About Pyronia cecilia Vallantin, 1894
This species, Pyronia cecilia, commonly known as the southern gatekeeper, is visually similar to two related species: the gatekeeper (Pyronia tithonus), which inhabits regions further north, and the Spanish gatekeeper (Pyronia bathsheba). It can be distinguished from these close relatives by wing pattern differences. The gatekeeper has distinct spots on the underside of its hindwing, which the southern gatekeeper lacks. The Spanish gatekeeper has a noticeably different underwing pattern, featuring a prominent white band that the southern gatekeeper does not have. The southern gatekeeper prefers warm, hot habitats, and its range covers northern Africa and southern Europe. Specifically, it has been recorded in Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco, Portugal, Spain (including Mallorca and Menorca), south-eastern France, Corsica, Sardinia, Elba, Italy, Sicily, Croatia, Albania, Greece, and Turkey. It is most commonly found in rough, open lowland areas, but in some locations its populations can occur at elevations as high as 2,000 m (6,600 ft). The known food plants for the southern gatekeeper are grasses, one example of which is Deschampsia cespitosa.
