Home Rhopalocera Nymphalidae Araschnia Araschnia levana

Araschnia levana

English name:
Map Butterfly
Full scientific name:
Araschnia levana (Linnaeus, 1758)
Croatian name:
Šumska riđa

Red Book Category in EU: LC

Red Book Category in Croatia: NE

Wings span: 30-38 mm

Araschnia levana, spring form, Moslavačka gora, 0421N3762
Araschnia levana, spring form, Moslavačka gora, 0421N3762
Araschnia levana, spring form, Moslavačka gora, 0421N3762
Araschnia levana, spring form, Moslavačka gora, 0421N3762
Araschnia levana, summer form, Pokupsko, 0821N5064
Araschnia levana, summer form, Pokupsko, 0821N5064
Araschnia levana, summer form, Pokupsko, 0816N0488
Araschnia levana, summer form, Pokupsko, 0816N0488

Flight Period and Life Cycle

Flight period of Araschnia levana in Croatia
Flight period of Araschnia levana in Croatia

2-3 broods per year. Overwinters as pupae.

Distribution in Croatia

Distribution of Araschnia levana in Croatia
Distribution of Araschnia levana in Croatia

Common in the mainland. Check the included map.

External Morphology Characteristics

Araschania levana is an example of seasonal polyphenism. Due to larva light and temperature exposure, imago has a different external morphology (A. Baudach, A. Vilcinskas, 2021). The spring form has more vibrant colors with less number of white spots on the both sides of the wings. The summer form has more white spots and less vibrant colors.

Behavior

Imago feeds with nectar of various flowers.

Caterpillar Host Plants

Family Urticaceae.

Habitat

Woodland and edges of woodland. Elevations: 0-1000m.

Gallery

Araschnia levana, summer form, Pokupsko, 0813N5337
Araschnia levana, summer form, Pokupsko, 0813N5337
Araschnia levana, summer form, Pokupsko, 0816N1641
Araschnia levana, summer form, Pokupsko, 0816N1641
Araschnia levana, spring form, Međimurje, 0414N0157
Araschnia levana, spring form, Međimurje, 0414N0157
Araschnia levana, spring form, Međimurje, 0414N0157
Araschnia levana, spring form, Međimurje, 0414N0157

Literature

A. Baudach, A. Vilcinskas: The European Map Butterfly Araschnia levana as a Model to Study the Molecular Basis and Evolutionary Ecology of Seasonal Polyphenism. Insects 2021, 12, 325.

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