Distribution and biological peculiarities in Armenia: The species is distributed from Central and Southern Europe to Caucasus, Transcaucasia, and Asia Minor. Armenia is inhabited by nominative subspecies. In wide part of its range the Stachys recta is known as the larval host-plant, however Stachys atherocalyx and Sideritis scordioides are also known for Eastern and Southern Europe. The species is distributed in Central and Southern Armenia, inhabiting juniper and juniper-oak woodlands, and tragacanth mountain steppes. Thus it occupies the elevation range between 1000 and 2100 m a.s.l. The species gives one generation per year flying from beginning of July till end of August depending on elevation.
Population dynamics: The species is rather uncommon within typical habitat. Recent investigations demonstrated that it shows declining population trend. At current there are no definite reasons determined, which can explain the decline. The species is highly specialized towards its larval food plant, which already puts it in a vulnerable position. Its host-plant is not directly affected by overgrazing, being avoided by the livestock species widely distributed in the country. However it appears that more general changes in the habitat can influence the abundance of the Marbled Skipper. It can be related to the more complicated links, e.g. decline of wild species of Apidae and therefore fragmenting and shrinking of distribution of the Stachys recta; or it can be linked to the general decline of nectar suppliers.
Conservation measures: The species is not included in IUCN Red List, and has not been assessed for Red Book of Animals of Armenia, but is included in the European Red List as Near Threatened. Despite on that it is absent from the Appendix 2 of Bern Convention. Our preliminary evaluation of the species suggests estimation of its conservation status as Vulnerable. Existing Protected Areas cover quite of the population of the species, however still there are isolated populations, which require special attention. Although the species already occurs in some of the recognized PBAs (Gnisheek, Gudemnis, Ourtsadzor, and Shvanidzor), further recognizing of PBAs and development of their management plans appear to be first steps in conservation of the species.Continuation of its monitoring within the BMS is also important to track the population trends and for developing of early response measures if necessary.