Euphydryas aurinia (Rottemburg, 1775) banghaasi Seitz, 1908.

An example of an unclear taxonomical situation. In South Siberia, from Altai to Baikal, this species is represented by two forms: the typical inhabiting low altitudes and a peculiar f. banghaasi Seitz, 1908, which differs from the former by paler colour and substantially smaller size and is confined to highlands, inhabiting mostly marchy dwarf-birch thickets at 1600-2800 m above sea level. No intermediates are found, as well as the habitats of the forms are fully separated. An analogous form merope exists in the Alps. Higgins wrote he would ascribe the apline forms a species rank if there were any difference in the genitalia existing. Some authors, however, considered banghaasi as a distinct species (Lukhtanov, Lukhtanov, 1994).

Range of the species: S Europe, S Ural and S Transuralia, the mountains of S Siberia east to Kentei Mts., E Kazakhstan and Mongolia; the Prilenskoe Plateau; Ural and Yakutia rare.

A female, wings open; on Viola altaiaca

An alpine meadow in the valley of the left headwater of the Chikty Rivulet, 2600 m above sea level, the southern principle slope of the Yuzhno-Chuiskii mountain range, the upper Dzhazator River basin, Kosh-Agach District, Altai Republic, West SIberia, Russia. 10th July 1998. O. Kosterin.

Back to the front page

Back to the Melitaeinae page

Back to the Nymphalidae page of the Siberian Zoological Museum