Tuesday 29 July 2008

Cardinal (Argynnis pandora)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Argynnis (epithet of Aphrodite) pandora (after the mythological figure)
Adult Cardinal (subspecies A. p. pandora) at Patones, Spain - April 2015

Featured Subspecies: Argynnis pandora pandora
Length: ?  /  Wingspan: 64-80mm
NO UK STATUS IUCN Red List: Least Concern 

The Cardinal is a large fritillary found around the Mediterranean and Central Asia, and in Europe at least one of the larger butterfly species within its range.  It's larvae feeds on viola species, and it seemed to be reasonably numerous in the hilly region near Madrid we saw it in, though it rarely stopped long enough to take photos of it.

Related Species:
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Nymphalidae
Genus: Argynnis
Subspecies: A. p. chrysobarylla, A. p. cyrenea, A. p. pasargades, A. p. wedekindi, A. p. pandora

- Sighting Locations -
SPAIN - Spanish - Pandora
Locally common resident.
 - MADRID 2015 TRIP: Several seen at Patones

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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