Butterflies of Bulgaria - Muschampia tessellum

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Muschampia tessellum (Hübner, [1803])

Range: From C Balkan Peninsula and Asia Minor across the steppe zone to Mongolia.

Distribution in Bulgaria: Very poorly known. Old records from the first decades of the 20th Century exist from the environs of Burgas (Atanasovsko lake, Chengene Skele bay) and the northern slopes of Mt. Alibotush near Petrovo village. I have searched in vain for the species in the first-mentioned locality, where human activity has evidently destroyed or degraded its former habitat entirely. According to newer materials occurs in Kresna gorge and the northern foothills of Belasitsa, but these data need confirmation (Kolev 2003a).

Habitat: Unknown in Bulgaria, presumably dry, flowery meadows at low altitudes.

Bionomics: One generation from June till August. Larval host-plant: Phlomis (Lamiaceae) (Tolman & Lewington 1997).

Conservation status: Needs urgent studies. A rare and very local species whose largest known population in Bulgaria, on the coastal strip between Atanasovsko lake and the Black Sea, is now apparently extinct (Kolev 2003à). IUCN category: Data Deficient, probably Endangered. Its inclusion into the Red Data Book of Bulgaria is herewith recommended.

Previous: Spialia phlomidis ● Next: Muschampia cribrellum ● Back to species list ● Main menu

	Range: From C Balkan Peninsula and Asia Minor across the steppe zone to Mongolia. Distribution in Bulgaria: Very poorly known. Old records from the first decades of the 20th Century exist from the environs of Burgas (Atanasovsko lake, Chengene Skele bay) and the northern slopes of Mt. Alibotush near Petrovo village. I have searched in vain for the species in the first-mentioned locality, where human activity has evidently destroyed or degraded its former habitat entirely. According to newer materials occurs in Kresna gorge and the northern foothills of Belasitsa, but these data need confirmation (Kolev 2003a). Habitat: Unknown in Bulgaria, presumably dry, flowery meadows at low altitudes. Bionomics: One generation from June till August. Larval host-plant: Phlomis (Lamiaceae) (Tolman & Lewington 1997). Conservation status: Needs urgent studies. A rare and very local species whose largest known population in Bulgaria, on the coastal strip between Atanasovsko lake and the Black Sea, is now apparently extinct (Kolev 2003à). IUCN category: Data Deficient, probably Endangered. Its inclusion into the Red Data Book of Bulgaria is herewith recommended.

Muschampia tessellum (Hübner, [1803])