LEPIDOPTERA

• S A T Y R I D A E Boisduval, 1833

  • KARANASA Moore, 1893

    
    

    • Karanasa leechi (Grum-Grshimailo, 1890)

Karanasa leechi intermedia (Grum-Grshimailo, 1890)

· TYPE LOCALITY. "...monts Kounjout" [Kunzhut Mts. (northern slope), E. Hindu Kush, Afghanistan].

· RANGE. Darvaz, the Pamirs, Hindu Kush.

· DISTRIBUTION AND VARIATION. The nominate subspecies flies in the south of the E. Pamirs. Other subspecies are as follows:

ssp. alitchura Avinov et Sweadner, 1951 - the E. Pamirs (south);

ssp. centralis Avinov et Sweadner, 1951 - the E. Pamirs (central);

ssp. erubescens Avinov et Sweadner, 1951 - Darvaz (the Peter 1 Mts.);

ssp. intermedia (Grum-Grshimailo, 1890) - Alai (the Zaalaisky Mts.).

The last two subspecies differ considerably from the Pamirs specimens and each may prove to represent a separate species.

· HABITAT AND BIOLOGY. Xerophytic slopes with thin vegetation at 3,500-4,700 m a.s.l. Flight period: July-August.

· SIMILAR SPECIES. K. josephi: larger; UPS postdiscal band well-developed, as a rule (except for the ssp. dissoluta).

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