Boloria caucasica (Lederer, 1852) Caucasian Fritillary, Перламутровка кавказская, Կովկասյան բոլորիա
Distribution and biological peculiarities in Armenia: The species is distributed in Caucasus, Transcaucasia, and Turkey. The subspecies, which occurs in Armenia is not yet determined - either nominate or B. c. petrovi Churkin, 2002. The Caucasian Fritillary inhabits high-mountain grasslands at the elevation range from 2500 to 3500 m a.s.l. The larvae grow on various high-mountain species of VIola, such as V. minuta, or V. oreades. The species gives one generation per year having butterflies on wing from late June till mid August.
Population dynamics: The species is somewhat uncommon within typical habitat, and during 2003-2013 (p>0.05) demonstrates stable population trend. The latest could probably be justified by the specificity of the species' habitat - steep high-mountain grasslands, which are difficult to assess for livestock to graze. Potentially, the Caucasus Fritillary, as other high-mountain specialists, could be affected by climate change, however that influence could probably be visible over longer time period.
Conservation measures: The species is not included in the Global, European, and National Red Lists, as well as in CITES and Bern Conventions. Preliminary assessment of its conservation status for the country suggests it as a Least Concern at current the distribution range of Caucasian Fritillary is partly covered by Zangezur Biosphere Complex, and Zangezur and Aragats Alpine Emerald Sites. Also the species is presented in Lichk and Kajaran Prime Butterfly Areas. At current there is no need for development of specific conservation measures, however, it is important to continue the Caucasus Fritillary's monitoring aimed at tracking influence of climate change on the species and in general on biodiversity of high-mountain ecosystems.