Melanargia


Melanargia is a genus of butterflies belonging to the family Nymphalidae and the subfamily Satyrinae.
This genus, described by Johann Wilhelm Meigen in 1828, is the only genus in the subtribe Melanargiina, Wheeler, 1903.
The adults of this genus of satyrines are easily distinguished by their white wings with black veins and markings. A peculiar phenotypic distinctiveness is also a dilated vein 12 at the base of the forewing.
Butterflies of genus Melanargia are widespread from Europe and north Africa to Japan.

Species and subspecies

The investigations on genetic divergence and phylogenetic relationships among Melanargia species have recognized three subgenera and reclassified the genus in 20 species and relevant subspecies as follows
Subgenus Melanargia Meigen, 1829
Subgenus Argeformia Verity, 1953
Subgenus Halimede