LEPIDOPTERA

• S A T Y R I D A E Boisduval, 1833

  • HYPONEPHELE Mushamp, 1915

    
    

    • Hyponephele laeta (Staudinger, 1886)

Hyponephele laeta (Staudinger, 1886)

· TYPE LOCALITY. "Gebirgen bei Osch, [Samarkand], und aus dem sudlichen Alai" [S. slope of the Alaisky Mts. S. of Osh, Kirghizia].

· RANGE. Ghissar-Alai, Darvaz, Tian-Shan.

· DISTRIBUTION AND VARIATION. The species is extremely variable. Individuals with a well-developed UPF ochreous-yellow coloration, as well as with almost monotonously darkened wings, can be found virtually in every population. Such dull-coloured specimens served as the basis for the description of the var. monotoma Staudinger, 1886 (TL: "Samarkand") which should be regarded as a synonym or infrasubspecific form of the nominate subspecies. Populations from the central part of the Turkestansky Mts. (Shakhristan and Kumbel passes) and from the western parts of the Chatkalsky and Keksuisky mts. have been described as the ssp. turkestana Samodurov, 1996 and the ssp. ochracea Samodurov, 1996.

· TAXONOMIC NOTES. Unfortunately, the lectotype designated by V.A. Lukhtanov lacks a geographical label, while the paralectotypes are labelled "Osch, Alai". However, one must take into account that the species does not occur in the vicinity of Osh, and within the northern slopes of the Alaisky Mts. it is currently known only from near Pass Tenghizbai.

· HABITAT AND BIOLOGY. A typical species of mountain steppe and other steppe habitats at 2,300-2,800 m a.s.l. Flight period: June-August.

· SIMILAR SPECIES. H. kirghisa: much larger; ochreous-yellow colour well-developed, as a rule (also on HW). H. sheljuzhkoi: larger; ochreous-yellow colour better developed in both sexes.

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