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1\PSKDOLGDH ² 6QRXWV 4XHHQV 0RQDUFKV 3DVKDV %URZQV +HDWKV 0DUEOHG :KLWHV *UD\OLQJV %XWWHUÁLHV
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With about 531 genera and over 6000 known species, /DUYDO GHIHQFH - Cryptic colouration is common; many of the Levant
this is the largest butterfly family in the world, Found in enclose themselves in the leaf-pod or similar shelter;
all continents except Antarctica. The main characteristic some are nocturnal feeder (especially Satyrinae) that
of this family is the reduced pair of forelegs in the adult hide during the day. In Danainae toxins from the LHP
insect. make the larvae unpalatable or toxic, advertised by their and nearby areas
aposematic coloration.
It is the second largest butterfly family in the Levant (after
Lycaenidae) with 96 species & subspecies belonging to 8
subfamilies, some of which used to be treated as separate
families, and 19 forms & abberations; including 1 3DUDVLWRLGV - Chalcidoidae: Brachymeria cf. albicrus on
Danaus chrysippus and Pteromalus puparum on Danaus
new form & 7 new abberations chrysippus and Vannesa cardui. Braconidae: Cotesia cf.
+RVWSODQWV 9DULHV DPRQJ WKH VXEIDPLOLHV acuminata, C. cf. melitaearum and C. lycophron parasites
of Melitaea species, C. vanessae and C. vestalis recorded
/LE\WKHLQDH – mainly Ulmaceae; 'DQDLQDH – mainly on V. cardui. Tachinidae, Exoristinae: Sturmia bella on
Apocynaceae; &KDUD[LQDH – Ericaceae, Salvadoraceae Polygonia egea, Vanessa atalanta, Vanessa cardui.
and Santalaceae; 6DW\ULQDH – mainly Poaceae; Exorista segregata on Melitaea syriaca. Exorista sp.on
+HOLFRQLLQDH – mainly Violaceae, Scrophulariaceae, and Melitaea telona and Erycia fasciata on Melitaea syriaca.
Plantaginaceae; /LPHQLWLQDH – Caprifoliaceae; %LEOLQDH
– uphorbiaceae; 1\PSKDOLQDH – mainly Malvaceae,
Urticaceae, Ulmaceae, Asteraceae, Acanthaceae, 0LJUDWLRQ - Danaus chrysippus and Vanessa cardui
Verbenaceae, and Portulacaceae. migrate northward throughout spring and summer,
(JJV - Laid singly, in small clusters, large clusters, in a the later sometime form mass migration when millions
mass communal laying of hundreds of eggs; or the eggs specimens pass through the Levant after population
are scattered from the air. The eggs varied in shapes explosion build-up in N Negev or the Arabian peninsula Vol. III
from spherical to barrel-shape or a flat-top cone; smooth, following a particular rainy winter. V. atalanta arrive in Nymphalidae
rigged or with protrusions. autumn, overwinter and fly back northwards in spring.
Stray individuals of the afrotropical species Junonia
Larvae - Usually with bristles or flashy protrusions; those hierta, J. orythia and Hypolimnas misippus penetrate the
of Satyrinae and Charaxinae are usually smooth, have a Levant irregularly following extreme weather events.
“fork” at the end of the abdomen and may have “horns”
on the head.
Pupae - Is usually of the pendulum type, in Satyrinae &RQVHUYDWLRQ - The recent updated list of butterfly
sometimes in a loosely formed cocoon among leaf litter conservation assessments in Israel was prepared by
or underground. Renan et al., (scheduled for publication in 2022).
'LDSDXVH - Usually as larva, rarely as an adult. 43 Nymphalid species in Israel include 15 species (35%)
in the Least Concern (LC) category, this one third of the
$GXOW GHIHQFH - Most species are agile flayer. Many have Israeli Nymphalids is the smallest LC number in all Israeli
cryptic colours on the wings underside that camouflage butterfly families.
the resting insect. In Satyrinae eye-spots on the wing
used to misdirect predators attacks to less vital parts of 3 species (6.9%) are NT. 7 species (16.3%) in categories
the body, and in some species hearing organs alert adults DD & NA cannot be assessed. 18 species (41.8%) are
roosting in crevasses and cave entrances. In Danainae in threatened categories; Vulnerable (VU) to Regionally
toxins from the LHP make the adults unpalatable or toxic, Extinct (RE), more than any other butterfly family in Israel.
advertised by aposematic coloration.

16

2Butterflies of the Levant danaidae satyridae.indd 16 12/30/2021 4:20:19 PM 2Butterflies of the Levant danaidae satyridae.indd 1 12/30/2021 4:20:04 PM