LEPIDOPTERA

• S A T Y R I D A E Boisduval, 1833

  • HYPONEPHELE Mushamp, 1915

    
    

    • Hyponephele interposita (Erschoff, 1874)

Hyponephele interposita (Erschoff, 1874)

· TYPE LOCALITY. "Usbekistan, W. Seravschan, Bagrin" ( neotype).

· RANGE. From Turkmenia (Kopet-Dagh) across the mountains and foothills of Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Kazakhstan and Middle Asia to the S. Altai and NW. China.

· DISTRIBUTION AND VARIATION. The nominate subspecies inhabits S. Kazakhstan and most of Middle Asia (Tian-Shan, the Pamirs-Alai, Dzhungarsky Alatau). Populations from the mountains of S. Ghissar (the South-Tadjik Depression and Kuhitangtau) and Kopet-Dagh are referred to the ssp. depressa Koroljev, 1995, and those from central Kazakhstan to the ssp. mimonovi Samodurov, 1995.

· HABITAT AND BIOLOGY. Steppe-clad foothills with thin vegetation, desert and semi-desert habitats, riparian forests, cultivated lands (irrigation ditches, forest stands, orchards, etc.). Along valleys up to 2,000-2,500 m a.s.l., lacking in high-altitude areas. Flight period: May-June to August depending on the altitude, in the lower mountain belts to the beginning of September.

· SIMILAR SPECIES. H. lycaon, H. dzhungarica: male androconial area narrow, crossed by pale veins; female UPF eye-spots surrounded by a common pale ochreous area. H. lupina: male androconial area narrower and downy; female pale bordering of UPF eye-spots separate. H. przhewalskyi: male androconial area narrow; UNH ground colour uniform.

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