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Neptis sappho (Pallas, 1771)


Neptis sappho: Adult (e.l. SW-Bulgaria, Melnik, larva in late July 2015) [S] Neptis sappho: Adult (e.l. SW-Bulgaria, Melnik, larva in late July 2015) [S] Neptis sappho: Adult (Melnik, SW-Bulgaria, late July 2015) [N] Neptis sappho: Adult (Melnik, SW-Bulgaria, late July 2015) [N] Neptis sappho: Adult (Melnik, SW-Bulgaria, late July 2015) [N] Neptis sappho: Adult (Melnik, SW-Bulgaria, late July 2015) [N] Neptis sappho: Adult (e.l. SW-Bulgaria, Melnik, larva in late July 2015) [S] Neptis sappho: Adult (Melnik, SW-Bulgaria, late July 2015) [N] Neptis sappho: Adult (e.l. SW-Bulgaria, Melnik, larva in late July 2015) [S] Neptis sappho: Adult (e.l. SW-Bulgaria, Melnik, larva in late July 2015) [S] Neptis sappho: Egg on Robinia (Melnik, late July 2015) [N] Neptis sappho: Egg on Robinia (Melnik, late July 2015) [N] Neptis sappho: Egg on Robinia (Melnik, late July 2015) [N] Neptis sappho: Egg on Robinia (Melnik, late July 2015) [N] Neptis sappho: Empty res. dead egg (Melnik, late July 2015) [N] Neptis sappho: L1 larva (e.o. Melnik 2015) [S] Neptis sappho: L1 larva (Melnik, late July 2015) [N] Neptis sappho: L1 larva (Melnik, late July 2015) [N] Neptis sappho: L1 larva (Melnik, late July 2015) [N] Neptis sappho: L1 larva (Melnik, late July 2015) [N] Neptis sappho: L1 larva (Melnik, late July 2015) [N] Neptis sappho: L2 larva (Melnik, late July 2015) [N] Neptis sappho: L2 larva (Melnik, late July 2015) [N] Neptis sappho: L2 larva (Melnik, late July 2015) [N] Neptis sappho: Half-grown larva (e.o. Melnik 2015) [S] Neptis sappho: Half-grown larva (e.o. Melnik 2015) [S] Neptis sappho: Half-grown larva (e.o. Melnik 2015) [S] Neptis sappho: Half-grown larva (e.o. Melnik 2015) [S] Neptis sappho: Half-grown larva (e.o. Melnik 2015) [S] Neptis sappho: Half-grown larva (e.o. Melnik 2015) [S] Neptis sappho: Half-grown larva (e.o. Melnik 2015) [S] Neptis sappho: Larva (e.o. Melnik 2015) [S] Neptis sappho: Larva (e.o. Melnik 2015) [S] Neptis sappho: Larva (e.o. Melnik 2015) [S] Neptis sappho: Larva (e.o. Melnik 2015) [S] Neptis sappho: Larva (e.o. Melnik 2015) [S] Neptis sappho: Larva (e.o. Melnik 2015) [S] Neptis sappho: Larva (e.o. Melnik 2015) [S] Neptis sappho: Larva (e.o. Melnik 2015) [S] Neptis sappho: Larva (e.o. Melnik 2015) [S] Neptis sappho: Larva (e.o. Melnik 2015) [S] Neptis sappho: Larva (e.o. Melnik 2015) [S] Neptis sappho: Larva (e.o. Melnik 2015) [S] Neptis sappho: Larva (e.o. Melnik 2015) [S] Neptis sappho: Larva (e.o. Melnik 2015) [S] Neptis sappho: Larva (e.o. Melnik 2015) [S] Neptis sappho: Larva (e.o. Melnik 2015) [S] Neptis sappho: Larva (e.o. Melnik 2015) [S] Neptis sappho: Larva (e.o. Melnik 2015) [S] Neptis sappho: Larva (e.o. Melnik 2015) [S] Neptis sappho: Larva (e.o. Melnik 2015) [S] Neptis sappho: Larva (e.o. Melnik 2015) [S] Neptis sappho: Larva (e.l. rearing Melnik 2015) [S] Neptis sappho: Prepupa (e.o.Melnik 2015) [S] Neptis sappho: Pupa (e.o. Melnik 2015) [S] Neptis sappho: Pupa (e.o. Melnik 2015) [S] Neptis sappho: Pupa (e.o. Melnik 2015) [S] Neptis sappho: Pupa (e.o. Melnik 2015) [S] Neptis sappho: Pupa (e.o. Melnik 2015) [S] Neptis sappho: Pupa prior to eclosion (e.o. Melnik 2015) [S] Neptis sappho: Oviposition three metres above ground (Melnik, late July 2015) [N] Neptis sappho: Oviposition habitat three metres above ground (Melnik, late July 2015) [N] Neptis sappho: Larval habitat at a quite shady woodland margin above a stream valley (Melnik, late July 2015) [N] Neptis sappho: Habitat in a stream valley rich in Robinia (Melnik, late July 2015) [N] Neptis sappho: Habitat in a stream valley rich in Robinia (Melnik, late July 2015) [N] Neptis sappho: Larval habitat along a forest road (Melnik, late July 2015) [N] Neptis sappho: Egg on a tiny Robinia (Melnik, late July 2015) [N] Neptis sappho: Tiny Robinia in an embankment, with egg (Melnik, late July 2015) [N] Neptis sappho: Tiny Robinia at a small stream, with egg (Melnik, late July 2015) [N]

Host plants:
The larvae originally fed on Lathyrus species such as L. niger or L. vernus. With the expansion of the N-American Robinia pseudacacia, which is a problem for many habitats in SE-Europe, the species could settle in much more types of habitats than earlier.

Habitat:
Neptis sappho originally settled in more damp woodlands that are rich in Lathyrus. Nowadays it could be found in stands of Robinia of all kinds. It is especially common in hot and damp woodlands along rivers and streams that are overgrown with Robinia. I observed eggs and young larvae at numerous, often very hot, but mostly semi-shady places at woodland margins and forest gaps in SW-Bulgaria.

Life cycle:
Neptis sappho has between two and four generations per year. Development is very fast in summer, e.g. five weeks from oviposition to next adult generation under hot conditions. Adults appear between April and September. I recorded them quite common in late July and late August 2015 in SW-Bulgaria (Melnik, Petrich).

Oviposition takes place on upper side of leaflets, preferedly on small, young Robinia plants of just a few decimeters in hight, but also on older bushes and trees up to at least three metres above ground. Oviposition is most likely in semi-shady or shady niches, directly at small streams or at woodland margins.

Young larvae are betrayed by their feeding scars sparing the middle rib of the leaflets where the larva usually rests. This middle rib is further garnished with small parts of leaves that have been bitten of. Pupation occurs underneath a leaflet. According to literature the mature larva hibernates in the litter.

Endangerment factors:
Despite the often only local occurrence, Neptis sappho is not endangered because of its adaption to the invasive neophytic species Robinia pseudacacia.

Remarks:
Neptis sappho occurs from S-Austria and S-Slovakia across the Balkans to N-Greece (Falakro, Rhodopes). To the east it is found across Ukraine, Asia Minor and parts of S-Russia to China, Korea and Japan.


Neptis rivularis 
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