Pyrgus armoricanus (Oberthur, 1910)  
Oberthur's grizzled Skipper, Zweibrutiger Wurfel-Dickkopffalter, Hesperie des potentilles, Толстоголовка арморикская. 

Distribution and biological peculiarities in Armenia: 
The species is distributed throughout Europe and Western Asia. Armenia is inhabited by subspecies P. armoricanus persicus (Reverdin, 1913). The species inhabits juniper woodlands and mountain steppes at the elevation range between 1,000 and 2,000 m a.s.l. Rather variety of the host plants are recorded for the species in Armenia: Potentilla spp., Helianthemum spp., and Fragaria spp. The Orbethur's Grizzled Skipper gives one to two generations per year, although most of the butterflies are recorded on wing from early June to late July, but in some areas a second generation specimens have been recorded in late August to mid September. Thus the second generation of the species is quite weak and sporadic.

Population dynamics:
The species is uncommon to rare within typical habitat. The difficulties in field identification of the species and its distinguishing from other Pyrgus species, make the counts of it insufficient for computation of its population trend. Despite on that, based on the caught specimens it is possible to assume lack of changes in the species' population during 2003-2013. The species appears to be rather adaptable towards food plants, which allows switching from one host plant to another in intensively grazed habitats. 

Conservation measures: 
The species is not included in the Global and National Red Lists, but was assessed for the European Red Book as a Least Concern. The species is not included in CITES and Bern Conventions either. Preliminary assessment of its conservation status in Armenia suggest it as a Least Concern. The distribution range of the species is covered by number of Protected Areas, Emerald Sites and Prime Butterfly Areas. taking the known information into account it can be concluded that there is no necessary conservation measures for protection of the species in the country; however it is important to develop and introduce a counting method, which could be allied for the brown Skippers group and allow to better understanding of their population trends. 

Photo: C.R. Pape

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