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Argynnis pandora (Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775) Cardinal Argynnis niobe (Linnaeus, 1758) Niobe Fritillary

A large fritillary, uncommon but may be locally abundant. picked by hand) in Eilon N Israel, Lebanese border; on Superficially resembles Melitaea spp., but is larger.
Easily separated from other fritillaries by the presence this exceptional event the specimen was possibly blown Flight is rapid and fairly close to the ground. Rare in
on both sexes of a large expanse of red on the forewing westwards from the Golan some 40-50 km away (Gadi Ish- Hatay, S Turkey, where adult flies in flowery meadows,
underside. Females have clearly defined silver lines on the Am, pers. comm. to DB – illustr. 4). forest glades and mountain slops (Atahan et al., 2018:
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hindwing undersides, muted in the males. The Cardinal Jerusalem mountains- “big and beautiful” specimen that 56), but may be locally common in the Anti-Lebanon
has a rapid and high flight allowing it to cover great existed in father Schmidt’s collection in Jerusalem and range, where adults prefer the subalpine and alpine
distances and to travel far from its woodland breeding possibly collected there was reported several times in lit. vegetational belts at higher elevation, and adults are
areas to sources of nectar. Somewhat hilltopping species, - (Bodenheimer, 1932; Bodenheimen & Katshalski, 1936; often observed nectaring on the pink flowers of the wild
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it is known to group nectaring and puddling (illustr. Bodenheimer, 1937) but was not found in Schmidt’s dwarf prostrate cherry (Cerasus prostrata). Males patrol DGXOW 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
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HJJ
21603-BRACHA-PARPAR - 21603-BRACHA-PARPAR | 9 - B | 21-12-30 | 11:34:48 | SR:-- | Magenta
21603-BRACHA-PARPAR - 21603-BRACHA-PARPAR | 9 - B | 21-12-30 | 11:34:48 | SR:-- | Yellow
1.) On Mt Hermon, Israel, tens of adults were recorded collection at the Schmidt’s girls college in E Jerusalem by ravines, dolines and slops in search of females. Rated lar v a
#21603-BRACHA-PARPAR - 21603-BRACHA-PARPAR | 9 - B | 21-12-30 | 11:34:48 | SR:-- | Black
pupa
21603-BRACHA-PARPAR - 21603-BRACHA-PARPAR | 9 - B | 21-12-30 | 11:34:48 | SR:-- | Cyan
aestivating on oak trees in the coline vegetation belt DB who visited it on 1 July 1983 (Benyamini, D. 2015b). Endangered (EN) in the Israeli Red List of Butterflies due
(1500-1600 m) during the summer months, were their On 24 May 1994 Shai Libzon a yeshiva student collected to its small population (Renan et al., 2022 (in prep.)).
green underside camouflage them well among the leaves a live specimen in the centre of Alon Shvut, 960 m asl, 24
(Moshe & Benyamini, 2016 – illustr. 2). In the autumn, km S Jerusalem, nectaring on Lavandula angustifolia (=
after their aestivation, courting males fly behind and L. officinalis). No other specimens were observed there %LRORJ\
slightly above female among Quercus trees from 1-1.5 ever again (Avihai Binyamini, 1998 & pers. comm. to DB).
up to 15 metres above ground. After landing on Cirsium The only available source of these rare migrants are Mt )OLJKW SHULRG May to June. 900-1900 m in Hatay, S
phyllocephalum (Asteraceae) flowers – illustr. 3, female Meron/S Lebanon that are 150-170 km to the north. Turkey (Atahan et al., 2018: 56); May to mid July in cold
rejected advancing male by its semi-open forewings, flat years, 1500-2300 m in the Anti-Lebanon mountains;
hindwings and lifted abdomen (OT & DB obs. in Mt Hermon /LIH KLVWRU\ univoltine. Early stages partially observed 1828-2300 m in Al-Lazzab reserve, Syrian Anti-Lebanon
1200-1300 m in 21-25 Sept. 2015). In Madrid province, in the Levant. On 24 September 2013 between Serinyol (Zarikian & Ghrejyan, 2018).
C Spain mated couples were photographed in September and Arsus, 1100 m, in S Amanos Mt, Hatay, S Turkey a
(Garcia Barros, 2000 & pers. comm. to DB). In the second female landed at the bottom of a small ravine at the forest /LIH KLVWRU\ univoltine. Early stages not reported in
half of the 1900s, the species experienced a decline in edge, walked and checked litter for several minutes and the Levant. In Europe the females lay up to 150 eggs
numbers in C Europe (“hardly occurs” there Wiemers pers. eventually laid a single egg on a dry oak leaf (Quercus sp.) singly and rarely in small clusters on the ground, stones
comm. in Sept. 2021). Rated in Israel as Vulnerable (VU) (DB & OT pers. obs. – illustr. 5), on Mt. Hermon, Israel, or dry plants near the LHP. Sometime eggs are laid in
due to limited distribution and small population (Renan et females were observed laying eggs on Crataegus aronia bark cracks on tree up to 2.5 m above ground. The egg A. n. philistra Seitz, [1909]
al., 2022 (in prep.)). trunk and branches 1.5-2 m above ground (DB per. obs.). has 14-16 vertical ribs and yellow when laid, changes to
The egg is 0.45-0.60 mm tall (0.55 mm average, n=20), brown and turn grey before eclosion. The fully formed L1
0.48-0.64 mm in diameter (0.54 mm average, n=20), hibernates within the egg until next spring. The hatching
%LRORJ\ cone shaped with a flat top covered with small bumps. It larva does not consume the eggshell. Between feedings
has 15-21 ribs (17-18 average, n=20 and is smaller than the larva hide in the leaf litter or under stones near the
)OLJKW SHULRG In Mt Hermon, adults start flying in May eggs of other Argynnis spp. (Garcia Barros, 2000)). The LHP. The larva feeds on the hostplant leaves and flowers, © Dubi Benyamini
and are on the wing until July, when they enter partial egg is cream-white when laid and changes to orange, and and to the slightest disturbance curls its body and fall
aestivation, resuming flight in September or October at brown before hatching. The larva hatches after 6 days to the ground. The larval stages last about 2.5 months.
which time eggs are laid; Occasionally observed throughout and consume the eggshell - illustr. 6. L1 is 1.3 mm long, Pupation takes place at the base of the LHP in a loosely © Dubi Benyamini
the summer in Cyprus, but elsewhere the reduced numbers pale gray with 6 rows of protrusions along the body, each constructed cocoon made of leaves joined with silk.
during this period have led to speculation of bivoltinism bearing a long black hair. The head is black, glossy and Adults eclosed after 7-24 days. Males eclosed 7-10 days
(e.g. Tolman, 1977; Larsen, 1974: 121); May-July and covered with short white hairs. The dorsal area behind before the females (Lafranchis et al., 2015: 526-527;
October 900-1800 m in Hatay (Atahan et al. 2018: 57); the head is marked with a dark spot, it overwinters until Warecki, 2010: 88 and pers. comm. to DB).
“A common species of the flowery openings in the woods the regrowth of its Viola spp. LHP. The mature larva is 35 © Adam Warecki © Adam Warecki
of the hillside and in flowery mountain pastures” in May- mm long, black body with small white dots and yellowish- 5HFRUGHG KRVWSODQWV Violaceae – Viola canin, V.
July and worn individuals after the summer aestivation brown conical protrusions with branched spins and modesta and V. tricolor var. [C].
in August to late September in and around the Aammiq yellowish-brown line along the sides. The suspended 23
marsh/area in the Beqaa Valley E Lebanon (Beale & mm long pupa is black with light-brown spots and two
Sprenger, 2006); 1545-2602 m at the Al-Lazzab reserve rows of small light-brown protrusions along the dorsal 'LVWULEXWLRQ
Syrian Anti-Lebanon (Zarikian & Ghrejyan, 2018). side of the abdomen. The spiracles are black. (González
Granados et al., 2009: 396). The adult eclosed after two TL: “Europa”. The species’ distribution ranges from W
0LJUDWLRQ weeks (Warecki, 2010: 85). Europe to C Russia, Iran, Turkey, Syria, Lebanon and
Golan heights - singeltons migrate southwards from Mt Hermon. Absent from Cyprus, Jordan and Sinai. The
Hermon and were observed in May-July and again in 5HFRUGHG KRVWSODQWV Violaceae - Viola modesta, V. species reaches its southern limit of distribution at Mt. © Adam Warecki © Dubi Benyamini
October in: Masada Forest (DB, July, 1973), Mt Varda tricolor var. [C]. In Cyprus, the suspected hostplants are Hermon.
(Avni, M. May 1992c; Movshovits, June 1992), Mt Odem V. odorata, V. sieheana and V. alba (Makris, 2003: 234). Two subspecies have been described from the Levant:
(DB, June 2002f), Merom Golan (Avni, Z. & M. Oct. 2003), Argynnis (Fabriciana) niobe gigantea Staudinger, 1871;
Mt Bental (Avni Z., Oct. 2005), Mt Hazika (DB Oct. 1981; TL: “Hyre” (Astrabad, Hadjabad, Iran) – S Turkey - not
Kirshenbaum & Avni Z., May 2016) as far as Butmiya 'LVWULEXWLRQ TL: Vienna. The species’ distribution illustr.
Resevoir 40 km S of Mt Hermon lower slopes (Schneider, ranges from the Canary Islands and N Africa (Tunisia), Argynnis (F.) n. philistra Seitz, 1901; TL: Syria – Syria,
July 2002). to S Europe, Turkey, Cyprus, Syria, Lebanon, N & C Golan Lebanon, Israel (Hermon).
Upper Galilee - migrating singletons from nearby S Lebanon heights and Israel. The species reaches its southern limit
were observed on top of Mt Meron; (Startiner, Sept. of distribution in C Israel at S Jerusalem Mts. where it is an
2015; Zaltzman, June 2018; Orgad, Oct. 2019). However extremely rare visitor. Absent from Jordan and Sinai, but
on 9 Oct. 1993, after three days of “Eastern hot, dry & present also in Iraq, Iran to NW India. The nominotypical
strong winds” a single worn male was collected (actually ssp. flies in the Levant. © Ofir tomer © Stav Talal
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