Butterflies of
temperate Asia
False Comma
Nymphalis l-album
ESPER,
1781
Family -
NYMPHALIDAE
subfamily -
NYMPHALINAE
Tribe -
Nymphalis l-album, Anisimovka,
Ussuri, Siberia
© J. Michel
Introduction
The most recent revision
by Walberg includes the 6 Aglais species ( Small
Tortoiseshells ), plus the Peacock Inachis io, the
Blue Admiral Kaniska canace, the Camberwell Beauty
N. antiopa and the 5
Polygonia species ( Commas ) within the genus
Nymphalis, which thereby now comprises of no less than 29 species.
The genus is very
widespread, with representatives across the entire Holarctic region, and one
species ( canace ) intruding into the Oriental
region.
The butterflies can be
recognised as a group from their angular wing-shape, and from the dark
undersides which are marked with numerous fine blackish lines. Many of the
species carry a white or silvery mark on the underside hindwing, which often
appears in the shape of a symbol or letter, hence the Latin species names
interrogationalis ( question mark ),
comma, g-argenteum,
c-album, c-aureum and
l-album. The uppersides of the true
Nymphalis species (
sensu stricta
) are a rich orange-brown colour, marked with a distinctive pattern of black
spots and blotches.
Nymphalis
l-album is distributed from eastern Europe to northern China and Japan.
Habitats
This is a
lowland and mid-elevation species found in deciduous forests and woodlands.
Lifecycle
The larval foodplants include the trees
Hippophae, Populus,
Salix and Ulmus.
Adult behaviour
To be completed.
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