LEPIDOPTERA

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

  • MELLICTA Billberg, 1820

    
    

    • Mellicta (menetriesi) westsibirica Dubatolov, 1998

Mellicta (menetriesi) westsibirica Dubatolov, 1998

• TYPE LOCALITY. [Novyi Sharap, Ordynsk Distr., Novosibirsk Region, Russia],

• RANGE. Southeastern W. Siberia.

• DISTRIBUTION AND VARIATION. Low mountain areas of W. Siberia, N. Altai and Sayan. External variability resembliong that of M. aurelia.

• TAXONOMIC NOTES. This taxon seems to combine characters of M. aurelia and M centralasiae, being, however, more closely related to the latter. Sympatry of M. westsibirica with M. aurelia has been recorded by Dubatolov in Korshunov (1998). The relations of westsibirica with the other taxa of the superspecies menetriesi require further studies.

• HABITATS AND BIOLOGY. Forest-steppe and steppe habitats on plains and in low mountains. Flight period: June.

• SIMILAR SPECIES. Mellicta rebeli: UPS generally more variegated with black suffusion extended. M. ceritrcilasiae, M. aurelia: genitalia different. M. britomartis: apical pale spots of UNF generally reduced; UNH double marginal line filled with orange.

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