Naming
''Leptidea sinapis'' is one of three species in a cryptic species complex. The other members are ''Leptidea reali'' and ''Leptidea juvernica''. Similar species are ''Lepidea morsei'' ''Leptidea duponcheli'', ''L. amurensis''.
Distribution
It is found in Europe and eastwards across the Caucasus, Asia Minor, the Middle East, Middle Asia, Kazakhstan and South Siberia to the Baikal region.Geographical variation is slight but the following subspecies are recognized: spp. ''sinapis'' European the Caucasus, Kopet-Dagh; ssp. ''melanoinspersa'' Verity, 1911 W. and N. Tian-Shan, Dzhungarsky Alatau, Alay Mountains. There is an uncertainly ranked form from Darvaz.
The insect is found in meadows, forest edges and sparse forests up to 2,500m above sea level. The adult flies from April–October in two, sometimes three, generations. Host plants in Europe : Fabaceae .
Habitat
It is found in Europe and eastwards across the Caucasus, Asia Minor, the Middle East, Middle Asia, Kazakhstan and South Siberia to the Baikal region.Geographical variation is slight but the following subspecies are recognized: spp. ''sinapis'' European the Caucasus, Kopet-Dagh; ssp. ''melanoinspersa'' Verity, 1911 W. and N. Tian-Shan, Dzhungarsky Alatau, Alay Mountains. There is an uncertainly ranked form from Darvaz.
The insect is found in meadows, forest edges and sparse forests up to 2,500m above sea level. The adult flies from April–October in two, sometimes three, generations. Host plants in Europe : Fabaceae .
Evolution
The female lays her eggs on various members of the pea family in late May and June, most commonly Meadow Vetchling ''Lathyrus pratensis'', bitter vetch ''Lathyrus linifolius'', Tufted Vetch ''Vicia cracca'' and Birds-foot Trefoil ''Lotus corniculatus''. The larvae are green and well camouflaged on their foodplant. Pupation takes place at the end of July in surrounding scrub and it is this stage which overwinters.References:
Some text fragments are auto parsed from Wikipedia.
