Northern brown argus

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Northern brown argus
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Lycaenidae
Genus: Aricia
Species:
A. artaxerxes
Binomial name
Aricia artaxerxes
(Fabricius, 1775)
Synonyms

Plebeius artaxerxes

The northern brown argus (Aricia artaxerxes) is a butterfly in the family Lycaenidae. It is found throughout much of the Palearctic realm.

Subspecies

  • A. a. allous (Geyer, [1836]) Alps, northern Europe
  • A. a. vandalica Kaaber & Høegh-Guldberg, 1961 Jutland, Denmark
  • A. a. rambringi Høegh-Guldberg, 1966 southern Scandinavia
  • A. a. opheimi Høegh-Guldberg, 1966 southern Norway
  • A. a. lyngensis Høegh-Guldberg, 1966 northern Scandinavia
  • A. a. horkei Høegh-Guldberg, 1973 Öland & Gotland, Sweden
  • A. a. ukrainica (Obraztsov, 1936) south-east Europe
  • A. a. inhonora Jachontov, 1909 "Rossia [Russia]centrali et orientali"
  • A. a. sheljuzhkoi (Obraztsov, 1935) Caucasus Major
  • A. a. turgaica (Obraztsov, 1935) south-west Siberia
  • A. a. lepsinskana (Obraztsov, 1935) Dzhungarsky Alatau
  • A. a. transalaica (Obratzov, 1935) Ghissar, Darvaz, Pamirs-Alai, Himalayas
  • A. a. scytissa Nekrutenko, 1985 Tian-Shan
  • A. a. sarmatis (Grum-Grshimailo, 1890) southern Urals
  • A. a. strandi (Obraztsov, 1935) Altai – western Amur
  • A. a. mandzhuriana (Obraztsov, 1935) eastern Amur, Ussuri
  • A. a. hakutozana (Matsumura, 1927) North Korea
  • A. a. sachalinensis (Matsumura, 1919) Sakhalin

Appearance, behaviour and distribution (Great Britain)

Aricia artaxerxes in northern England showing underwing pattern

This species has confused British entomologists for years. Since its discovery in Britain it has been thought to be a form or a subspecies of the

Biodiversity Action Plan
to conserve this species along with a small number of other butterfly species.

Life cycle and food plants

Note that information on this species applies to Great Britain and some details may not be consistent with the species in other parts of its range.

Eggs are laid singly on the upperside of the food plant leaves. As far is known common rock-rose (Helianthemum nummularium) seems to be the sole food plant in Britain. The larvae hibernate while still quite small and continue to feed and grow the following spring. Like the brown argus, it is attractive to ants and often attended by them. Pupation takes place at ground level in late May and butterflies are on the wing from mid-June to mid-July.

See also

References

  1. ^ Stokoe, W.J. The Observer's Book of Butterflies. Frederick Warne and Co. p. 123. consulted 21 January 2014.