LEPIDOPTERA
PAPILIONIDAE Latreille,1802
PARNASSIUS Latreille,1804
Parnassius cardinal Grum - Grshimailo, 1887
Parnassius cardinal cardinal Grum - Grshimailo, 1887
· RANGE. Darvaz and Badahshan (N. Afghanistan).
· DISTRIBUTION AND VARIATION. In Tajikistan, the species is confined to the western parts of the Peter I and Darvazsky Mts., where it is represented by the nominate subspecies. There is a partial geographical overlap with P. staudingeri inaccessibilis which is, however, isolated ecologically, flying in different habitats at about 4,000 m a.s.l.
· HABITATS AND BIOLOGY. Occurring locally in the zone of high-montane meadows (3,000-3,600 In a.s.l.). In the Peter I Mts., it is associated with humid high-grass meadows altering in a mosaic-like way with steep clayey and stony slopes. In the Darvazsky Mts., it prefers dry stony slopes supporting a steppe-like vegetation. Flight period: June-July. Host plant: Corydalis ledebouriana.
· SIMILAR SPECIES. P. staudingeri -. HW red spots smaller and not connected with each other.
Photo and text: Guide to the BUTTERFLIES OF RUSSIA and adjacent territories Volume 1. PENSOFT, Sofia - Moscow. 1997
© "Russian insects"
