LEPIDOPTERA

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

  • THYMELICUS Hubner, [1819]

    
    

    • Thymelicus acteon (Rottemburg, 1775)

Thymelicus acteon (Rottemburg, 1775)

• TYPE LOCALITY. "Landsberg an der Warthe" [Germany].

• RANGE. From N. Africa across S. and Middle Europe and Asia Minor to Lebanon and Palestine.

• DISTRIBUTION AND VARIATION. Known from the S. European part (Ukraine); the records from the E. and SE. European parts require confirmation. Showing variation in size and colour in different parts of the range, the Ukrainian population representing the nominate subspecies.

• HABITATS AND BIOLOGY. Dry and warm grassy habitats up to 2,000 m a.s.l. Flight period: April-August in a single generation depending on the latitude. Host plants: grasses (Agropyron repens, Poa annua, Brachypodium sylvaticum, etc.). Larvae hibernating.

• SIMILAR SPECIES.T. sylvestris: UPS clear tawny or yellow, UNF pale discal spots absent.

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