Comparison of features of uppersides of all 14 Pyrgus species
| wingspan (mm) | voltinism | flight |
altitude range (m) |
ground colour | forewing markings | hindwing markings | |
| alveus | 14-16 | single, sometimes a partial second generation | Jun-Aug | 0-2100 | dark grey-brown often with yellow flush | smallish white marks, cell spot usually weak, sometimes almost absent | marks pale and weak at best, usually almost unmarked |
| alveus accretus/ centralhispaniae | 14-16 | yellowish c.f. alveus | large prominent white marks | marks well developed | |||
| andromedae | 14-17 | single | Jun-Jul | >(1000)1600 | dark grey brown | marks well defined, two discal marks in s1 plus a third broadly inline in s2, oblique well-defined discal streaks in s7, cell spot weak | marks pale and generally obscure, rather scruffy appearance |
| armoricanus | 12-14 | double | May-Sep | 0-1500 | yellow-brown/grey, often a pale sandy basal flush | medium-sized white marks complete | discal mark pale and strong especially summer/autumn broods |
| cacaliae | 14-16 | single | Jun-Aug | >1500 | grey-brown | white marks very small, no discal spot in s2 c.f. andromedae | unmarked |
| carlinae | 13-14 | single | midJul-Aug |
>(1000)1500 |
warm darkish brown | cell spot narrow, sometimes divided, letter C outwardly concave, very variable and often only slightly concave but diagnostic as other Pyrgus do not show this concavity | weak to medium strong marks, sagittate on submargins |
| carthami | (13)15-18 | single | May-earlySep | 0-2300 | large, dark charcoal-grey with pale hair at wing bases | white marks well developed, creamy elongated marks, cell often Σ shaped | discal and sub-marginal marks long and narrow, quite clear |
| cirsii | 13-14 | single | lateJul-Sep | 0-1500 | dark brown | cell spot usually wide, usually regularly rectangular, the two post-discal marks in s1b are wide and joined "sinuous" or "waving flag" | pale marks clear and strong and distinct, often pale yellow rather than white. H&R says especially marks at base of s4 and s5 |
| foulquieri | 14-15 | single | Jul-Aug | 0-2000 | hairy at wing bases, underside of end of male abdomen white hair tuft | marks complete, strong and clearly white, especially the post-discal series, jagged at edges especially in s1-4 | marks complete medium strong, strong discal mark, white mark in basal region (if visible). H&R says post-discal marks large especially in s2 and s3 |
| malvae | 11-13 | single | Apr-Jun | 0-2300 | dark cold brown | often a row of white sub-marginal marks | clear-cut row of white sub-marginal marks, sometimes (highly) sagittate, strong smallish discal mark in shape of cleft clothes peg |
| malvoides | 11-13 | double in lowlands, single at altitude | midMar-Aug | very similar to malvae but the sub-marginal marks are often diffuse | very similar to malvae but the sub-marginal marks are often highly sagittate | ||
| onopordi | 12-14 | double or triple | Apr-midOct | 0-1300 | dark brown with slight yellow tint | marks strong and clearly defined, especially cell | pale marks generally distinct, strongish and not especially pale, pale mark near costa in s7 (not usually visible) |
| serratulae | 12-14, 15-16 in SW France | single | May-Aug | 0-2200 | a warm dark brown, female often has brassy-olive tinge | marks variable, often (but not always) small | weak pale marks, often completely unmarked |
| sidae | 14-17 | single | May-Jun | 0-900 | dark brown with greyish hair at wing bases | cell spot large, small sub-marginal marks usually complete | marks variable, pale and sometimes prominent especially submarginal |
| warrenensis | 11-13 | single | Jul | 1700-2300 | very small, narrow forewing | very small white marks | unmarked |
note: the descriptions below only apply to the male of each species. Females are generally similar but more weakly marked.
Female carlinae are generally unmarked except for a few weak marks in the upper half of the upf, and the uph is almost completely unmarked.