Melanargia occitanica, the western marbled white, is a butterfly species belonging to the family Nymphalidae.[1]

Melanargia occitanica
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Nymphalidae
Genus: Melanargia
Species:
M. occitanica
Binomial name
Melanargia occitanica
Esper, 1793

Distribution

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It can be found in North Africa and south western Europe.(West Morocco, South-west Europe, Portugal, Spain, South France and Italian Alps).

Description

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The length of the forewings is 25–28 mm. Seitz - M. syllius Hbst. (= occitanica Esp.) (39 d, e). At once recognized by the veins and transverse lines forming a network of brown markings on the hindwing beneath, the large ocelli with their heavy whitish violet centres standing in between the stripes. The cell of the forewing above bears a black transverse line not far from its apex.[2]

Subspecies

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  • Melanargia occitanica pelagia Oberthür, 1911 Morocco
  • Melanargia occitanica megalatlasica Tarrier, 1995 Tizi-n-Talrhemt High Atlas,Morocco
  • Melanargia occitanica moghrebiana Varin, 1951 Ifrane, Azrou, Annoceur, Tizi-n-Foucht, Col du Taghzeft, Aghbalou-Larbi in the Middle Atlas

Biology

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In Europe the butterflies fly in one generation from April to June.In Morocco only in May.In Europe the habitat is garrigue ; in Morocco the edges of mountain forests.

The larvae feed on various grasses- Brachypodium pinnatum, Dactylis glomerata, Lygeum spartum.

References

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  1. ^ "Melanargia Meigen, 1828" at Markku Savela's Lepidoptera and Some Other Life Forms
  2. ^ Seitz. A. in Seitz, A. ed. Band 1: Abt. 1, Die Großschmetterlinge des palaearktischen Faunengebietes, Die palaearktischen Tagfalter, 1909, 379 Seiten, mit 89 kolorierten Tafeln (3470 Figuren)  This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.