Coenonympha saadi, commonly known as the Saadi heath, is a butterfly species belonging to the family Nymphalidae, subfamily Satyrinae, and genus Coenonympha.
Taxonomy The species was first described by Kollar in 1849. A synonym for the species is Coenonympha mesopotamica Heyne, [1894]. Two subspecies are recognized:
- Coenonympha saadi saadi
- Coenonympha saadi iphias Eversmann, 1851 (found in Transcaucasia)
Distribution The species is distributed across Transcaucasia, Iran, Iraq, and south-eastern Turkey. In Armenia, it is represented by the subspecies iphias.
Habitat and Ecology Coenonympha saadi inhabits arid sparse woodlands, desert, and semi-desert areas. The host plants for its larvae include Poa annua (annual meadow-grass) and other grasses.
Flight Period The species is univoltine (single generation per year), with its flight period lasting from early May to late June, sometimes extending into early July.
