Coenonympha pamphilus (Linnaeus, 1758)  
Small Heath, Kleines Wiesenvogelchen, Fadet commun, Сенница памфил, Պամֆիլուս

Distribution and biological peculiarities in Armenia: 
The species has wide transpalearctic distribution and occupies almost entire Eurasia. Armenia is inhabited by nominate subspecies, which occupies wide variety of mountain steppes, meadows, and subalpine grasslands. There are tough discussions about taxonomic status of the form C. p. lyllus (Esper, 1806), which is considered either as an ecological form, subspecies, or species by various authors. According to our observations, the latest form occupies completely different habitats at lower elevation range, and uses different host-plants, which convinces us to consider a species' status for the C. lyllus (Esper, 1806). Therefore the elevation range occupied by the Small Heath is from 1500 to 3000 m a.s.l. The species uses wide variety of Graminaea as the host plant, including Poa, Nardus, Stipa, Cynosurus, Dactilis, Festuca, Anthoxanthum, Brachypodium, and others. The species gives up to three generations per year depending on elevation, and the butterflies are observed on wing from late May till late September.

Population dynamics:
The species is common within typical habitat and its population trend demonstrates stability (p>0.05) during 2003-2013. It appears that high level of species adaptability allows it to survive even in the areas of heavy grazing.

Conservation measures: 
The species is not included in the Global and National Red Lists, as well as in CITES and Bern Conventions., but was evaluated for the European Red Book as Least Concern. Preliminary assessment of its conservation status in Armenia suggests the same status for this generalist species. Its distribution is covered by number of protected areas, Emerald Sites, and Prime Butterfly Areas, and thus there is no necessity for special conservation measures for the Small Heath.​

Photo: K. Aghababyan