English name:
Pale Small-branded Swift
Full scientific name:
Pelopidas thrax (Hübner, 1821)
Croatian name:
Južni debeloglavac (see Note)
Flight Period and Life Cycle
2 broods per year, likely.
Distribution in Croatia
Common along the coast and on the islands. Check the included map.
External Morphology Characteristics
The pattern of bright spots and hooked antennae tips are distinctive.
Behavior
Imago feeds mostly on the nectar of Dittrichia viscosa and Lantana sp flowers. It flies very fast.
The migratory abilities are described in: Qirinxhi, X., Cuvelier, S., & Paparisto, A. (2025). Pelopidas thrax (Hübner, [1821]) (Lepidoptera: Hesperiidae): new to Albania, records and distribution update. With first recorded sightings in Montenegro and Croatia. In Chronicles Fluturat e Shqipërisë (Vol. 2025, Number 2, pp. 40–44). Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.16814495
Caterpillar Host Plants
Family Poaceae, Imperata cylindrica and Panicum miliaceum, both mentioned in literature. The mentioned species are included in the Croatian botanical list (Nikolić T. ed. (2015 – onwards): Flora Croatica database (http://hirc.botanic.hr/fcd). Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb (access date: 11.10.2025)):
Habitat
Hot gardens and wild areas with low vegetation and shrubs. Elevations: 0-200m.
Note
The species is new to the checklist of butterflies in Croatia. I created the Croatian name by myself.
Gallery
