Carcharodus flocciferus (Zeller, 1847)  
Tufted Skipper, Heilziest-Dickkopffalter, Hesperie du marrube, Толстоголовка пушистая. 

Distribution and biological peculiarities in Armenia: 
The species is distributed mainly in temperate belt of Eurasia. Armenia is inhabited by nominate subspecies. The Tufted Skipper mostly inhabits woodlands alternated with steppe areas at the elevation range from 1,200 to 2,000 m a.s.l., and avoids dense forests of Northern and Central Armenia. As larval food plant the variety of Marrubium spp, Stachys spp, and Thymus spp are known throughout its distribution range, however the biology of the species in Armenia has not been studied. The species has one generation per year and the butterflies are on wing from late June till mid August. 

Population dynamics:
Its is quite rare within a typical habitat with low detectability rate, which doesn’t’ allow calculation of its population trend. Some comparison of the species historical records with the contemporary ones suggest non significant population changes, which might be possible, since the species grows on variety of the host plants and can adapt under intensive grazing and mowing conditions. ​

Conservation measures: 
The species is not included in the Global and National red Lists, however it is evaluated for European Red Book as Near Threatened. The species is not also included in CITES and Bern Conventions. Preliminary assessment of its conservation status in Armenia ​suggests Least Concern, with a reservation of necessity to introduce its monitoring scheme. The distribution range of the species is just partly covered by Protected Areas and Emerald Sites, but there is no necessity of urgent conservation measures.

Photo: P. Bruce-Jones

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