Common
Size: 24-28 mm. This species lacks the hyaline spots that characterizes related skippers. The male is unmarked with brown, and the female has lighter non-hyaline markings.
Widespread (throughout the Delta and the Nile Valley to Sudan). AOO = 176 km2. EOO = 583,000 km2. 11 locations
Narrow (Mediterranean to Afghanistan, Pakistan and North India)
Hot dry paths and rocky gorges; adults found in shady areas.
Least Concern
Several generations per year.
48 records. Latest in 2006 (Kharga oasis)
Resident
February-November
Host-plants: Poaceae, Aeluropus lagopoides and Panicum turgidum (all Graminae).
Gegenes nostrodamus, commonly known as the dingy swift, light pygmy skipper,[2] Mediterranean skipper or veloz de las rieras, is a butterfly belonging to the family Hesperiidae. It is found from the Mediterranean Sea, through Anatolia to Turkestan and India.
The length of the forewings is 15–16 mm. Adults are on wing from May to October in multiple generations.
The larvae feed on various grasses, including Gramineae, Aeluropus (in the Sinai Desert) and Aerulopus and Panicum species.
Dark brown, base smoky black; inner margin of the hindwing paler than the ground colour, and a few white dots on the forewing in the female. Underside pale brown, with some obscure white spots towards the tip of the forewing, and in the female at the hind-margin of the hindwing also. Expands a little over one inch. It inhabits South Europe, North Africa, and Western Asia in August, and is found in dry places. (Kirby)
Recorded from Campbellpore, Kala Pani and Hurripur, N.-W. India,(Butler).
Gegenes nostrodamus, commonly known as the dingy swift, light pygmy skipper, Mediterranean skipper or veloz de las rieras, is a butterfly belonging to the family Hesperiidae. It is found from the Mediterranean Sea, through Anatolia to Turkestan and India.
The length of the forewings is 15–16 mm. Adults are on wing from May to October in multiple generations.
The larvae feed on various grasses, including Gramineae, Aeluropus (in the Sinai Desert) and Aerulopus and Panicum species.
