Melanargia

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Melanargia
Satyrinae - Melanargia galathea.JPG
Melanargia galathea , dorsal view
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Nymphalidae
Subfamily: Satyrinae
Tribe: Satyrini
Subtribe: Melanargiina
Wheeler, 1903
Genus: Melanargia
Meigen, 1828
Synonyms
  • Agapetes Billberg, 1820
  • Arge Hübner, 1819
  • Ledargia Houlbert, 1922
  • Epimede Houlbert, 1922
  • Parce Oberthür & Houlbert, 1922
  • Halimede Oberthür et Houlbert, 1922
  • Lachesis Oberthür & Houlbert, 1922
Melanargia galathea, lateral view Satyrinae - Melanargia galathea-1.JPG
Melanargia galathea, lateral view

Melanargia is a genus of butterflies belonging to the family Nymphalidae and the subfamily Satyrinae (formerly family Satyridae).

Contents

This genus, described by Johann Wilhelm Meigen in 1828, is the only genus in the subtribe Melanargiina, Wheeler, 1903.

The adults of this genus of satyrines are easily distinguished by their white wings with black veins and markings (hence the common name "marbled whites"). A peculiar phenotypic distinctiveness is also a dilated vein 12 at the base of the forewing.

Butterflies of genus Melanargia are widespread from Europe and north Africa to Japan.

Species and subspecies

The investigations on genetic divergence and phylogenetic relationships among Melanargia species have recognized three subgenera (Melanargia, Argeformia, and Halimede) and reclassified the genus in 20 species and relevant subspecies as follows

Subgenus Melanargia(Meigen, 1829)

Subgenus Argeformia(Verity, 1953)

Subgenus Halimede(Oberthür & Houlbert, 1922)

References