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Russian Heath
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Rila Mts,
Bulgaria, July 2004 |
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Rila Mts,
Bulgaria, July 2004 |
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| This appears to be a very local
species in the Balkans. We've only found it in a few places from which I
can only draw a few comparisons of habitat other than lush grassy places
in hills, south facing so often hot. In mid July 2004 I found only 3
specimens at 3 widely different places and each one was looking worn, that
from Greece (ssp. orientalis) especially so. I think they fly at
their best in June. The subspecies leander is found through most
of the patchy range in the Balkans. Another subspecies orientalis
flies in the Pindos Mountains of northern Greece. This latter has a broad
white band inside the black spots on the underside hindwing. This may
indeed be split into a new species as some authors seem to be already
suggesting. |
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