LEPIDOPTERA
PAPILIONIDAE Latreille,1802
PARNASSIUS Latreille,1804
Parnassius kiritshenkoi Avinov, 1910
Parnassius kiritshenkoi kiritshenkoi Avinov, 1910
· RANGE. The E. Pamirs.
· DISTRIBUTION AND VARIATION. Occurs locally in the E. Pamirs. Each population occupies a territory not exceeding 50-ISO ha. Variation little. The ssp. dunkeldykus Sotshivko et Kaabak, 1996, described recently from the Sarykolsky Mts., may be attributed to this species.
· TAXONOMIC NOTES. For a long time, P. kiritshenkoi was regarded as a subspecies of P. staudingeri. It has been allotted full specific rank only recently, based on its sympatry with P. staudingeri mustagata in the south of the Sarykolsky Mts., and with P. staudingeri illustris at Pass Tarsagar, S. slope of the Zaalaisky Mts.
· HABITATS AND BIOLOGY. Preferring mainly the tops of stony slopes and crests at altitudes up to 4,500 In a.s.l. Plight period: beginning two weeks later than in P. staudingeri, between the end of July to September.
· SIMILAR SPECIES. P. staudingeri. smaller, dark patterns better developed.
Photo and text: Guide to the BUTTERFLIES OF RUSSIA and adjacent territories Volume 1. PENSOFT, Sofia - Moscow. 1997