Melanargia russiae (Esper, 1783)

Host plants:
The caterpillar feeds on grasses (Brachypodium, Stipa, Bromus, Festuca, and others).

Habitat:
Melanargia russiae inhabits warm mountain meadows, grasslands and similar areas. In Northern Greece I found Melanargia russiae in approximately 1800m above sea level very numerous in extensive, more mesophilic pastures (without M. galathea). At 1500 m in dry grasslands, I observed both Melanargia russiae and Melanargia galathea, still deeper then exclusively M. galathea.

Life cycle:
The young caterpillar is active in the autumn and overwinters mostly as L2. The caterpillars are mature usually between early to mid-June. The moths fly from late June to early August. The butterflies visit very eagerly flowers (thistles, scabious, knapweed, etc.). The eggs are usually attached to grasses.

Endangerment factors:
Melanargia russiae is usually quite locally and can be quickly threatened by abandonment of extensive farming (grazing or late mowing), afforestation and tourist facilities.

Remarks:
Melanargia russiae occurs from the steppes of southern Russia to Spain. In Europe, only local, but fairly widely scattered populations are known in mountainous regions in the south (northern half of the Iberian Peninsula, Southern France, Southern Italy, the Balkans).