Argynnis aglaja (Linnaeus, 1758)


Argynnis aglaja: Male (S-Germany, Allgaeu Alps, Hinterstein, 1100m asl, 11. August 2013) [N] Argynnis aglaja: Male (S-Germany, Allgaeu Alps, Hinterstein, 1100m asl, 11. August 2013) [N] Argynnis aglaja: Male (S-Germany, Allgaeu Alps, Hinterstein, 1100m asl, 11. August 2013) [N] Argynnis aglaja: Male (S-Germany, Allgaeu Alps, Hinterstein, 1100m asl, 11. August 2013) [N] Argynnis aglaja: Male 8Grindelwald, Switzerland, July 2008) [N] Argynnis aglaja: Female (S-Germany, Allgaeu Alps, Hinterstein, 1100m asl, 11. August 2013) [N] Argynnis aglaja: Female [N] Argynnis aglaja: Female [S] Argynnis aglaja: Female [S] Argynnis aglaja: Upper side [S] Argynnis aglaja: Lower side [N] Argynnis aglaja: Egg, shortly after oviposition [N] Argynnis aglaja: Ovum, already older [S] Argynnis aglaja: L1 [S] Argynnis aglaja: L2-larva [S] Argynnis aglaja: L4-larva [S] Argynnis aglaja: Young larva [S] Argynnis aglaja: Young larva [S] Argynnis aglaja: Larva in penultimate instar (L5) [S] Argynnis aglaja: Larva in penultimate instar [S] Argynnis aglaja: Larva in penultimate instar [S] Argynnis aglaja: Larva in last instar [S] Argynnis aglaja: Larva [S] Argynnis aglaja: Larva [S] Argynnis aglaja: Fully-grown larva (Engandine, Switzerland, late June 2010) [N] Argynnis aglaja: Fully-grown larva (Engandine, Switzerland, late June 2010) [N] Argynnis aglaja: Pupa [S] Argynnis aglaja: Pupa (Photo: Mario Peluso) [S] Argynnis aglaja: Habitat: Viola-rich wet meadow at a woodland margin [N]

Host plants:
The caterpillars feed most often at Viola species. In the experiment, Polygonum bistorta is readily accepted. So this plant (perhaps also Polygonum viviparum in alpine pastures) is expected to play a role in wetland complexes. So I met many newly hatched butterflies together with Boloria titania in a Polygonum bistorta-rich mountain meadow near Grindelwald (Switzerland).

Habitat:
Argynnis aglaja inhabits grasslands from the lowlands to far up the mountains (over 2400m above sea level). Additionally, Argynnis aglaja occurs in wet meadows, forest complexes and clearings. Compared to Argynnis adippe, Argynnis aglaja is much more oriented towards open grassland landscapes.

Life cycle:
Hibernation takes place as L1. This starts feeding not until March and is fully-grown in May/June after five molts. The adults fly from late June into September.

Endangerment: regionally endangered or decreasing

Endangerment factors:
Argynnis aglaja is still common in areas with a lot of nutrient-poor grasslands such as the Alps and the Jura. In areas where Argynnis aglaja occurred in clearings, as near Memmingen (Germany), it is in strong decline because of dense afforestations and nutrient accumulation and has sometimes already disappeared. Argynnis aglaja is much more sensitive to higher and denser growing vegetation than Argynnis adippe.

Remarks:
The distribution extends from Morocco across Europe and Asia to Japan.



Argynnis adippe | Argynnis elisa | Argynnis laodice | Argynnis niobe | Argynnis pandora | Argynnis paphia