Small heath (butterfly)

Small heath
Underside
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Nymphalidae
Genus: Coenonympha
Species:
C. pamphilus
Binomial name
Coenonympha pamphilus
Synonyms[2]
  • Coenonympha major Pionneau, 1929
  • Coenonympha tardenota Caruel, 1944
  • Coenonympha antelatecana Verity, 1953
  • Coenonympha nigromarginata Lempke, 1931
  • Coenonympha transiens Caruel, 1944
  • Coenonympha tunioti Caruel, 1944
  • Papilio lyllus Esper, 1806
  • Coenonympha bipunctata Gussich, 1917
  • Coenonympha postgalvagnii Verity, 1953
  • Coenonympha antipunctata Lempke, 1957
  • Coenonympha virginalis Caruel, 1944
  • Coenonympha bicolor Peerdeman, 1962
  • Coenonympha albata Goodson, 1955
  • Coenonympha rhoumensis Harrison, 1948
  • Coenonympha impupillata Lempke, 1933
  • Coenonympha lylliformis Verity, 1953
  • Coenonympha venata Lempke, 1957

The small heath (Coenonympha pamphilus) is a butterfly species belonging to the family Nymphalidae, classified within the subfamily Satyrinae (commonly known as "the browns"). It is the smallest butterfly in this subfamily. The small heath is diurnal and flies with a noticeable fluttering flight pattern near the ground. It rests with closed wings when not in flight.[3][4][5] It is widespread in colonies throughout the grasslands of Eurasia and north-western Africa, preferring drier habitats than other Coenonympha, such as salt marshes, alpine meadows, wetlands, and grasslands near water (i.e. streams).[6][7][8] However, habitat loss caused by human activities has led to a decline in populations in some locations.[4]

The larval host plants are grasses, found in various habitats, while adult butterflies feed on nectar from flowers.[9][10] The males of this species are territorial, which plays a large role in obtaining a female mate. To establish dominance, they partake in lekking, a mating display in which males aggregate in a competitive display to attract passing females.[11]

  1. ^ van Swaay, C., Wynhoff, I., Verovnik, R., Wiemers, M., López Munguira, M., Maes, D., Sasic, M., Verstrael, T., Warren, M. & Settele, J. (2010). "Coenonympha pamphilus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2010: e.T174461A7076327. Retrieved 13 December 2020.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  2. ^ "Coenonympha pamphilus Linnaeus, 1758". Catalogue of Life. Retrieved 13 December 2020.
  3. ^ "UK Butterflies - Small Heath - Coenonympha pamphilus". www.ukbutterflies.co.uk. Retrieved 2017-10-02.
  4. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference :11 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Wickman, Per-Clof. "The Influence of Temperature on the Territorial and Mate Locating Behaviour of the Small Heath Butterfly, Coenonympha Pamphilus (L.) (Lepidoptera: Satyridae)." Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, vol. 16, no. 3, 1985, pp. 233–238., doi:10.1007/bf00310985.
  6. ^ Org, Registry-Migration.Gbif (2017). "GBIF Backbone Taxonomy". GBIF Secretariat. doi:10.15468/39omei. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  7. ^ Sei, M. (2004). "Larval Adaptation of the Endangered Maritime Ringlet Coenonympha tullia nipisiquit Mc Donnough (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) to a Saline Wetland Habitat". Environmental Entomology. 33 (6): 1535–1540. doi:10.1603/0046-225X-33.6.1535. S2CID 85755768.
  8. ^ Brau, Markus; Dolek, Matthias; Stettmer, Christian (2010). "Habitat requirements, larval development and food preferences of the German population of the False Ringlet Coenonympha oedippus (FABRICIUS, 1787) (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) - Research on the ecological needs to develop management tools" (PDF). Oedippus. 26: 41–51.
  9. ^ Cite error: The named reference :8 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  10. ^ Cite error: The named reference :9 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  11. ^ Wickman, Per-Olof (1992). "Mating systems of Coenonympha butterflies in relation to longevity". Animal Behaviour. 44: 141–148. doi:10.1016/S0003-3472(05)80763-8. S2CID 53195723.