LEPIDOPTERA

• N Y M P H A L I D A E Swainson, 1827

  • ARGYNNIS Fabricius, 1807

    
    

    • Argynnis pandora ([Denis et Schiffermuller], 1775)

Argynnis pandora ([Denis et Schiffermuller], 1775)

• TYPE LOCALITY. «Umgebung von Wien» [Vienna, Austria].

• RANGE. From S. Europe and N. Africa across Asia Minor, Central Asia to Pakistan and W. China.

• DISTRIBUTION AND VARIATION. The geographical variability over the range is very little. Besides the nominotypical subspecies (= transcaucasica Moucha, 1967), which populates the S. European part, the Crimea, the Caucasus and Transcaucasia, we can distinguish the following two taxa: ssp. pasargades Fruhstorfer, 1908 from the Kopet-Dagh, the Tian-Shan, the Ghissar-Darvaz, the Alai, and the S. Altais, and ssp. cirgentifasciata. Kotzsch, 1938 from the Pamirs.

• HABITATS AND BIOLOGY. Usually occurring in arid places up to 2,500 m a.s.l. Flying in valleys and over adjacent slopes in June to September, in two generations. The flight is rapid and powerful, often covering vast distances. Additional feeding usually on different Asteraceae. Host plants: Viola spp. Hibernation larval.

Photo and text: Guide to the BUTTERFLIES OF RUSSIA and adjacent territories Volume 2. PENSOFT, Sofia - Moscow. 2000