This species is famous for its drastic seasonal variation.
Butterflies of a spring brood, forma levana Linnaeus, hatched
from over-wintered pupae, are red with a black pattern and few
small white spots at the fore wing apex, those of a summer
brood, forma prorsa Linnaeus, shown here, are black with white bands and
spots and fine yellowish reticulation. In some places a third
autumn brood, forma porima, Oschenheimer, 1807, develops with
intermediate characters. In a northern range and in the
mountains only one brood developes, with the characters of forma
Russia, West Siberia, Tomsk Province, Bakchar District. Plotnikovo village, a bank of a large pond, 21st July 2006.
O. Kosterin
летняя форма prorsa
Широко распространенный транспалеарктический вид
Россия, Западная Сибирь, Томская обл., Бакчарский р-н, с. Плотниково, большой пруд. 21 июля 2006 г.
О. Костерин