LEPIDOPTERA

• H E S P E R I I D A E Latreille, 1809

  • SPIALIA Swinhoe, [1912]

    
    

    • Spialia osthelderi (Pfeiffer, 1932)

Spialia osthelderi gecko Evans, 1949

• TYPE LOCALITY. "Umgebung Kahramanmaras" [Taurus Mts., S. Turkey].

• RANGE. Asia Minor, the Middle East to Lebanon and through Iraq and Iran to Afghanistan.

• DISTRIBUTION AND VARIATION. Kopet-Dagh, populated by the ssp. gecko Evans, 1949. The record in N. Tian-Shan (Susamyr-Tau Mts.) requires confirmation.

• HABITATS AND BIOLOGY. Dry stream-beds and stony slopes in the mountains up to 2,600 m a.s.l. Flight period: April-May or even later, presumably in two generations.

• SIMILAR SPECIES. S. phlomidis: UNH discal spots united in a band. S. dons: small, UNH discal row of spots directed toward the costal submarginal spot. S. geron: FW more narrow and pointed; all above species differ in genital armature as well.

Photo and text: Guide to the BUTTERFLIES OF RUSSIA and adjacent territories Volume 1. PENSOFT, Sofia - Moscow. 1997