Subject: M.aurelia vs M.britomartis

From: [email-masked] (Dutch Butterfly Foundation)
Date: 25 Jul 1996 12:07:46 GMT

In article <[email-masked]>, "Yuri P. Nekrutenko" <[email-masked]> writes:
>Sergiu Mihut (via Cristina Dobrota) writes:
>>
>>   Is there anybody who can help me with an ID key for Mellitaea
>>   aurelia/britomartis?
>>   A genitalia would be appreciated.
>>   Thanks,
>

There is also another relatively simple way to distinguish between
M. britomartis and M. aurelia.
Sticking forward and upward from the lower side of the head
and looking like two short horns are the labial palps. With M. britomartis
these palps are covered with black hairs. M. aurelia males have
red and black hears, females have only red hears.
This can also be used in the field very easily. On a good photo
you can also see these hears. In the Benelux we have only M. athalia
(with black hears) and M. aurelia. For these two species this method
can also be used.

Chris van Swaay
Dutch Butterfly Conservation
PO Box 506
6700 AM Wageningen
The Netherlands
Tel: +31-317-467346
Fax: +31-317-420296
E-mail: [email-masked]