Coenonympha darwiniana ¦ Darwin's Heath ¦ euroButterflies

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Coenonympha darwiniana

Darwin's Heath

euroButterflies

by Matt Rowlings

Piedmont, Italy, July 2012

Hautes Alpes, France, July 2012

Field notes and information

There is debate about the taxanomic status of this butterfly. It replaces the alpine heath C. gardetta where it is found. In boundary areas there are transitional forms that may indicate that the current taxon is little more than a local form.

Identification & Similar species: Outside the transitional zones, this taxa can be separated from the alpine heath C. gardetta by the position of the subapical spot on the underside hindwing. In C. gardetta the spot is contained within the white band which has roughly uniform width and all spots are of similar size. In the current species this spot is displaced basally and falls outside the white band which is of variable width along its length and the spots are of variable size.

More generally, the ground colour of the hindwing is grey compared to ginger-brown. Transitional forms show a mix of all these characteristics.

Distribution & Flight: Mountains of southern Switzerland and north Italy, and the southern Alps of southeast France. Flies from late June to early August.

Habitat & Behaviour: Grassy flowery clearings in forests.