Kolesnichenko K.A.1, Kovalenko M.G.2, Kotlobay A.A.3 2025. New data on the biology of Melitaea interrupta Kolenati, 1846 fritillary (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) with an analysis of its preimaginal stages features diagnostic value // Russian Entomol. J. Vol.34. No.3: 326–342 [in English].
1 Department of Entomology, Faculty of Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow 119991 Russia.
2 All-Russian Plant Quarantine Center, Bykovo, Moscow Oblast, 140150 Russia.
3 Lopukhin Federal Research and Clinical Center of Physical-Chemical Medicine of Federal Medical Biological Agency, Moscow 119435 Russia.
Kirill Kolesnichenko: kkolesnichenko@gmail.com; ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1102-0317
Margarita Kovalenko: bush_zbs@mail.ru; ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7824-9277
Anatoly Kotlobay: an_kotlobay@mail.ru; ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0637-1999
doi: 10.15298/rusentj.34.3.04
ABSTRACT. The life cycle at all stages from the egg to the imago of Melitaea interrupta Kolenati, 1846 fritillary has been studied in the laboratory conditions. Some of the M. interrupta caterpillars from one clutch complete their development during one season passing six instars, the other part goes on hibernation at fourth instar. We compared the preimaginal stages features of Melitaea didyma (Esper, [1778]), M. interrupta, Melitaea persea Koller, 1849, and Melitaea latonigena Eversmann, 1847, belonging to the M. didyma species group. The eggs size, shape and the number of lateral ribs on their surface are diagnostic features. For the first instar caterpillars the body size and head capsule chaetotaxy are of diagnostic importance. The last instars caterpillars of the species studied differ in body color.
KEY WORDS: Nymphalinae, Melitaea didyma, Melitaea persea, Melitaea latonigena, morphology, life cycle, egg, larvae.