Forum Entomologi Italiani

I found these 2 butterflies in Valnontey, park Gran Paradiso. I've searched in a few European books but didn't found them. If anyone can help me. Thanks

Metaxmeste sp. Crambidae It's difficult for me id the specie without the speciment.
Ciao Lucio

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A VOLTE E' MEGLIO TACERE E SEMBRARE STUPIDI CHE APRIR BOCCA E TOGLIERE OGNI DUBBIO Oscar Wilde

Ok. Thank you.

Please, Johan, in your next requests upload images directly on this Forum (at least one per species).

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Maurizio Gigli
http://utenti.romascuola.net/bups
http://bup.xoom.it/

In Italy only two species of Metaxmeste occur, M. schrankiana and M. phrygialis, both widespread in the Alps. A third described one, M. cinerealis Della Beffa, 1942, is not a Metaxmeste, and the name is synonymous with a species of Orenaia (an article is currently in press). Metaxmeste schrankiana has a warmer brown pattern, whereas M. phrygialis is more steel bluish grey. The two species can easily be distinguished after the male antennae, which in schrankiana are distinctly ciliate (but this feature can only be appreciated through a binocular), and in phrygialis filiform. Interesting enough, down the Apennines only M. phrygialis occurs but this looses its typical pattern and takes that characteristic of schrankiana!!! The very same astonishing phenomenon occurs in tha Balcan peninsula. I am aware of very few other cases of pattern shift in species which are not involved in mimicry rings. To sum up, I think the specimen from Gran Paradiso is M. schrankiana.

Sorry, I couldn't see that a second picture was uploaded, which evidently should represent the second species (phrygialis).

ok. I'll do. Sorry for that, I'm not used to the forum

Thank you for the identification. I've searched a lot for these two.
They weren't in my books and on internet I got no answer in Belgium and Netherland.


Greetings