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LEPIDOPTERA

Colias alpherakyi Colias alpherakyi usmatica J.J. Shchetkin

• TYPE LOCALITY. "...in kleiner Anzahl auf dem Alai Gebirge (Fergana Turkestan)" [Northern slopes of the Alaisky Mts., Kirghizia].
• RANGE . Karakorum, Hindu Kush, Ghissar, the Pamirs-Alai.
• DISTRIBUTION AND VARIATION. The nominate subspecies (= leucophryne Grum-Grshimailo, 1893) is distributed in Darvaz and Alai. In addition, the following subspecies have been described: ssp. usmatica J.J. Shchetkin, 1990 - Ghissar; ssp. roschana Grum-Grshimailo, 1893 (= versa Verity, 1911; = chitralensis Verity, 1911) -theW. Pamirs.
• HABITAT AND BIOLOGY. Xerophytic stony slopes at 2,000-4,400 m a.s.l. with patches of Onobrychis echidna, the host plant. Flight period: July-August. Hibernation as larvae or pupae.
• SIMILAR SPECIES. C. sieversi: FW termen convex; fringes pinkish; UPS black colouration less strongly developed.

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