Photo #24342: Pieris melete

31.10.2013 20:52, Irina Nikulina

This is the second female (summer) generation sits on the caterpillar host plant Cardamine leucantha (family Brassicaceae) (30 seconds starts off on his eggs, a couple of pictures too, they are not too sharp, but put one with the underside). The eternal question - dulcinea or melete? Between females and melete dulcinea summer generation to opt for melete .The females of summer generation melete widespread pollination apex below 2 spots that spread out along the veins and very noticeable sputtering central cell, especially the bottom of her veins. At the rear wing blackened veins to the outer edge and has a spot at the front edge. (Dark female figure dulcinea summer generation is less developed).On the underside rear wing yellowish veins sometimes barely translucent. Butterfly was quite large - melete usually larger dulcinea. Some sources (eg in the determinant Sochivko and Kabaka) also notes that dulcinea flying to August, while melete often delayed until September (the picture was taken at about 7.09. Russian).But about the same orange spot on the underside of the wing at the root , I can not say anything other than the fact that it is precisely melete (and it is a given individual). Korshunov marks his only melete. But the photographs online, including here (definition of Dm. Pozhogin and Al. Zhakova), there is a speck and dulcinea, but less bright and pronounced.I do not think that it can serve as a "diagnostic feature"?
Word for spec-s.
(Use the description of species from Korshunova. [2], as well as pictures and description http://rusinsects.com/pi-dulc.htm
http://rusinsects.com/pi-mele.htm, http://catocala.narod.ru/pier08.html, http://catocala.narod.ru/pier09.html)