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Coenonympha orientalis / Oriental Heath
Orjentalja
Nymphalidae - Satyrinae
Coenonympha orientalis (Rebel, [1910]). TL: E. Bosnia.
 
 
1a. Coenonympha orientalis, distribution map.  Historical data ;  Additional data from the 2018 update ;  New observations since the 2018 update.
1b. Coenonympha orientalis ♂ underside. Mali i Murrizes, Albania (© Lulëzim Shuka)
1c.
Habitat of Coenonympha orientalis. Vermosh, Albania (© Sylvain Cuvelier)
1d. Habitat of Coenonympha orientalis. Shebenik, Albania (© Sylvain Cuvelier)
Description
♂♂
Small butterfly. Fw: 15-16 mm.
Ups: chestnut brown gc.
Upf: wide fuscous marginal border.
Uph: dark fuscous, sometimes a small postdiscal ocellus.
Unf: reduced marginal border, metallic antemarginal line.
Unh: ocelli without external yellow-orange and black rings, white band regular.
♀♀
Sligthly larger.
Unh: white band often larger.
Similar species
Life cycle
Adults: single generation from May to July depending on altitude.
Egg: probably short stage.
Caterpillar: probably overwintering.
Pupa: probably short stage.
Habitat
Coenonympha orientalis inhabits limestone grasslands with scattered Juniperus sp. from 1000 up to 2000 m a.s.l.
Spatial requirement modest, population sometimes high.
Foodplants
Caterpillars feed on Brachypodium sylvaticum and Festuca ovina.
Butterflies feed on a variety of low flowers.
Distribution
Albania: local (more research needed)
Balkan: AL - BG - BIH - GR - HR - NMK - MNE - RKS - RO - SLO - SRB
Europe: IB - IT - ALP - BAL - NWE - UK - SCA - EEU
Not at all present in Asia Minor, Near East, Transcaucasia, Caucasus and further east.
Conservation status
Coenonympha orientalis is not endangered.
Albanian Red List: VU.
IUCN Red List, category at the Mediterranean level: LC.
Useful links
Lepiforum
Euroleps
euroButterflies
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slightly larger Coenonympha.
contrasted darker border.
lacking ocelli (see through!)
dentate white band.
yellow-orange and black ringed ocelli.