LEPIDOPTERA

• S A T Y R I D A E Boisduval, 1833

  • HYPONEPHELE Mushamp, 1915

    
    

    • Hyponephele capella (Christoph, 1877)

Hyponephele capella (Christoph, 1877)

· TYPE LOCALITY. "Schahkuh" [Shahkuh Mts., N. Iran].

· RANGE. Mountains of Iran, Afghanistan and Middle Asia (except for Tian-Shan).

· DISTRIBUTION AND VARIATION. The nominate subspecies is known from central Kopet-Dagh, while the ssp. shivacola Wyatt et Omoto, 1966 from the W. Pamirs. The status of the populations from the E. Pamirs and Ghissar-Alai (the Ghissarsky, Zeravshansky, Baisun-Tau mts.) needs further studies as they may also prove to represent distinct subspecies.

· HABITAT AND BIOLOGY. The species is typical of stony habitats, especially rock and screes, but is found also in steppe patches with exposed rock at 2,600-4,300 m a.s.l. or even higher. Flight period: June-July, sometimes up to August.

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