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LEPIDOPTERA

Nymphalis xanthomelas (Esper, [ 1781 ])
Nymphalis xanthomelas (Esper, [ 1781 ])

•TYPE LOCALITY. «Leipzig».

•SYNONYMS: xanthomelas ([Denis et Schiffermuller], 1775), nom. nudum; pyrrhomelaena (Hubner, [1819]), etc.. see below.

• RANGE. The entire Palaearctic Region except for the extreme north.

•DISTRIBUTION AND VARIATION. Nearly invariable. Nonetheless, the following subspecies have been accepted: the nominotypical (= cibinensis Dannehl, 1925, chosenessa (Bryk, 1946)) from the European part, the Caucasus Major, Siberia, the Far East, the Amur and Ussuri regions; ssp. fervescens (Stichel, [1908]) (= fervida Staudinger, 1901, nom. praeoccup.) from Transcaucasia and the Kopet-Dagh; ssp. hazard Wyatt et Omoto, 1966 from the Ghissar-Darvaz. Pamirs-Alai, Tian-Shan, Saur and Tarbagatai mountains: ssp. Japonica (Stichel, 1902) (= 'sachalinensis (Matsumura, 1925);Jezoensis (Matsumura, 1925)) from Sakhalin and the Kuriles.

• HABITATS AND BIOLOGY. Occurring nearly everywhere, but the main biotopes are associated with valley forests and bush because the larvae feed on willows (Salix); in Transcaucasia, Salix excelsa has been recorded as a host plant species (Dantchenko, in press). Flight period: July to October, hibernated butterflies in March to May. In the mountains up to 2,700 m a.s.l. Outbreaks common. Migrations over vast distances.

• SIMILAR SPECIES. Nymphalis polychloros: black marking on UPH sharply delineat­ed against a dark orange discal colour. N.vaualbum: outer margin of wings more strongly serrate.

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