neumanniana. The overwintering usually takes place in the fourth and penultimate caterpillar stage, but this can vary depending on the altitude. It pupates in rolled leaves of host plants or on the ground. The pupal stage last up to 14 days. The caterpillars can easily be found in suitable places, so that this species can be easily detected by means of a targeted larval search in late summer. Typical is a bag-shaped dwelling, which the caterpillars first build from a leaflet and later from several leaves. This is where the food intake takes place and at the same time it offers good protection against solar radiation and predators. The imagos are regular visitors to flowers and prefer to suckle on yellow-flowering plants such as Hippocrepis comosa and Lotus corniculatus agg. The altitude distribution in Bavaria extends from approx. 170 m in Main Franconia to around 560 m in the Franconian Jura and should correspond to the height range in which the species also has reproduction habitats. A clear core distribution lies between 200 m and 400 m. Pyrgus carthami thus has a narrow height distribution and is limited to lower altitudes. However it can be found from sea level to 1900 m in the south of its range. Conservation The most important protective measure consists in the preservation and promotion of the dry grassland populated by P. carthami. It is also important to ensure that no nutrients are introduced from adjacent areas. In addition, de-bushing in rocky areas and the withdrawal of afforestation can lead to an enlargement of the habitats. Artificial embankments made of stony excavation material, which are created e.g. as part of road construction measures, should not be planted and can then offer a new habitat. Etymology Carthamus, distaff thistles. Taxonomy Subspecies Pyrgus carhami carthami (central and northern Germany) Pyrgus carthami nevadensis (western Germany, France, the Iberian Peninsula) Pyrgus carthami moeschleri (southern and eastern Europe) Synonyms: Papilio fritillarius Poda, 1761 References Bibliography Whalley, Paul - Mitchell Beazley Guide to Butterflies (1981, reprinted 1992) Tom Tolman & Richard Lewington, Guide des papillons d'Europe et d'Afrique du Nord, Delachaux et Niestlé, 1997 () De Jong, R. 1972. "Systematics and geographic history of the genus Pyrgus in the palearctic region (Lep., Hesp.)". Tijdschrift voor Entomologie, 115 (1): 1-120. External links Lepiforum.de Butterfly Guide Paolo Mazzei, Daniel Morel, Raniero Panfili Moths and Butterflies of Europe and North Africa Butterflies of Bulgaria