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Digital Guide to Moth Identification

Nymphalidae 77a0963 – 4612   Oeneis melissa (Fabricius, 1775)

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Larva and Host Plants: Host familiy: Cyperaceae.  Host genera: Carex.  Host extended: sedges (Brock & Kaufman 2003).  (Kimberley & Douglas 2025) Similar Species: Pinned specimens of related species. (Hint: select View by Region on the related species page.) Synonymy: melissa (Fabricius, 1775) (Papilio) - MONA 1983: 4612 ssp. a. semidea (Say, 1828) (Hipparchia)  eritiosa (Boisduval, [1834]) (Chionobas)  nigra (Edwards, 1894) (Chionobas) ssp. b. melissa (Fabricius, 1775) (Papilio) ssp. c. semplei Holland, 1930 (Oeneis) ssp. d. assimilis Butler, 1868 (Oeneis)  arctica Gibson, 1920 (Oeneis)  simulans Gibson, 1920 (Oeneis) ssp. e. gibsoni Holland, 1930 (Oeneis) ssp. f. atlinensis Guppy & Shepard, 2001 (Oeneis) ssp. g. beanii Elwes & Edwards, 1893 (Oeneis) ssp. h. lucilla Barnes & McDunnough, 1918 (Oeneis)

References (Caution: DNA barcoding at BOLD provides evidence of relatedness, not proof of identification; some BOLD specimens shown may not be sequenced.)

Barcode of Life (BOLD) - Caution: Identifications often erroneous; DNA barcode provides evidence of relatedness, not proof of identification; many specimens not sequenced. Shropshire, K.J. & D.W. Tallamy, 2025. Lepidoptera of North America, north of Mexico: an annotated list containing geographic ranges and host-plant records. ZooKeys, 1261: 101-113; Suppl. 1. (PDF or read online) Species Page at BugGuide.Net Species Page at iNaturalist Species Page at the Butterflies of America

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