LEPIDOPTERA

• S A T Y R I D A E Boisduval, 1833

  • HYPONEPHELE Mushamp, 1915

    
    

    • Hyponephele dysdora (Lederer, [1869])

Hyponephele dysdora (Lederer, [1869])

· TYPE LOCALITY. "Hadschyabad" [Hajiabad, N. Iran].

· RANGE. From N. Iran and Kopet-Dagh across Middle Asia, Afghanistan and Pakistan to Dzhungaria.

· DISTRIBUTION AND VARIATION. Widely distributed in the mountains and at foothills of Middle Asia from Turkmenia to Dzhungaria (except for high-altitude areas of Tian-Shan and the E. Pamirs), showing a number of poorly differing forms with diffuse distributions. Apart from the nominate subspecies, only the taxon dysdorina (Ruhl, [1894]) seems to be real (Ghissar-Darvaz, Kuhitangtau, the W. Pamirs); however, its status is rather obscure as the type-locality was first designated as "Tura?" (Ruhl & Heyne, 1892-1895) and then as "the foothills of Tian-Shan" (ibid.), so the question is still open. Some authors (Balletto & Kudrna, 1989) regard it even as a separate species.

· HABITAT AND BIOLOGY. The species is typical of the lower zone of mountains and some elevated valleys where it is found in various habitats up to 3,000 m a.s.l., mostly in arboreal associations of foothills and sparse juniper woodlands. Development in one or, at lower altitudes, two generations. Flight period: extended from May to August depending on the altitude and climatic conditions, the second generation adults emerging in August-September.

· SIMILAR SPECIES. H. tristis: male androconial area narrow, UNH median band different. H. murzini, H. prasolovi: male androconial area narrow; UNH pattern different.

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