Pseudochazara cingovskii

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Macedonian grayling
Macedonian grayling (Pseudochazara cingovskii) Macedonia.jpg
near Pletvar, North Macedonia
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Nymphalidae
Genus: Pseudochazara
Species:
P. cingovskii
Binomial name
Pseudochazara cingovskii
(Gross, 1973)

Pseudochazara cingovskii, the Macedonian grayling, is a species of butterfly in the family Nymphalidae. It is found only in the Macedonian village of Pletvar.

Contents

Taxonomy

The species was originally named Satyrus sintenisi cingovskii by Gross in 1973. It was later renamed to Psudochazara cingovskii by Gross in 1978. [2]

Classification
Domain Eukaryota
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Arthropoda
Class Insecta
Order Lepidoptera
Family Nymphalidae
Genus Pseudochazara
Species P.cingovskii

Description

These species are cool pale grey brow, with the upperside bands on wings being particularly noticeable. Its habitat is scattered with white limestone rocks where it is very difficult to catch it due to its very pale underside, camouflaging in. The Macedonian Grayling is facing endangerment due to marble quarrying occurring in its habitat. This endemic species is the most threatened butterfly species in Europe, and active conservation efforts are vital for sustaining a healthy population size. [3] The species is univoltine and is on wing from late June to July depending on altitude.

Morphology

The wingspan of these butterflies ranges from 43-51 mm (males) and 53-56 mm (females). Adults show sexual dimorphism. The males are typically smaller than the females. Forewings of the males are more pointed, while they are more rounded in females with outer margins perpendicular to the inner margin. [2]

Upperside of wings is greyish brown with visible submarginal bands that are paler (sandy yellow, darkening into a more vivid reddish yellow distally), occasionally displaying an overall reddish yellow hue. Both sexes feature two ocelli which are white-centered on the forewing band, with two small white dots between them. There are smaller white dots on the hindwing, often with inner black frame, mostly in males and relatively less females. The underside of the wings displays yellowish-greyish-brown hue in the postdiscal region and the fringes are greyish white. [2]

Male genitalia of the species features broad valvae that narrow after a curved midpoint. The distal processes of the valvae are tapered, similar to those of Pseudochazara orestes. The tegumen is elongated and well-developed, slightly more curved and rounded at the base comparative to other species. The uncus attaches to the tegumen at an angle resembling that of Pseudochazara graeca. The subunci are wider with developed bases, distinguishing P. cingovskii morphologically from other species. [2]

Habitat and Behavior

Pseudochazara cingovskii Macedonian Grayling (Pseudochazara cingovskii).jpg
Pseudochazara cingovskii

The distribution of P. cingovskii is restricted to the Pletvar Massif and nearby mountains near Vitolište in Macedonia. This species inhabits arid, rocky slopes pimarily composed of pale colored metamorphic rocks like marble and gneiss, with sparse vegetation, at altitudes between 700 and 1700 metres. P. cingovskii is univoltine, which fly during July and August. It feeds exclusively on plants from the Poacae family. Geographically, there are no significant regional variations noted due to its restricted distribution area, which is under 10 km^2. Threatened by mining, these butterflies show very limited migration. [4]

Larvae have been reared on grasses.

Life cycle

These species are holometabolous. The larvae emerge in late July alongside other species like P. mniszechii tisiphone and P. anthelea amalthea. The larvae feed on grasses like Festuca Ovina and Dactylis glomerata . They undergo several molts before pupation, which occurs underground. The pupae are pale colored, but darken over time. After about a month, the adult emerges from pupa in late January. Adults primarily feed on nectar from flowers like Acantholimon and Centaurea. [5]

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References

  1. ↑ van Swaay, C.; Wynhoff, I.; Verovnik, R.; Wiemers, M.; López Munguira, M.; Maes, D.; Sasic, M.; Verstrael, T.; Warren, M. & Settele, J. (2010). "Pseudochazara cingovskii". The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2010. IUCN: e.T160595A5373226. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-1.RLTS.T160595A5373226.en . Retrieved 25 December 2017.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Takáts, Kornél; Mølgaard, Morten (2016). "Partial mtCOI-sequences of Balkanic species of Pseudochazara (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae, Satyrinae) reveal three well-differentiated lineages". Entomologica Romanica. 19: 25 – via ResearchGate.
  3. ↑ Verovnik, Rudi; Micevski, Branko; Maes, Dirk; Wynhoff, Irma; Van Swaay, Chris; Warren, Martin (2013). "Conserving Europe's most endangered butterfly: The Macedonian Grayling (Pseudochazara cingovskii)". Journal of Insect Conservation. 17 (5): 941–947. doi:10.1007/s10841-013-9576-6. S2CID   11096370.
  4. ↑ Takáts, K.; Mølgaard, M. (2016). "Partial mtCOI-sequences of Balkanic species of Pseudochazara (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae, Satyrinae) reveal three well-differentiated lineages". Entomologica Romanica. 19: 27.
  5. ↑ Gascoigne-Pees, Martin; Verovnik, Rudi; Franeta, Filip; Popović, Miloš (2014). "The lifecycle and ecology of Pseudochazara amymone (Brown, 1976) (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae, Satyrinae)". Nachrichten des Entomologischer Verain Apollo. 35 (3): 130–133.


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