Melitaea pseudosibina (Alberti, 1969)  
 False Knapweed Fritillary, Шашечница псевдосибина, Պսեվդոսիբինա

Distribution and biological peculiarities in Armenia: 
The species is considered to be an endemic of Caucasus and Transcaucasia, although there is a number of discussions about its status, as it is also thought to be a subspecies or even just and ecological form of Melitaea phoebe (Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775). Is is another least known species of Armenia, which requires additional studies of its taxonomy, ecology, and biology. Based on collected butterflies it is supposed that the species patchy occupies upper belt of deciduous forests and sub-alpine meadows at the elevation range from 2000 to 2600 m a.s.l. The host plants are unknown. Presumably the species gives one generation per year, and the butterflies have been recorded on wing from mid July till late August.

Population dynamics:
The records on the species are scarce and its abundance is quite difficult to assess due to its similarity to species is rare to Melitaea phoebe. For the same reason its population trend cannot be computed. 

Conservation measures: 
The species is not assessed for the Global, European, and National Red Lists, as well as in CITES and Bern Conventions, obviously due to unclear taxonomic status. Some of its records are located within Protected Areas, Emerald Sites, and some Prime Butterfly Areas. However, at current it is quite early to evaluate its conservation status as taxonomic research has to be done prior to that.   ​

Photo: A. Danchenko