Butterflies of Bulgaria - Hipparchia amalthea

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Hipparchia amalthea (Frivaldszky, 1845)
Name in Tolman & Lewington (1997): Pseudochazara anthelea amalthea

Systematics: This taxon is regarded by many authors as a subspecies of Hipparchia anthelea (Hübner, 1824) from Asia Minor.
Range: An endemic of the Balkan Peninsula and Crete. Occurs in Croatia, Montenegro, Albania, Republic of Macedonia, Greece and Bulgaria.
Distribution in Bulgaria: Very local and generally rare in the valley of Struma and some adjacent lower mountain slopes, S of Kresna gorge. From ca. 150 to no more than 800 m a.s.l.
Habitat: Hot, dry, often precipitous rocky slopes with sparse bushes.
Bionomics: One generation from late May till September. Larval host plants: unknown, apparently grasses (Poaceae).
Conservation status: This endemic Balkan taxon is rare and with very limited range in Bulgaria. Its populations are small and unstable, moreover one of the most viable, in Kresna gorge, may be seriously threatened in the near future by the planned construction of a motorway through the gorge. IUCN category: Vulnerable. Its inclusion into the Red Data Book of Bulgaria and protection by law are herewith recommended.

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	Systematics: This taxon is regarded by many authors as a subspecies of Hipparchia anthelea (Hübner, 1824) from Asia Minor. Range: An endemic of the Balkan Peninsula and Crete. Occurs in Croatia, Montenegro, Albania, Republic of Macedonia, Greece and Bulgaria. Distribution in Bulgaria: Very local and generally rare in the valley of Struma and some adjacent lower mountain slopes, S of Kresna gorge. From ca. 150 to no more than 800 m a.s.l. Habitat: Hot, dry, often precipitous rocky slopes with sparse bushes. Bionomics: One generation from late May till September. Larval host plants: unknown, apparently grasses (Poaceae). Conservation status: This endemic Balkan taxon is rare and with very limited range in Bulgaria. Its populations are small and unstable, moreover one of the most viable, in Kresna gorge, may be seriously threatened in the near future by the planned construction of a motorway through the gorge. IUCN category: Vulnerable. Its inclusion into the Red Data Book of Bulgaria and protection by law are herewith recommended.

Hipparchia amalthea (Frivaldszky, 1845)