Hyponephele lupina (O. Costa, 1836)


Hyponephele lupina: Female (N-Greece, Olympus, late June 2013) [N] Hyponephele lupina: Female (N-Greece, Olympus, late June 2013) [N] Hyponephele lupina: Female (Rhodes, Attaviros, late September 2013) [N] Hyponephele lupina: Female (Rhodes, Attaviros, late September 2013) [N] Hyponephele lupina: Female (Rhodes, Attaviros, late September 2013) [N] Hyponephele lupina: Female (Rhodes, Attaviros, late September 2013) [N] Hyponephele lupina: Female (Rhodes, Attaviros, late September 2013) [N] Hyponephele lupina: Egg (Rhodes, Attaviros, September 2013) [S] Hyponephele lupina: Egg (Rhodes, Attaviros, September 2013) [S] Hyponephele lupina: Egg (Rhodes, Attaviros, September 2013) [S] Hyponephele lupina: Habitat on Attaviros (Rhodes, September 2013) [N] Hyponephele lupina: Habitat on Attaviros (Rhodes, September 2013) [N] Hyponephele lupina: Habitat on Attaviros (Rhodes, September 2013) [N]

Host plants:
The larvae feed on grasses with low production.

Habitat:
Hyponephele lupina inhabits most often very nutrient-poor and dry, stony or rocky habitats like rocky slopes, stony pastures and similar places from sea level up to 2000m asl (but most often between 300 and 1400m asl).

Life cycle:
The adults are observed between mid-May and early October. A pronounced female aestivation occurs especially in arid regions, e.g. Rhodes.

The eggs are attached to dry grass leaves and other plant parts. The larva hibernates and is mature in May, in higher altitudes in June.

Remarks:
Hyponephele lupina occurs from North Africa across Southern Europe (quite local colonies) and parts of Asia to Western China.

Hints on determination:
Hyponephele lupina can be distinguished most easily from the related H. lycaon by its larger size. Hyponephele lupina is of similar size as Maniola jurtina, whereas H. lycaon is much smaller. Besides Hyponephele lupina shows a more serrated hindwing outer margin.



Hyponephele lycaon