of migrating.
Gallery
Literature
Dubi Benyamini: Euphorbiaceae – A new host-plant family for Carcharodus alceae Esper, 1780 (Lepidoptera: Hesperiidae) and a discussion on the use of Euphorbiaceae by butterfly larvae (Papilionoidea, Hesperioidea) in the world. 2005, ResearchGate.