The Dusky Grizzled Skipper (Pyrgus cacaliae) is a species of skipper butterfly (family Hesperiidae). Description Pyrgus cacaliae is comparatively large and the white spots on the upper side of the forewing are greatly reduced. The hind wing underside has a faded olive-green color with a long and a short point on the inner edge (similar to an exclamation mark). This feature also shows Pyrgus andromedae, but in Pyrgus cacaliae it does not stand out so clearly from the subsurface. Also the Alpine grizzled skipper is usually encountered at lower altitudes. It can also be distinguished by the smaller, fainter pale markings on the forewing and the less bold markings on the underwing. In cases of doubt, a genital examination is essential for a reliable determination. Both sexes have the same markings, but the males are slightly darker in color. The caterpillar is usually dark in color with a darker topline. In ex ovo breeding, clay-yellow colored caterpillars were often observed in the last two stages. The head shield is black. The head and wing sheaths of the pupa are bluish with frosting; in the case of the abdomen, which is brown in its basic color, only the segment boundaries are left out. The ventral side has a distinctive drawing, consisting of a black central bar and each side of which consists of two black dots. The back side also shows black dots and lines. The dorsal cremaster is red-brown in color. Range The species is widespread in the Central Pyrenees and from the western to the eastern Alps (from France to Italy, Switzerland, Germany and Austria). In addition, Pyrgus cacaliae occurs in the Balkans in the Dinaric Mountains of Bosnia-Herzegovina, in the Central Carpathians of Romania and in the Rila, Pirin and Stara Planina Mountains of Bulgaria. Habitat On the one hand, Pyrgus cacaliae colonizes humid habitats such as rye bushes along streams, peatlands and springs. On the other hand, there is evidence from dry alpine lawns, mostly interlocking with rock debris. In the Alps, the maximum distribution is between 1700 and 2500 meters above sea level. In Bavaria this species is recorded at altitudes of 1500-2300 m. Ecology The flight period in the Bavarian Alpine region extends from the end of June to the beginning of August. Pyrgus cacaliae can be detected in both even and odd years. According to observations from Switzerland and Austria, the eggs are laid