This is a rather small Pyrgus species which has perhaps the most weakly-marked upperside of all Pyrgus skippers. This along with it’s diminutive size are good field clues, but the patterning of white spots on the underside is distinctive and the most reliable ID feature. It is generally a scarce species, limited to high altitudes in the Alps where it exists in rather localised colonies.

Distribution: Restricted to the Alps of SW France, N Italy, S and E Switzerland, S Germany, W Austria and NW Slovenia.

Flight Period: Flies in a single generation between early July until mid-August.

Habitat: High alpine meadows, pastures and rocky slopes above 1700m, but usually between 2000-2400m.

Foodplants: Alpine Rockrose (Helianthemum alpestre).

Nectar Sources: Will visit flowers such as houseleeks (Sempervivum), thymes (Thymus), knapweeds (Centaurea) and Alpine Aster (Aster alpinus).