CHARACTERISTIC DETAILS OF THE SPECIES Lasiommata maera, Lasiommata megera and Lasiommata petropolitana
These three species have quite different UPS and so it is easy to separate them. However, UNH and UNF are quite similar and in order to point out the small differences, their characteristic photos are presented below.
Lasiommata maera
Three photos of Lasiommata maera: male (right), female (centre) and mating (left, female with the wings open). In Lasiommata maera the “eyes” in the S6 (S7) are always smaller than the other “eyes” in the submarginal area of the UNH (detail on the LEFT), while in the Lasiommata megera they are of the same size.
Lasiommata petropolitana
In males and females Lasiommata petropolitana there are always three dark clear characteristic lines in UPF and UPH (indicated by green lines). In the basal area UNH of the Lasiommata petropolitana there is a characteristic recess in the line (indicated by green lines).
Lasiommata megera
Four photos of Lasiommata megera: male (left) and female (right). In Lasiommata megera the “eyes” of the submarginal area are approximately equal in size (details on the LEFT), while in Lasiommata maera the “eyes” in the S6 (S7) are clearly smaller.
Lasiommata maera_7
Characteristic positions of the two lines (in green) in Lasiommata maera. The line at S3, S4, S5 and S6 is continuous and smoothly straight, with no 'step' on the V4.
Lasiommata maera_8
Characteristic positions of the two lines (in green) in Lasiommata maera. The line at S3, S4, S5 and S6 is continuous and smoothly straight, with no 'step' on the V4.
Lasiommata maera_9
Characteristic positions of the two lines (in red) on the Lasiommata megera. The line at S3, S4, S5 and S6 is not continuous and smoothly straight, but has a characteristic 'step' (with a yellow arrow) in V4.
Lasiommata maera_10
Characteristic positions of the two lines (in red) on the Lasiommata megera. The line at S3, S4, S5 and S6 is not continuous and smoothly straight, but has a characteristic 'step' (with a yellow arrow) in V4.
Lasiommata maera_11
Characteristic positions of the two lines (in red) on Lasiommata petropolitana. The line in S3, S4, S5 and S6 is not continuous and smoothly straight, but it has a characteristic 'step' (with a yellow arrow) in V4, similar to the equivalent of Lasiommata petropolitana.
Lasiommata maera_12
Characteristic positions of the two lines (in red) on Lasiommata petropolitana. The line in S3, S4, S5 and S6 is not continuous and smoothly straight, but it has a characteristic 'step' (with a yellow arrow) in V4, similar to the equivalent of Lasiommata petropolitana.
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A very distinct character (see in green lines) is present in the UNH of Lasiommata petropolitana, that is a recess in the black basal line, which is not present in the other species of this genus.
