LEPIDOPTERA

• N Y M P H A L I D A E Swainson, 1827

  • CLOSSIANA Reuss, 1920

    
    

    • Clossiana alberta (Edwards, 1890)

Clossiana alberta (Edwards, 1890)

• TYPE LOCALITY. «Laggan, Alberta prov., Canada".

• RANGE. E. Chukotka (also recorded in Anyuiskie Mts.); N. America from Alaska down to Alberta Province and British Columbia.

• DISTRIBUTION AND VARIATION. From E. Chukotka, the ssp. kurenzovi (Wyatt, 1961) has been described.

• TAXONOMIC NOTES. Both superficially and by structure of the genitalia, as well as geographically, the ssp. kuremoui (Wyatt, 1961) seems transitional between the North American alberta (Edwards, 1890) and the E. Siberian erda (Christoph, 1893). To solve the problem, a careful study of the populations from E. Chukotka is required as based on abundant material.

• HABITATS AND BIOLOGY. Rocky habitats near crests up to 1,000 m a.s.l. Flight period: July to August. Host plants (Wyatt, 1957); Dryas octopetala, D. integnfolia.

• SIMILAR SPECIES. Clossiana erda: larger; antennae longer and slender; at base of UNH one silvery spot, as a rule. C. distincta: FW with an extended and sharpened

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