Coenonympha thyrsis

Coenonympha thyrsis
	Coenonympha thyrsis
Systematics
Class :	Insects (Insecta)
Order :	Butterflies (Lepidoptera)
Family :	Noble butterfly (Nymphalidae)
Subfamily :	Eye butterflies (Satyrinae)
Genre :	Coenonympha
Type :	Coenonympha thyrsis
Scientific name
	Coenonympha thyrsis
	( Freyer , 1845)

Top of Coenonympha thyrsis

Underside of Coenonympha thyrsis from Adalbert Seitz 'Großschmetterlinge der Welt

Coenonympha thyrsis , also known as Cretan hayfish , is a butterfly ( butterfly ) from the family of noble butterflies (Nymphalidae), which is endemic to Crete . The specific epithet is derived from Thyrsos , the Bacchus staff.

description

The moths of both sexes look almost the same and resemble the little meadow bird ( Coenonympha pamphilus ). They have brownish ocher-colored or slightly orange upper wing surfaces with a not sharply demarcated, dark brown edge and a faded, dark point near the tip (apex) of the forewing. The hind wing undersides are variable, white-yellow, gray or brownish in color and have a light transverse band. The undersides of the forewings are more brightly orange in color and have a white nucleus and light-rimmed eye spot near the wing tip.

In contrast to the little meadow bird, the row of eyes on the underside of the hind wing is usually clearly pronounced. On the underside of the forewing, a wavy dark line runs diagonally from the front edge to the inner corner. In addition, they differ in the male genitals and in characteristics of the antennae from the little meadow bird.

In the higher areas, the butterfly is smaller, the black border on the upper side is narrower and the lower side has less contrast.

Similar species

Little meadow bird ( Coenonympha pamphilus )
Coenonympha vaucheri
Coenonympha corinna

distribution

Coenonympha thyrsis occurs only in Crete from sea level up to 1800 meters and is widespread there and very common locally.

Way of life

The moths can be found on very dry slopes with posters made of thyme and prickly plants, between which grass grows sparse, as well as in open bush landscape. The moths are numerous in flower-rich places on the edge of roads, river valleys and paths. They fly quickly at a low altitude above the ground and close their wings immediately after landing.

Nothing is known about the way of life of the caterpillars.

Flight time

Coenonympha thyrsis flies in several generations per year (univotile) from early May to early July and from late July to August and early October.

Synonyms

Hipparchia thyrsis Freyer , 1845

literature

Tom Tolman, Richard Lewington: Butterflies of Europe and Northwest Africa: All butterflies, over 400 species . 2nd Edition. Franckh-Kosmos Verlag, Stuttgart 2012, ISBN 978-3-440-12868-8 , pp. 312 .

Individual evidence

^ Matt Rowlings: Cretan Small Heath. In: European Butterflies. Retrieved July 1, 2014 .
↑ Tom Nygaard Kristensen: Coenonympha thyrsis (Cretan Small Heath). In: The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Retrieved July 1, 2014 .

Web links

Commons : Coenonympha thyrsis - collection of images, videos and audio files

Coenonympha thyrsis in Fauna Europaea. Retrieved July 13, 2014
Lepiforum e. V. Taxonomy and Photos
Moths and Butterflies of Europe and North Africa - Coenonympha thyrsis
Matt Rowlings: European Butterflies - Cretan Small Heath

[Rowlings-1] Matt Rowlings: Cretan Small Heath. In: European Butterflies. Retrieved July 1, 2014 .

[iucnredlist-2] Tom Nygaard Kristensen: Coenonympha thyrsis (Cretan Small Heath). In: The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Retrieved July 1, 2014 .