Muschampia proto
Introduction '''''Muschampia proto''''', the '''sage skipper''', is a butterfly of the  family Hesperiidae. It is found in Morocco, Algeria, the Iberian Peninsula and southern France.
Description The length of the forewings is 14–15 mm, although there are specimens with a forewing length of 15–17 mm in Morocco. This is a rather variable species but usually has a well-marked central spot on the forewing to distinguish it from similar species.
Description in Seitz H. proto Esp. (85 d). The interspace between veins 7 and 8 on the underside of the hindwing  bears only a single spot in the centre, namely the one which is the first spot of the median band; in the marginal area a second spot, which may be united with the fringes. Upperside of the wings grey-brown;the spots but little prominent, yellowish. Hindwing beneath yellowish grey or pale reddish; beyond the  median band follows a brown postmedian one, the whole marginal area beyond it being of the same colour as the ground. In each marginal cellule a dark dot, above which there is a light arched smear. South Europe, Syria, Armenia, Turkestan. — The form ''mohammed'' Oberth.now species ''Syrichtus mohammed'' Oberthür, 1887 (85 e) differs in the large white spots of the underside of both wings, in the very distinct subterminal row of dots and in the hindwing  beneath being more variegated with white. Algeria.
Biology Adults are on wing in April, May or even later in one generation.The larvae feed on ''Phlomis'' species.
References
Sources *Whalley, Paul - ''Mitchell Beazley Guide to Butterflies'' (1981, reprinted 1992)
External links * Lepiforum* Moths and Butterflies of Europe and North Africa* Butterfly Conservation Armenia* ''Muschampia proto'' occurrence data from GBIF