Euphydryas iduna

Euphydryas iduna
Euphydryas iduna in Seitz (65b )
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
Family:	Nymphalidae
Genus:	Euphydryas
Species:	E. iduna
Binomial name
Euphydryas iduna (Dalman, 1816)

Euphydryas iduna is a small butterfly found in the Palearctic (Arctic Europe, Arctic Asia, Caucasus Major, Alatau, Russian Far East, Altai, Sayan) that belongs to the browns family.

Description from Seitz

For a key to the terms used, see Glossary of entomology terms.

M. iduna Dalm. (= maturna Hbn.) (65b). This butterfly represents the preceding species [ Euphydryas maturna] in the high north of Europe and in the mountains of Northern Asia. Male and female not essentially different. All the spots of the central area are ivory yellow above, with the exception of the cell, which contains 2 red-brown spots on the forewing and one on the hindwing. The underside similar to that of cynthia, but the pale yellow median and marginal bands much broader, the former moreover not being divided by a black line as is the case in maturna and cynthia. In Lapponia, Central and North-East Siberia, not rare. Specimens from the Altai differ from European ones in the stronger silvery gloss of the light markings, especially beneath. In ab. sulitelmica Schultz (65b) the light median band is narrower and the hindwing above is dusted with black. — The species flies early in July in abundance on barren alpine meadows at altitudes from 6–8000 ft. in company witii aurinia and cinxia.

Biology

The larva feeds on Arctic and montane species of Plantago, Veronica, Vaccinium

See also

• List of butterflies of Europe