Three observation of interspecific mating attempts by males of the Meadow Brown ( Maniola jurtina (Linnaeus , 1758)) in the wild (Lepidoptera, Nymphalidae: Satyrinae, Heliconiinae)

We report three observations of interspecific mat ing events between males of Maniola jurtina (Nym­ pha l idae: Satyrinae) and females of three butterfly species, Aphan topus hyperanthus and Erebia aethiops (both Nym­ pha l idae: Satyrinae) and Argynnis aglaja (Nymphalidae: He li co ni inae), all under natural conditions. While the pair­ ings with Satyrinae females happened lately in M. jurtina flight period, and could be attributed to mate recognition mis takes, the pairing with A. aglaja was observed re la ti­ ve ly early in M. jurtina flight, and we speculate that males re acted to supraoptimal visual stimulus.