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THE MATURAL

hîstorv mus&um

20 J UN 2005

mmMm? imm

PIDOPTEROLOGICA

rnal devoted to the study of Lepidoptera
ished by Societas Europaea LepidopteroSogica (SEL)

SOCIETAS EUROPAEA LEPIDOPTEROLOGICA e.V.

http://www.soceurlep.org

Honorary Members

Pamela Gilbert (GB), Barry Goater (GB), Prof. Dr Lâszlô Gozmâny (H),
Prof. Dr Vladimir Kuznetzov (RU)

Council

President:

Prof. Dr Niels P. Kristensen (DK)

Vice-President:

Dr David Agassiz (UK)

General Secretary:

Dr Christoph Häuser (D)

Treasurer:

Manfred Sommerer (D)

Membership Secretary:

Will 0. de Prins (B)

Ordinary Council Members:

Dr Bernard Landry (CH), Dr Elisenda Olivella (E),
Dr Lâszlô Ronkay (H), Dr Gerhard Tarmann (A),
Dr Alberto Zilli (I),

Editor:

Dr Matthias Nuss (D)

ISSN 0342-7536

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1 nt NA I UnAL

HISTORY MUSEUM

20 JUN 2005

PURCHASED

Nota lepidopterologitaTQ^^RÀRY

Ajournai devoted to the study of Lepidoptera
Published by the Societas Europaea Lepidopterologica e.V.

Volume 28 No. 1

Dresden, 07.06.2005 ISSN 0342-7536

Editor

Dr Matthias Nuss, Staatliches Museum fuer Tierkunde Dresden,

Koenigsbruecker Landstr. 159, D-01109 Dresden;
e-mail: matthias.nuss@snsd.smwk.sachsen.de

Editorial Board

Dr Enrique Garcia-Barros (Madrid, E), Dr Roger L. H. Dennis (Wilmslow, UK),

Dr Axel Hausmann (Munich, D), Dr Peter Huemer (Innsbruck, A), Ole Karsholt (Copenhagen, DK),
Dr Bernard Landry (Genève, CH), Dr Yuri P. Nekrutenko (Kiev, UA),

Dr Erik van Nieukerken (Leiden, NL), Dr Thomas Schmitt (Trier, D),

Dr Wolfgang Speidel (Bonn, D)

Contents

Svetlana V. Nedoshivina & Vadim V. Zolotuhin

A new subspecies of Pelatea klugiana (Freyer, 1 836) from the

Middle Volga Region of Russia with notes on its morphology and

life history (Tortricidae) 3

Axel Hausmann & Anthony Seguna

Lithostege fissurata Mabille, 1888 from Malta, new for the fauna

of Europe (Geometridae, Larentiinae) 11

Matthias Nuss

Revision of Evergestis anartalis (Staudinger, 1892) comb. rev.

from Central Asia (Pyraloidea: Crambidae: Evergestinae) 17

Zdravko Kolev

Polyommatus dantchenkoi (Lukhtanov & Wiemers, 2003) tentatively

identified as new to Europe, with a description of a new taxon

from the Balkan Peninsula (Lycaenidae) 25

Zdravko Kolev

New data on the taxonomic status and distribution of
Polyommatus andronicus Coutsis & Ghavalas, 1995 (Lycaenidae)

Dmitry A. Komarov & Vadim V. Zolotuhin

A new species of Meharia Chrétien, 1915 (Cossidae)

from the Lower Volga Region 49

Andreas Tränkner & Matthias Nuss

Risk spreading in the voltinism of Scolitantides orion orion (Pallas, 1771 )
(Lycaenidae) 55

Andrâs Tartally

Neotypus melanocephalus (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae): the first record
of a parasitoid wasp attacking Maculinea teleius (Lycaenidae) 65

Josef Jaros & Jan Liska

The geographic range of Rhyacionia hafiieri (Rebel, 1937)

(Tortricidae) 69

Book review

Nota lepid. 28 ( 1 ): 3-9

A new subspecies of P elate a klugiana (Frey er, 1836) from the
Middle Volga Region of Russia with notes on its morphology
and life history (Tortricidae)

Svetlana V. Nedoshivina 1 & Vadim V. Zolotuhin 2

Department of Zoology, Uljanovsk State Pedagogical University, pi. 100-letiya Lenina, 4, RUS-432700
Uljanovsk, Russia; e-mail: 1 tortrica@mail.ru ulgpu@mv.ru 2

Abstract. Pelatea klugiana verucha ssp. n. is described from the Middle Volga Region of Russia within
the limits of the southern Uljanovsk Province. Data on its life history and morphology of the preimaginal
stages are given. The species is noted from Russia for the first time.

Zusammenfassung. Eine neue Unterart, Pelatea klugiana verucha ssp. n., wird aus dem südlichem Teil
des Uljanowsk-Gebietes in Russland beschrieben. Bemerkungen zur Lebensweise sowie zur Raupen- und
Puppenmorphologie werden gegeben. Die Art wird erstmals für Russland gemeldet.

Pe3H)Me. Hobbih noÆBHÆ jiHCTOBeprKH miOHOBOH, Pelatea klugiana verucha ssp. n., onncbiBaeTca H3
K»KHbix pafioHOB YjibHHOBCKOH ofijiacTH Pocchh. IfpHBefleHbi flaHHbie no ero 6noj]ornn n MopcjtojiornH
ryceHHHHOÜ n KyKonoHHon CTaann. Bnfl BnepBbie OTMenaeTca c TeppHTopuH Pocchh. TojiOTHn hoboto
TaKCOHa XpaHHTCH B KOJIJieKHHH 300JI0rHHeCK0r0 HHCTHTyTa POCCHHCKOH AKaaeMHH HayK (r. CaHKT-
IleTepöypr).

Key words. Lepidoptera, Tortricidae, Pelatea, Russia, new subspecies, biology, larval and pupal
morphology.

Introduction

A large sample of a tortricid moth has been reared from Paeonia tenuifolia during
expeditionary trips 1996-2003 through the right bank of the middle Volga Region
(south of the Uljanovsk Province). Firstly, the species has been identified as Pelatea
klugiana (Freyer, 1836) known within the limits of the former USSR only from the
Carpathians (Kuznetsov 1978; Razowski 2001, 2003). Hence, subsequent comparison
with material from the Alps has allowed to consider this population of the Russian
plane in a rank of a separate subspecies. Its description is given below.

Abbreviations

EMEM Entomological Museum of Dr. Ulf Eitschberger, Marktleuthen, Germany

SamGU Zoological Museum of the Samara State University, Samara, Russia

SarGU Zoological Museum of the Saratov State University, Saratov, Russia

U1GPU Zoological Museum of the Uljanovsk State Pedagogical University, Uljanovsk, Russia

ZISP Zoological Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg, Russia

ZMHUB Zoological Museum of the Humboldt University, Berlin, Germany

Pelatea klugiana verucha ssp. n.

Material. Holotype cf, Russia, Middle Volga Region, 140 km S Uljanovsk, vill. Srednikovo outsc.,
Mt. Atmala, mixed forest on chalk hills, 27. vi. 1996 (e. 1., from Paeonia tenuifolia), Zolotuhin leg.
(ZISP). - Paratypes; 15cf, 9ç same data as holotype, but 26.-29. vi. 1996 (e. 1.) Zolotuhin leg. (U1GPU),
6 specimens, same data (ZISP, SamGU, SarGU); 1 cf, 2ç same data, but 17. -18. vi. 2003 (e. 1.), Nedoshivina
leg. (U1GPU); 47 cf, 19Q, Saratov prov., Khvalynsk distr. , 5 km NW Novaja Jablonovka, Armejskye Mts.,
SW slope of hill forest-setppe, 29.-31. v.2004 (e. 1., collected 19.V.2004), Anikin leg. (SarGU). Also as
paratypes the following material is designated; 8 last instar larvae and 7 pupae preserved in 1:1 mixture of
80% ethanol and glycerine (ZISP, U1GPU).

Nota lepidopterologica, 07.06.2005, ISSN 0342-7536

Nedoshivina & Zolotuhin: Pelatea klugiana verucha ssp. n. from the Volga Region

Figs. 1-2. Adults of Pelatea klugiana. 1. P. klugiana verucha ssp. n., paratypes. 2. P. klugiana klugiana.
from South Tyrol, a. male. b. female.

Description (Fig. 1). Male. Forewing length 9.0-9. 3 mm. Costal fold absent. Fore-
wing light, brownish-olive with reddish-brown to pinkish outer half, crossing by
vague silver net. Discal spot dark brown, often broaded to transversal band. Cilia light
reddish-brown. Hind wings light, brownish olive with darker, narrow outer field. Cilia
of the groundcolour. Body dark brown; tegulae with a tuft of reddish-yellow scales,
metathorax with two reddish tufts; top of the abdomen with reddish-yellow hairs.
Individual variation is observed in intensity of wing coloration from light brownish olive
with pinkish spots to dark olive brown with dark pink spots but specimens with those
extreme developed characters could be found rarely within large samples.

Female (Fig. lb). With the same characters of pattern and coloration but somewhat
larger (forewing length 9. 2-9. 5 mm) and more robust; silver net on the fore wings more
vague; hind wings dark grey, without basal lightening, with light, brownish olive cilia.
Male genitalia (Fig. 3). As in the nominate subspecies. They are very remarkable
at a whole and therefore outline clearly this genus from related genera. The new
subspecies is characterized by slender cucullus and more compact groups of setae on
its inner surface, more concave outer margin of lateral processes of tegumen, bilobed
uncus and especially by the shape of the phallus having opening of vesica lateral. No
cornuti are present.

Nota lepid. 28 (1): 3-9

Figs 3-6. Genitalia of Pelatea klugiana. 3. P. klugiana verucha ssp. n., holotype a". 4. P. klugiana
klugiana , c? ; a - tegumen, b - valva, c - phallus. 5. P. klugiana verucha ssp. n., paratype 9. 6. P. klugiana
klugiana , Ç, internai parts.

Female genitalia (Fig. 5). As in the nominate subspecies and characterized by
conical antrum as well as prominent margin of ostium. No distinct signa are visible but
very vague sclerotization could be found on caudal part of bursa copulatrix.

Last instar larva (Figs. 7-9). 10 mm with maximal width 2.5 mm. Head and
prothoracal shields black, well sclerotized, shining. Cuticula of the body weak and
can be easily damaged just with tender pressure. Body pattern absent; coloration of
subhypodermal type then the caterpillar is colored by haemolymph in dark green or
malachite-green. Setae long, elastic, greyish.

Chaetotaxy (Fig. 7 ). Two D setae present on each segment. On T 1 both are on the
shield, on T2-T3 they are on the common pinacula, but on A1-A9 setae of D group are
arranged each to separate pinacula. D1 is above D2 on T1-T2 and on A1 - A8 but under of
and anterior to D2 on T3. On A9, D2 is above D1 , and situated on the separate pinacula
closed to anal shield, as well as D1 is arranged to its own. SD1 and SD2 arranged to
the shield on T 1 . On T2-T3 both are on the same pinacula, SD2 is above SD 1 . On other
segments (except A9-A10), SD2 is minute and located anteriodorsal to the spiracle
on A1-A7, but on A8 SD2 is anterior and SD1 is anteriodorsal to the spiracle. SD2 is
absent on A9. SV group on T1 as well as on A1-A8, is bisetose. On other segments
(except A 10) it is unisetose. Three L setae on T1 are on common pinaculum. On T2, LI

Nedoshivina & Zolotuhin: Pelatea klugiana verucha ssp. n. from the Volga Region

and L2 share a pinaculum, and L3 is on its own. On T1 . LI is between L2 and L3. on
T2-T3 L3 posteriodorsal to the others, LI above L2. But on A1-A9, L3 posterioventral
to others and L2 above LI; on A9, they all situated on a common pinacula. On all
abdominal segments L group is also trisetose. VI seta is presented on all segments.
Proprioreceptor MD1 have relatively constant position anterioventral to D1 on all
segments, except T1 and A 10 where it is absent. MSD1 and MSD2 present only on
T2-T3, where they arranged anterior to SD pinacula, MSD1 above MSD2. Chaetotaxy
of the larval head as figured (Fig. 8).

Pupa (Figs. 10-12). Body length 7.0-10.5 mm. Coloration dark, yellowish brown.
Frons flat and smooth. Proboscis extended to about one third of forewing length.
Antenna extended more than two thirds of forewing length, and fore leg extended to
about half of forewing length and mid leg somewhat longer. Forewing extended to
posterior margin of 4th abdominal segment or ended slightly before. Veins distinct.
Spiracles small, rounded oval. A2-A8 with two rows of dorsal spines. A1 and A9 with
one cephalic row. Cremaster ventrally wrinkled, with lateral teeth. Cauda with 4 pairs
of yellowish brown hooked setae. Anal rise with a pair of hooked setae on each side.
Diagnosis. Similar to the nominate subspecies but differs by smaller size (10.0-10.7 mm
in the nominate subspecies), much lighter coloration and narrower wings. Silver net of
forewing scales in the new subspecies much more vague. Diagnostic characters could
be found also in genitalia. In the nominate subspecies the cucullus is broader, with
less compact groups of setae on its inner surface, less concave outer margin of lateral
processes of tegumen, unilobed uncus and dorsal opening of vesica as well as antrum is
cup-shaped and margin of ostium is cut. Comparison with another species of the genus,
Pelatea assidua Meyrick, 1914 from Taiwan, has not been possible because of absence
of the material in European museums.

Distribution. Known only from the type locality - outskirts of Srednikovo vill. of the
Uljanovsk Province (Fig. 18-19). Besides that, very characteristic damage of peonies
by the caterpillars are known from Vjazovyj Gaj vill. (about 32 km to the south from
the type locality). Without doubts, Pelatea klugiana verucha ssp. n. is connected
closely in its distribution with the range of the food plant although is known not
from all its populations (fig. 20). As a matter of fact, Paeonia tenuifolia grows in the
Uljanovsk District exclusively on carbonat soils, mainly on chalk, in sparse forest-
steppe associations and on stepped slopes (Maslennikov 1995). The range of the new
subspecies is isolated geographically from the range of the nominated subspecies
native to the mountain ranges of Central and Southern Europe.

Life history. Caterpillars of the species feed on different species of peonies. Foodplant
in Central Europe - Paeonia rosea (Kuznetsov 1978; Razowski 2001, 2003) and
small sample of moths reared from P. officinalis at our disposal from EMEM. In
the Uljanovsk District caterpillars were collected from P. tenuifolia. Related species
P. biehersteiniana with stronger and denser leaves is settled by the species not willingly.
Larvae live in small colony from 2 to 5 specimens. They weave densely the growing
buds of young sprout with silk thread forming some kind of silk nest. These dense nests
are visible well on Paeonia bushes from afar (Fig. 13). Inside that, the caterpillars move
on silk tunnels, feeding inside not coming on outer surface. Pupation within silk nest.

Nota lepid. 28 (1): 3-9

Fig. 7. Body chaetotaxy of the larva of Pelatea klugiana verucha ssp. n.

Fig. 8. Head chaetotaxy of the larva of Pelatea klugiana verucha ssp. n., a. frontal, b. lateral,
c. labrum.

Figs. 9-12. Immature stages of Pelatea klugiana verucha ssp. n. 9. Last instar larva. 10. Pupa. 11.
metathorax and abdominal segments I— II of the pupa (dorsal view). 12. Cremaster and abdominal
segments VIII-X of the pupa. a. ventral, b. lateral.

Nedoshivina & Zolotuhin: Pelatea klugiana verucha ssp. n. from the Volga Region

Figs. 13-19. Life history of Pelatea klugiana verucha ssp. n. 13. Silk nests forming by larvae on Paeonia
bushes. 14. Imago on the host plant. 15. Larva. 16. Larva inside the silk nest. 17. Pupal exuviae in the silk
nest. 18-19. Type locality.

Fig. 20. Distribution of Pelatea klugiana verucha ssp. n. in the Uljanovsk Province. W Locations of
Paeonia. Type locality of Pelatea klugiana verucha ssp. n. 9 Unconfirmed occurrence of the moth-
species.

Shortly before hatching (for 4-5 minutes), the pupa protrudes from the nest (Fig. 17).
Emerging during all a day. Sex ratio males : females as 3:1 in first days and about 7:1
later. Moths are not mobile and only shortly flit being disturbed; they hold near by food
plant and can be collected from it with the hand (Fig. 14). The subspecies has been not
collected on artificial light. Flight period short (some days), and emerging from pupa is

Nota lepid. 28 (1): 3-9

synchronous, within 4-7 days. Develops one generation per year. Hibernating stage is
unknown (egg, caterpillar within egg shell or young caterpillar?).

Some parasitoids were reared from the nests: Temelucha sp. (Ichneumonidae:
Cremastinae), Chelonus annulipes Wsm. (Braconidae) as well as larvae of a very small
unidentified tachinid fly, not developed into imago.

Comparative material examined of Pelatea khigiana: 1 cT France, Cannes Const.; lcf Spain, San
Ildefonso, 84. m.; let Sierra de Alfacar, m., 89; let Granada m.; let Siéra de Huetor, m. 80; 1 cf Italy,
Camiolia; 2Ç Trentino, Mt. Baldo, Mt. Altissimo, 1450 m, ex Paeonia officinalis, 6. & 8.vi.l958, Jaeckh
leg. (all ZMHUB); 2cf, 2Ç Mt. Baldo, late vi.1967 (e. 1.), Pfister leg.; 3cf Mt. Baldo, Corne Piana, 1600 m,
late vi. 1961 (e. 1.), Burmann leg.; 7cf, 1 ç Mt. Baldo, mid vi.1958, Pfister leg. (all EMEM).

Derivatio nominis. The subspecies is named after Mrs Vera Isajeva (Uljanovsk,
Russia) who took an active participation in collecting of entomological material and
made a contribution to the knowledge of the entomofauna of the Uljanovsk District.
Remarks. The species is here recorded from Russia for the first time.

Acknowledgements

We are grateful to Mrs V. Isajeva and Mr A. Isajev (Uljanovsk) for their help in many aspects. We want
to thank Dr. V. I. Kuznetsov (St. Petersburg) for taxonomic advices, Dr. V. I. Tobias and Dr. R. Kasparjan
(both St. Petersburg) who kindly identified the parasitoids. We also owe our special thanks to Dr. V. V.
Anikin (Saratov) for his contribution to a knowledge of species biology in Saratov Province. And we thank
Mr A. Noem for his help in technical work.

References

Kuznetsov, V.I. 1978. Tortricidae. - In : Medvedev G. S., Keys to the insects of the European part of the
USSR 4 (I). - Leningrad, “Nauka”. Pp. 193-710 (in Russian).

Maslennikov, A.V. 1995. On distribution and ecology of Paeonia tenuifolia L. on the Central part of Cis-
Volga height, pp. 93-94. - In: Flora of Central Russia [Flora Tsentral’noj Rossii], - Moscow State
University, Moscow (in Russian).

Razowski, J. 2001. Die Tortriciden (Lepidoptera, Tortricidae) Mitteleuropas. - F. Slamka, Bratislava.
319 pp.

Razowski, J. 2003. Tortricidae (Lepidoptera) of Europe 2. Olethreutinae. - F. Slamka, Bratislava,
301 pp.

Nota lepid. 28 (1): 11-15

Lithostege fissurata Mabille, 1888 from Malta, new for the
fauna of Europe (Geometridae, Larentiinae)

Axel Hausmann 1 & Anthony Seguna 2

1 Zoologische Staatssammlung München, Münchhausenstr. 21, D-81247 Munich, Germany;
e-mail: Axel.Hausmann@zsm.mwn.de

2 68 ‘Redeemer’ Triq L-Emigranti, Naxxar NXR 05, Malta; e-mail: seguna@onvol.net

Abstract. The first record of Lithostege fissurata Mabille, 1888 for Malta Island and for the fauna of
Europe is presented. L. inanis Prout, 1941 is downgraded (again) to subspecies of L. fissurata. L. bifissana
Rebel, 1911 is downgraded from species rank to synonymy of L. notata Bang-Haas, 1906.

Zusammenfassung. Lithostege fissurata Mabille, 1888 wird für Malta und damit erstmals für die
europäische Fauna nachgewiesen. L. inanis Prout, 1941 wird wieder auf den Rang einer Unterart von
L. fissurata herabgestuft. L. bifissana Rebel, 1911 ist ein jüngeres Synonym von L. notata Bang-Haas, 1906.

Key words. Lithostege fissurata , Geometridae, fauna of Europe, Malta, synonymy.

Introduction

When Müller ( 1 996) listed 9 1 5 European geometrid species, the fauna was thought to be
well known. However, during the preparation of the book series "The Geometrid moths
of Europe”, several new species were discovered. The new European checklist, which
was published recently on the internet, contains 957 species (Hausmann 2004). The fauna
of Malta included 52 geometrid moth species in Valletta (1973) and 57 species in Müller
(1996). Sammut (2000) listed 89 geometrid species for the island, but many of these records
are based on doubtful sources. According to Hausmann & Viidalepp (2004) there are
59 valid records while eight additional species await confirmation.

Eleven Lithostege species were mentioned by Hausmann & Viidalepp (2004). However,
one of them, L. cinerata Turati, 1924 (sensu Hausmann 2004), has to be deleted because it
was recently replaced by the description of Lithostege clarae Gaston & Redondo, 2004. The
latter name was added to the faunal inventory 'at the last minute’ (July 2004) and the name
of the sister species could not be removed from the list. With the discovery of L. fissurata, the
number of European Lithostege taxa increases to the following eleven species:

The bosporaria species-group

Lithostege bosporaria (Herrich-Schäffer, 1848)

The farinata species-group
Lithostege coassata (Hübner, 1825)

Lithostege farinata (Hufnagel, 1767)

Lithostege duponcheli Prout, 1938
Lithostege palaestinensis Amsel, 1935

Lithostege clarae Gaston & Redondo, 2004 (= L. cinerata sensu Hausmann &
Viidalepp 2004)

Lithostege griseata ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775)

Lithostege fissurata Mabille, 1 888
Lithostege infuscata (Eversmann, 1837)

Lithostege odessaria (Boisduval, 1848)

The castiliaria species-group
Lithostege castiliaria Staudinger, 1 877

Nota lepidopterologica, 07.06.2005, ISSN 0342-7536

Hausmann & Seguna: Lithostege fissurata from Malta

Figs. 1-3. Lithostege fissurata Mabille, 1888. 1. Habitus of specimen from Malta (photo: A. Seguna).
2. Male genitalia of specimen from Tunisia and sternum A8 (photos: A. Hausmann). 3. Female genitalia of
specimen from Tunisia (photo: A. Hausmann). Scale bars 1 mm.

Nota lepid. 28 (1): 11-15

Lithostege fissurata Mabille 1888 (Figs. 1-3)

Lithostege fissurata Mabille. 1888: 58 (type locality: Tunisia). Holotype 9 (ZSM/Herbulot, examined;

topotypical material of both sexes dissected: Figs. 2, 3).

Lithostege inanis Prout in Seitz. 1941: 331, “pi. 34i” (Scoble 1999), “pi. 34a’’ in the text of Prout ( 1941: 331),
but not illustrated under both indications in the German edition of Seitz (type locality: Saudi Arabia:
Khafa). Holotype cf (BMNH, examined; topotypical material of both sexes dissected). Wiltshire 1990
(synonym); Scoble 1999 (bona sp.); here regarded as subspecies of L. fissurata stat. rev.

Lithostege fitzgeraldi Wiltshire, 1947: 10, fig. 15, text-fig. 10(type locality: Saudi Arabia, Artawiya, Nejd).
Holotype cf (BMNH, examined). Scoble 1999 (junior synonym of L.f. inanis).

Material, lcf, Malta, Qrendi, San Niklaw, 7.iii.2004, coll. Denis Magro, at light. Additionally
examined (ZSM): 5cfQ Tunisia, 11 cfç Algeria, lcf 19 Libya, 4cfcf S. Israel (Arava valley: Yotvata),
2 lcf 9 Saudi Arabia; I9 SE. Iran (Balutshistan).

Diagnosis. (Fig. 1 ). Wingspan: 19-28 mm. Wing shape with the generic characteristics
of Lithostege , i.e. small, hindwing round, forewing termen convex, forewing apex
slightly pointed. Ground colour of hindwing dirty white, that of forewing pale creame-
coloured. No wing pattern except for the broad dark grey apical streak, which may, in
about 5% of the specimens occasionally be absent or very weakly marked. In subsp.
inanis this apical streak is always absent, hindwing darker than in nominate subspecies,
usually darker than forewing. Sternum A8 in both sexes posteriorly sclerotised to a
rounded lobe.

Male genitalia (Fig. 2). Uncus short, stout, tapered. Valva short and broad.
Posterior basal process of valva short, strongly curved, spinulose at tip. Anterior basal
process of valva short and rounded. Aedeagus short.

Female genitalia (Fig. 3). Apophyses anteriores very short. Antrum trapezoid
or sub-triangular. Ductus bursae very short. Corpus bursae globular or slightly elongate,
covered all over with spinules.

Distribution. Nominate subspecies from western Algeria to Libya, south-eastern Egypt
(Wiltshire 1949), Israel (new for the fauna of Israel; Arava valley: ZSM). Subspecies
inanis from Saudi Arabia to south-eastern Iran (new for the fauna of Iran; Balutshistan:
ZSM) and southern Iraq (Wiltshire 1952).

Life history. Univoltine. Label data indicate a flight period spanning from early
March to early May (nominate subspecies), and from mid-February to mid-March in
ssp. inanis. Vertical distribution from 0 m up to 800 m above sea level. The moth was
caught in Malta near a coastal steppe which includes plants like the Sea squill ( Urginea
maritima), Branched Asphodel ( Asphodelus aestivus), and Spurges ( Euphorbia spp.).
Egg described in Prout (1937). Other immature stages unknown.

Remarks. After examination of numerous topotypical specimens exactly corresponding
to the original description, the taxon “L. bifissana Rebel, 1911”, described from the
Jordan valley (Israel/Jordan) in comparison with L. fissurata, and treated as a separate
species in Scoble (1999), must be downgraded to the synonymy of L. notata Bang-
Haas, 1906 (syn. n.) (Figs. 4-6). The habitus and morphology of L. fissurata support its
position in the Lithostege farinata species-group. The peculiar wing pattern excludes
confusion with any other of the known Lithostege species, at least in the nominate

Hausmann & Seguna: Lithostege fissurata from Malta

Figs. 4-6. Lithostege notata Bang-Haas, 1906 (-bifissana Rebel, 1911). 4. Habitus of specimen from
Jordan, 20 km NE Dead Sea. 5. Male genitalia and sternum A8 (Israel, southern Dead Sea region).
6. Female genitalia (Israel, southern Dead Sea region) (photos: A. Hausmann). Scale bars 1 mm.

Nota lepid. 28 (1): 11-15

subspecies. This new record shows that apart from new entries by ‘species splitting’,
there are still some ‘spectacular’ Macrolepidoptera species awaiting discovery on the
territory of Europe. However, it remains unclear whether L. fissurata is just a rare
species, overlooked due to the early flight season, or a recent coloniser of the island of
Malta, or a rare migrant from North Africa.

Acknowledgements

We are indebted to Denis Magro for the loan of the material in question.

References

Hausmann, A. 2004. The Fauna of Europe, Geometridae. - http://www.faunaeur.org/.

Hausmann, A. & J. Viidalepp 2004. Larentiinae. — In: A. Hausmann, The Fauna of Europe, Geometridae.

- http://www.faunaeur.org/.

Mabille, P. 1888. Descriptions d’espèces nouvelles de Lépidoptères de Tunisie et d’Algérie. - Bulletin de
la Société entomologique de France 1888: 42^13, 51-52, 58-59.

Müller, B. 1996. Geometridae. pp. 218-249. - In: O. Karsholt & J. Razowski, The Lepidoptera of Europe,
a Distributional Checklist. - Apollo Books, Stenstrup, 380 pp.

Prout, L. B. 1934—1935, additions 1938. Brephinae, Oenochrominae, Hemitheinae, Sterrhinae, Larentiinae.

- In: Seitz, A., Die Groß-Schmetterlinge der Erde, Suppl. 4. - Verlag A. Kernen, Stuttgart.

Sammut, P. M. 2000. Il-Lepidoptera. - Pubblikazzjonijiet Indipendenza, Malta, 245 pp.

Scoble, M. J. 1999. Geometrid Moths of the World: a catalogue (Lepidoptera, Geometridae). Vols. 1 and
2. - CSIRO Publishing and Apollo Books, Stenstrup. 1016 pp. + 129 pp. index.

Prout, L. B. 1920-1941. Die indoaustralischen Spanner. - In: Seitz, A., Die Groß-Schmetterlinge der Erde,
vol. 12. - Verlag A. Kernen, Stuttgart, 356 pp.

Valletta, A. 1973. The Moths of the Maltese Islands. - Progress Press, Malta, 1 18 pp.

Wiltshire, E. P. 1947. Middle East Lepidoptera VII: New species and forms from Egypt and Arabia.

- Bulletin de la Société Fouad Ier d’Entomologie 31: 1-11, pi.

Wiltshire, E. P. 1949. The Lepidoptera of the Kingdom of Egypt, Pt. 2. - Bulletin de la Société Fouad Ier
d’Entomologie 33: 38 1^457.

Wiltshire, E. P. 1952. Further New records of Lepidoptera from Cyprus, Iraq and Persia (Iran).

- Entomologist’s Record and Journal of Variation 63, suppl. 10: 1-6.

Wiltshire, E. P. 1990. An illustrated, annotated catalogue of the Macro-Heterocera of Saudi Arabia.

- Fauna of Saudi Arabia 11: 91-250.

Nota lepid. 28 (1): 17-23

Revision of Evergestis anartalis (Staudinger, 1892) comb. rev.
from Central Asia (Pyraloidea: Crambidae: Evergestinae)

Matthias Nuss

Museum für Tierkunde, Königsbrücker Landstr. 159, D-01109 Dresden,
e-mail: matthias.nuss@snsd.smwk.sachsen.de

Abstract. The nomenclature of Evergestis anartalis (Staudinger, 1892) comb, rev., a species which has
been described three times and of which the names have been placed in three different subfamilies of
Crambidae, is investigated. The generic name Maelinoptera Staudinger, 1893 syn. n. is revised as a junior
subjective synonym of Evergestis Hübner, 1825 and the type-species of this monotypic genus, Hercyna
anartalis Staudinger, 1892, is transferred to Evergestis. Evergestis heliacalis Zerny, 1914 syn. n. and
Noctuelia anartalis Hampson, 1918 syn. n., are considered as junior subjective synonyms of Evergestis
anartalis (Staudinger, 1892) (Hercyna). Evergestis anartalis Hampson, 1918 (Noctuelia) therefore
becomes a junior secondary homonym of Evergestis anartalis (Staudinger, 1892) (Hercyna). Lectotypes
of Hercyna anartalis Staudinger, 1892 and Evergestis heliacalis Zerny, 1914 are designated. Evergestis
anartalis (Staudinger, 1892) is redescribed; adults, male and female genitalia are illustrated. According
to the specimens investigated, it is assumed that Evergestis anartalis is endemic to sub-alpine and alpine
altitudes in Central Asia.

Key words. Evergestis anartalis, taxonomic revision. Central Asia, alpine altitudes, endemic species.

Introduction

After Staudinger (1892: pi. 3 fig. 17) already figured Hercyna anartalis, he provided
the description of this species a year later and described the genus Maelinoptera to
include Hercyna anartalis only (Staudinger 1893: 72-73). Already Meyrick (1890:
457-458), Rebel (1901: 56) and Zerny (1914: 326) included anartalis Staudinger in the
genus Evergestis Hübner, 1825 but did not mention Maelinoptera. Subsequently, Klima
(1939: 334) treated Maelinoptera as a synonym of Evergestis. However, Maelinoptera
was later placed in Pyraustinae (Pyraloidea: Crambidae) by Fletcher & Nye (1984:
60), and the same authors distinguish the Evergestinae with the type genus Evergestis
as a distinct group from Pyraustinae. The type series of Hercyna anartalis Staudinger
is deposited at the Museum für Naturkunde in Berlin. However, a specimen looking
externally conspecific with anartalis Staudinger and labelled as type of anartalis
Hampson has been found also in the collection of The Natural History Museum in
London (BMNH). Subsequent search in the card index of the BMNH referred to an
original reference from which it is evident that Hampson (1918: 406-407) described
a new species under the name Noctuelia anartalis. According to current classification,
Noctuelia Guenée, 1 854 belongs to the subfamily Odontiinae (Pyraloidea: Crambidae).
Searching the literature, a further description has been detected of a species which
seems to have affinities to Hercyna anartalis Staudinger, too. It is the description of
Evergestis heliacalis by Zerny (1914: 326-327, pi. 26 fig. 26), which according to
current classification belongs to Evergestinae. Thus, three species descriptions have
been found in literature which are under the suspicion to belong to one species, or to a
few closely related species, which however are assigned to three different subfamilies
of Crambidae, depending on the reference used. Due to this confusing situation, the
types of all three taxa, as well as additional specimens have been investigated and the
results are presented in the following.

Nota lepidopterologica, 07.06.2005, ISSN 0342-7536

Nuss: Evergestis anartalis from Central Asia

Abbreviations

BMNH

MTD

NMW

SMF

ZMHB

The Natural History Museum. London.

Museum für Tierkunde, Dresden.

Naturhistorisches Museum, Wien

Forschungsinstitut und Naturmuseum Senckenberg, Frankfurt am Main
Museum für Naturkunde der Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin

Evergestis anartalis (Staudinger, 1892) comb. rev.

Hercyna anartalis Staudinger, 1892: 466, pl. 3 hg. 17; 1893: 72 (type-locality: ‘Centralasien').

Noctuelia anartalis Hampson, 1918: 406^107 (type-locality: ‘E-Turkestan’) syn. n., junior secondary
homonym.

Evergestis heliacalis Zerny, 1914: 326-327. pl. 26 fig. 26 (type-locality: ‘Djarkent Ili-Gebiet') syn. n.

Material. Hercyna anartalis Staudinger: Lectotype cf ‘Origin’, [Uzbekistan. Namangan. 40°57'N
71°40’E], ‘ Hercyna anartalis I Staudinger, 1892 1 det & coll Stdgr3#18 I teste M. Nuss, 1998', ‘Lectotype I
Hercyna anartalis I Staudinger. 1892 I des. M. Nuss, 2005' (hereby designated), ‘prep. no. I 1040 I M. Nuss,
2005’, ZMHB. - Paralectotypes: 3cf. 2q, same data as lectotype; 1 9 Margelan [Alai, 40°24'N 71°43'E|;
1 9 Kyrgyzstan. Osch [40°29’N 72°51'E]; 1 cf Alexandergebirge (Kirgizskiy Khrebet. 42°30'N 73°30'E);
2cf,29 Kazakhstan, Alatau [Dzungarischer Ala-Tau. 45°10’N 81°00'E]; I9 Kuldja [=Kuldsha, = China,
Xinjiang, Gulja 43°57'N 81°24'E]; lcf, 19 Altai; ZMHB. - Noctuelia anartalis Hampson: Holotype
(by monotypy) 9 ‘Type’, ‘Turkestan I A. Avinoff. I 1913-191.’, 'Noctuelia I anartalis I type 9. Hmpsn.’,
‘B.M. Pyralidae I Genitalia slide I No. 20282 9' (gen. prep. Nuss 828), BMNH. - Evergestis heliacalis
Zerny: Lectotype cf, with white label, printed: ‘Asia centr. I [Kazakhstan] Ili Gebiet I Umg. Djarkent I
Coll. Wagner', white label handwritten in black ink: ‘20. 7. [ 19] 10’, white label handwritten in black ink:
‘ Evergestis I heliacalis Zerny I cf [and in red ink:] Type’, white label, printed: ‘prep. no. I 1039 I M. Nuss,
2005’ [prep. no. NMW: 16847], red label, printed: ‘Lectotypus I Evergestis heliacalis I Zerny. 1914 I des.
M. Nuss, 2005’, (hereby designated), NMW. Paralectotypes: 29, same data, [but no date given], (one
9 without abdomen), NMW. - Additional material. 1 cf Kyrgyzstan. Chatkal'skij Chrebet, Sarsuta Pass
(41°31’N 70°46’E), 2800 m, 26. vi. 1998, leg. et coll. Karisch; lcf, 19 Turkestan Mts., Ak-Terek, Noo-
Dzhailo valley, 3000-3400 m, 1.-14. vii.1999, Petrov leg., MTD; lcf Alayskiy Mts., Taldyikpass, 3550 m.
39°46’N 73°09’E, 13.vii.1998, Nuss leg., MTD; 2cf, 19 Alai, Paravicini Coll. B.M. 1937-383, BMNH.
lcf Kazakhstan, Hi Gebiet, Djarkent (= Dzharkent. = Panfilov 44°10'N 80°01’E), coll. Möbius, MTD;
lcf Zailijskij Alatau, Turgen valley, 43°15’N 77°52’E, 2400 m, 19. vi. 2000, Nuss leg., MTD; I9 same
data, but 2660 m; 3cf Zailijskij Alatau, 43°05’N 77°04'E, 3300 m. 5.-6.vii.2000. Nuss leg., MTD. 29
China, Xinjiang, Korla, ZMHB; lcf Tura, coll. A. Seitz, SMF.

Description of the lectotype of E. anartalis (Staudinger), cf (Fig. 1).

Head. Globular; labial palpi porrect, as long as diameter of eyes, long and white
scaled ventrally, light brown coloured laterally; maxillary palpi slender, cylindrical,
upright; flagellum slenderly filiform, flagellomeres slightly prismatic, dorsally whitish
brown scaled, ventrally densely setose. Head dorsally covered with spatulate scales,
coloured brown, intermixed with white; ventrally predominantly white scaled; long
hair-like scales are intermixed around the head, with the exception of compound eyes.
Thorax . Dorsally dominantly covered with spatulate scales, coloured brown, black
and white; intermixed with white hair-like scales. Ventrally predominantly scaled with
white, hair-like scales, also at coxae and femora. Forewing 12 mm long, dorsal side
dominant brown coloured; basal area with a white, dentate line proximal of antemedian
line; antemedian line white, dentate, black edged towards median space; distal
discocellular stigma X-like, black; postmedian line yellowish white, S-like bent from
anterior to posterior margin of wing, proximally black edged and with broad cream-
white band; at termen a white, strongly dentate line, black edged toward termen; fringe
brown and white chequered. Hindwing dorsally dominant indian yellow coloured, with

Nota lepid. 28(1): 17-23

Figs. 1-8. Adults of Evergestis anartalis (Staudinger. 1892). 1. Lectotype, cf, Hercyna anartalis
Staudinger, 1892, from Namangan (ZMHB). 2. Paralectotype, ç, Hercyna anartalis Staudinger. 1892,
from Namangan (ZMHB). 3. Paralectotype, $, Hercyna anartalis Staudinger, 1892, from the Alay Mts.
(ZMHB). 4. Paralectotype, cf, Hercyna anartalis Staudinger, 1892, from the Alexander Mts. (ZMHB).
5. Paralectotype, ç, Hercyna anartalis Staudinger, 1892, from the Alatau Mts. (ZMHB). 6. Lectotype, cf,
Evergestis heliacalis Zemy, 1914 from Panfilov (NMW).7. Paralectotype, 9, Evergestis heliacalis Zerny,
1914 from Panfilov (NMW). 8. Holotype, ç, Noctuelia anartalis Hampson, 1918 (BMNH).

Nuss: Evergestis anartalis from Central Asia

12b

Figs. 9-12. Male genitalia of Evergestis anartalis (Staudinger, 1892). 9. Lectotype of E. anartalis
(Staudinger), prep. Nuss 1040. 10. Lectotype of E. heliacalis Zerny, prep. Nuss 1039. 11. Paralectotype, E.
anartalis Staudinger, prep. Nuss 1041 (same specimen as Fig. 4). 12. Paralectotype. E. anartalis Staudinger
from Namangan, prep. Nuss 831. a. male genitalia, b. posterior end of phallus with cornuti. c. distal tip of
gnathos (arrow) and uncus.

Nota lepid. 28(1): 17-23

Fig. 13. Female genitalia of Evergestis anartalis (Staudinger, 1892), paralectotype from Alay Mts., prep.
Nuss 829. a. bursa copulatrix. b. colliculum, segment VIII and papillae anales (from left to right).

dark brown margin; fringe brown at base, pale ochre distally. All wings ventrally pale
yellow; forewings with conspicuous black-brown distal discoidal stigma, pale brown
coloured apex, which is interrupted by a yellow line at costa; hindwings with brown
apex too, and an inconspicuous spotted line parallel to termen. Male retinaculum with
hamus.

Abdomen. Dorsally brown scaled, white edge along posterior margin of tergites;
ventrally predominantly white coloured.

Male genitalia (Figs. 9-12). Uncus triangular. Gnathos slightly bent; broadly
articulating along ventral edge of tegumen as characteristic for Evergestinae; dentate
dorsally before distal tip. Valvae with straight dorsal edge, ventrally at base strongly
convex, a folded, slightly stronger sclerotised field medially; juxta elongate ovate;
vinculum slender. Phallus conspicuously blunt angled after two thirds from the
anterior; opening of ductus ejaculatorius just anterior to this angle; within the posterior
third, there are two ventro-lateral elongate fields of thorn-like cornuti close to the
posterior edge of the phallodeme; anterior to this fields there are two lateral groups of
larger cornuti, too.

Female genitalia (Fig. 1 3). Corpus bursae globular, with a pair of signa composed
of numerous rectangular slerites, surrounded by needle-like sclerotisations; cervix
bursae large funnel shaped; ductus bursae narrow; colliculum and antrum dorsally
forming a sclerotised ring, open ventrally; sternite VIII very narrow; apophyses anteriores
and apophyses posteriores short; papillae anales connected dorsally, strongly setose.
Variation (Figs. 2-8, 9-1 2b). Forewing length 8-12 mm; the six specimens from
Namangan, north of the Fergana Valley, present a larger forewing length (11-12 mm) as
all other specimens, including the primary types of Evergestis heliacalis and E. anartalis
(Hampson) (8-10 mm). The quantity of hair like scales varies, especially around the head
and dorsal side of thorax. Forewing dorsally with white basal line in some specimens
absent, antemedian line and subterminal line more or less inconspicuous, shape of
S-bent postmedian line varies slightly; and scales covering the hamus are pale yellow
or brown coloured. The hindwing with dark-brown marginal band variable in width;
the basal area in some specimens with large brown field, in some specimens occupying

Nuss: Evergestis anartalis from Central Asia

the entire inner edge of wing; ventrally, the spotted line is absent in some specimens.
In male genitalia, dentation at distal tip of gnathos is reduced in some specimens and
size of cornuti varies slightly. Variation of different characters do not correspond to
each other. Females with somewhat broader forewings, comparing specimens of the
same size.

Generic placement. The genus Maelinoptera Staudinger, 1893 with its only included
species Hercyna anartalis Staudinger, 1 892 has been described mainly by the presence
of intensively yellow coloured hindwings, while most Evergestis species have pale-
brown hindwings. However, all other morphological characters used for generic
concepts in Evergestinae are so similar to Evergestis , that Maelinoptera Staudinger,
1893 syn. rev. is revised as a synonym of Evergestis Hübner, 1825 (type species:
Pyralis margaritalis [Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775) here. So far, Evergestis is not
proven as a monophyletic group, but the species included are so similar in morphology,
especially that of genitalia, that there is no reason to doubt that they constitute a natural
group. Some characters the Evergestis species have in common are in male genitalia
the long and slender uncus and gnathos, the latter distally toothed and articulating from
the ventral edges of tegumen, a long juxta, the valvae are simple and unarmed, and the
phallus is obtusely angled behind the middle, in some species with cornuti. The females
have well developed papillae anales, the bursa copulatrix is globular and has a pair of
large signa (Munroe 1973; Goater, in press).

Life history. Adults have been collected between 19.vi.-20.vii. The early stages are
unknown.

Distribution. The species is known only from Central Asia. All records with reliable
data are related to localities at 2400-3550 m altitude, the sub-alpine and alpine
meadows. Thus, it is assumed that E. anartalis Staudinger is endemic to the high
mountains of Central Asia.

Remarks. The few specimens available for study suggests that only the six specimens
from Namangan in the Fergana Valley present a larger forewing length (11-12 mm),
while all other specimens with a smaller forewing length (8-10 mm) probably originate
from higher altitudes, as indicated by those specimens collected more recently with
more precise data. The specimens originating from higher altitudes also seem to have
more black pigments suffused on thorax and forewings, as well as a higher quantity
of hair like scales at head and thorax. Therefore, it might be possible that at least
some of the variable character states are related to altitudinal adaptation. However,
few specimens have been investigated only and it remains interesting to learn more
about the factors influencing the variation. Overall variation shows no constant and
distinct characters to separate species of the Evergestis anartalis complex. Therefore,
Evergestis heliaealis Zerny, 1914 syn. n. and Noctuelia anartalis Hampson, 1918 syn.
n. are synonymised here with Evergestis anartalis Staudinger, 1892 {Hercyna). Thus,
Noctuelia anartalis Hampson becomes a junior secondary homonym of Evergestis
anartalis Staudinger. In order to clearly verify the status of the species group names for
the taxa investigated and to fix their name bearing types, lectotypes are designated for
Hercyna anartalis Staudinger, 1892 and Evergestis heliaealis Zerny, 1914.

Nota lepid. 28(1): 17-23

Acknowledgements

I am grateful to Sabine Gaal-Haszler (NMW), Timm Karisch (Dessau, Germany), Wolfram Mey (ZMHB)
and Wolfgang Nässig (SMF) for the loan of specimens as well as to Michael Shaffer & Kevin Tuck
(BMNH) for access to the collections under their care.

References

Fletcher, D.S. & I.W.B. Nye 1984. The generic names of moths of the world. 5. Pyraloidea. - Trustees of
the British Museum (Natural History), London: i-xvi, 1-185.

Goater, B., in press. Evergestinae. - In: B. Goater, M. Nuss & W. Speidel, Pyraloidea I (Crambidae: Acen-
tropinae, Evergestinae, Heliothelinae, Schoenobiinae, Scopariinae). - In: P. Huemer & O. Karsholt,
Microlepidoptera of Europe 4. - Apollo Books, Stenstrup.

Hampson, G. F. 1918. Descriptions of new Pyralidae of the subfamily Pyraustinae. - Annals and Magazine
of Natural History (ser. 9) 2: 393-407.

Hübner, J. 1816-1826 [‘1816’]. Verzeichniss bekannter Schmettlinge [sic], - Augsburg: bey dem Verfasser
zu finden, - pp. (Verzeichniß) [l]-[3]^f- 6— [7]— 8 — 43 1 , (Anzeiger) [ 1 ]— 2— 72.

Klima, A. 1939. Pyralididae: Subfam.: Pyraustinae I. pp. 225-383. - In: F. Bryk, Lepidopterorum
Catalogous 94. - Verlag Gustav Feiler, Neubrandenburg.

Meyrick, E. 1890. On the classification of the Pyralidina of the European fauna. - Transactions of the
Entomological Society of London: 429^-92, pi. 15.

Munroe, E. G. 1974. Pyraloidea, Pyralidae comprising the subfamily Evergestinae. Pp. 251-304, pis.
1-13, pis. A-K, pp. xv-xx. - In: R. B. Dominick et al.. The Moths of America north of Mexico 13.1C.
- E.W. Classey and R.B.D. Publications Inc., London.

Rebel, H. 1901 . Catalog der Lepidopteren des palaearctischen Faunengebietes. 2. Theil: Famil. Pyralidae-
Micropterygidae. - Berlin (R. Friedländer & Sohn), pp. 1-368.

Staudinger, O. 1892. Folgende auf Tafel III abgebildete Arten werden im nächsten Bande dieser Zeitschrift
noch beschrieben. - Deutsche entomologische Zeitschrift Iris, Dresden 5: 466, pl. 3.

Staudinger. O. 1893. Beschreibungen neuer palaearktischer Pyraliden. - Deutsche entomologische
Zeitschrift Iris, Dresden 6: 71-82.

Zerny, H. 1914. Über paläarktische Pyraliden des k.k. naturhistorischen Hofmuseums in Wien. - Annalen
des k.k. naturhistorischen Hofmuseums Wien 28: 295-348, pl. 25-26.

Nota lepid. 28 ( 1 ): 25-34

Polyommatus dantchenkoi (Lukhtanov & Wiemers, 2003)
tentatively identified as new to Europe, with a description of a
new taxon from the Balkan Peninsula (Lycaenidae)

Zdravko Kolev

Porttikuja 4 E 101, FTN - 00940 Helsinki, Finland; e-mail: zdravko.kolev@helsinki.fi

Abstract. Karyological data have revealed the presence of a taxon corresponding to the recently described
Polyommatus ( Agrodiaetus ) dantchenkoi (Lukhtanov & Wiemers, 2003) in the Rhodopi Mts. of Bulgaria.
The find expands greatly the range of this karyospecies, previously known only from Van Province in SE
Turkey. This population is identical in karyotype structure and haploid chromosome number (n=41— 42)
and has a generally similar external and genital morphology than P. (A.) dantchenkoi. On the other hand,
the Rhodopi population differs morphologically from nominotypical P. (A.) dantchenkoi as well as from
all other Balkan taxa of brown Agrodiaetus. For these reasons this population is here described as a
separate taxon. Polyommatus dantchenkoi orphicus ssp. n.

Key words, karyotype, chromosome, Polyommatus , Agrodiaetus, dantchenkoi , aroaniensis,
ripartii, admetus, Lycaenidae, Lepidoptera. Europe, Balkan Peninsula, Bulgaria, Rhodopi, orphicus new
subspecies.

Introduction

The systematics of Agrodiaetus Hübner, 1822, a subgenus of Polyommatus Latreille,
1804 is presently in a state of upheaval. In addition to the steady flow of descriptions of
new taxa, the first molecular phy logenies of the group (Wiemers 2003 ; Kandul et al . 2004)
provided entirely new insights on the relationships within this highly complex and diverse
subgenus. Most challenging is the taxonomy of the so-called monomorphic or ‘brown’
taxa, so named because of the uniform brown colour of the male upperside, similar to that
of the female. The high species diversity of this group was brought to light in the 1960's
by the pioneering karyological research of H. De Lesse. Nowhere in the subgenus is
reliance on karyology as important for taxonomy and systematics as in the brown taxa.
Currently four species of brown Agrodiaetus are known from the Balkan Peninsula:
P. (A.) admetus (Esper, [1783]), P. (A.) ripartii (Freyer, 1830), P. (A.) aroaniensis
(Brown, 1976), and P. (A.) nephohiptamenos (Brown & Coutsis, 1978). The last two
species are endemic to this region. Despite this diversity (the highest in Europe),
karyological research on the Balkan brown Agrodiaetus has been sporadic to date and has
concentrated almost exclusively on Greek populations (Brown 1976; Brown & Coutsis
1978; Coutsis et al. 1999; Wiemers 2003). The recent reports of P. (A.) aroaniensis and
P. (A.) nephohiptamenos as new to Bulgaria (Kolev 1994) and P. (A.) aroaniensis as
new to Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (Kolev & Poorten 1997) have been
based on morphological and anatomical characters. The only published karyological
data from elsewhere in the peninsula remain those of H. de Lesse, who sampled P. (A.)
ripartii and P. (A.) admetus in westernmost Bulgaria (Kalotina checkpoint) en route to
Asia Minor (de Lesse 1960).

In 1999 a large mixed population of brown Agrodiaetus in the Rhodopi Mts. of
southern Bulgaria has been found, which consists of two morphologically very similar
taxa, P. (A.) ripartii and an unknown taxon. Analysis of karyological samples revealed
that the latter differs from P. (A.) ripartii and P. (A.) aroaniensis in its karyotype as

Nota lepidopterologica, 07.06.2005. ISSN 0342-7536

Kolev: Polyommatus dantchenkoi in Bulgaria

well as morphology. The karyotype of the Rhodopi population is identical with that
of the recently described P. (A.) dantchenkoi (Lukhtanov & Wiemers, 2003) which
so far is known only from its type locality, the Van Province of south-eastern Turkey
(Lukhtanov et al. 2003). Thus the Rhodopi population can be considered the first
record of P. (A.) dantchenkoi for the whole of Europe. However, the morphological
differences between nominotypical P. (A.) dantchenkoi and the Rhodopi population as
well as their considerable geographical separation prompted me to offer the following
description of a new subspecies.

Abbreviations

IZS Institute of Zoology, Sofia

n haploid chromosome number

NMNHS National Museum of Natural History, Sofia

ZK collection of Zdravko Kolev, Helsinki

Methods

For karyological analysis males were collected and kept alive in moistened paperbags
until the extraction of their testes was possible. Testes were fixed in a 3:1 solution of
96% ethanol and glacial acetic acid and refrigerated until further study. Preparations
were made at the Department of Genetics, University of Turku (Finland) following
an advanced methodology for studying holokinetic chromosomes developed by Dr.
Seppo Nokkala (e.g. Grozeva & Nokkala 1996). Countable metaphase plates were
photographed at a magnification of lOOOx with an Olympus DPI 1 microscope digital
camera system mounted on an Olympus BH-2 light microscope. The brightness and
contrast of the digital images were enhanced for printing in Jasc Paint Shop Pro 7.04;
no other image processing was applied.

For studying the genitalia, abdomens were macerated in a 10% solution of KOH,
the genital structures were extracted, cleaned, measured, and drawn immersed at
a magnification of 50x with the aid of camera lucida attached to a Wild stereo-
microscope.

In attempting to establish the distribution of the new taxon and its relatives in Rhodopi,
the public collections of the National Museum of Natural History (Sofia), the Institute
of Zoology (Sofia), and the Museum of Natural History (Burgas) were examined.
Additional material was received from the private collections of Mr. Julius Ganev
(Sofia) and Dr. Stoyan Beshkov (Sofia).

Polyommatus dantchenkoi orphicus ssp. n. Figs. 1-8, 10-18, 33, 34, 39, 42

Material. Holotype cf , white printed label ‘S BG IBulgaria], Rhodopi Mts., I open dry rocky slopes
above I Hvoyna village, 800-950 m I 7.VÜ.1999, Z. Kolev leg.’; white hand-written label ‘ZK99017’; red
printed label ‘Holotype I Polyommatus I dantchenkoi I orphicus ssp. n. I Z. Kolev det.’; ZK. - Paratypes
6cf, 2ç: same white printed labels as holotype except lç (Figs. 11, 34), ‘S BG |South Bulgaria], Rhodopi
Mts., I open dry rocky slopes above I Hvoyna village, 800-950 ni I 6.VÜ.1999, Z. Kolev leg.’; white hand-
written labels (5 cT ) ‘ZK99001’, ‘ZK99004’, ‘ZK99010’, ‘ZK99018’ and ‘ZK99019’; red printed label
‘Paratype I Polyommatus I dantchenkoi I orphicus ssp. n. I Z. Kolev det.’; ZK. Part of the type material is
to be deposited in NMNHS. - Additional material. 1 cf : S Bulgaria, Rhodopi Mts., Lukovitsa
gorge near Asenovgrad town, 400 m, 21.vi.1986, Beshkov leg., ZK; 1 Ç: same data but 21.vii. 1998, Kolev
feg., ZK; lç: Rhodopi Mts., “Persenk” mine, 25.vii.1977, Ganev leg., ZK; lç: Rhodopi Mts., vie. Gela
viïlage, 1500 m, 23.vii.1999, Kolev leg., ZK.

Nota lepid. 28 ( 1 ): 25-34

Figs. 1-8. Metaphase plates of P. (A.) dantchenkoi orphicus ssp. n. 1. n=42, paratype (Fig. 16), prep.
ZK99001-02. 2. n=41, same specimen as Fig. 1, prep. ZK99001-15. 3. n=42, same specimen as Fig. 1,
prep. ZK99001-24. 4. n=41, paratype (Fig. 14), prep. ZK99004-02. 5. n=42, same specimen as Fig. 4, prep.
ZK99004-14. 6. n=42, holotype (Fig. 10), prep. ZK99017-04. 7. n=41, same specimen as Fig. 6, prep.
ZK990 17-07. 8. n=42, paratype (Fig. 15), prep. ZK990 19-01.

Fig. 9. Metaphase plate of P. (A.) ripartii n=90, same specimen as Figs. 28 & 35, prep. ZK99011-02.
Scale bar = 10 pm.

Description. Measurements. Relatively large for a brown Agrodiaetus. Male
forewing length 13.0-18.2 mm (holotype 17.0 mm), mean 16.65 mm (8cf), female
forewing length 14.5-16.5 mm, mean 15.3 mm (59).

Upperside. Resembles P. {A.) aroaniensis closely in both sexes. Ground colour
dark brown with silky sheen and, in males, an extensive androconial field on forewing.
Veins relatively inconspicuous in both sexes, not markedly darker than ground colour,
giving upperside a smooth appearance. Discoidal spot in females darker than ground
colour. Fringe brown, on hindwing brown or brownish-grey on distal half.
Underside. Ground colour warm, light to medium yellowish-brown, with basal
half of forewing tinged colder grey. Forewing : Postdiscal black ocelli prominent,
forming strongly curved row in spaces M3, Cul and Cu2, with ocelli in spaces Cul
and Cu2 on straight, or nearly so, line with discoidal spot. Space M2, along vein M3,
with narrow, diffuse but well visible white streak connecting discoidal and postdiscal
spots in space M2 and often extending a short distance distad from latter. Hindwing :
Greenish irridescent basal suffusion absent or almost so. Postdiscal black ocelli usually

Kolev: Polyommatus dantchenkoi in Bulgaria

well-defined and in complete series, seldom some reduced. Ocelli in spaces M3, Cul,
Cu2 and A2 situated more basad than in P. (A.) ripartii , identical to those of P. (A.) d.
dantchenkoi and P. (A.) aroaniensis. White streak in space M2 always prominent and
sharply defined, its expression independent of degree of reduction of postdiscal ocelli.
Submarginal markings diffuse and faint, only slightly darker than ground colour;
reddish submarginal lunules absent or very faint and exceedingly small.

Male genitalia (Figs. 39 a, b, c). As in P. (A.) aroaniensis (Fig. 40) and P. (A.) d.
dantchenkoi, of the ‘long type’ (Kolev & De Prins 1995). Valva 3.00-3.20 mm long,
mean 3.11 mm (6 cr ), being significantly (P<0.001, two-tailed r-Test assuming equal
variances) longer than in P. (A.) ripartii (Fig. 41 ): 2.36-2.7 1 mm, mean 2.59 mm ( 1 3cf).
Within each taxon the length of valva generally increases with increasing individual size,
as is only to be expected, but the morphometric difference between the male genitalia
of P. (A.) dorphicus and P. (A.) ripartii is clearly not a function of of variable individual
size. This is evident from Fig. 47, which shows a consistent gap between the ranges of
variance in valva length of syntopic samples of the two taxa. This gap is remarkably
wide, particularly in view of the almost total overlap of variance ranges in forewing
length between the two taxa. Besides, the effect of individual variation on genital size
can be eliminated by calculating and comparing individual values of the unit-less index
FWL/VL, which is obtained by dividing the forewing length (FWL in mm) by the valva
length (VL in mm). This index is 5.38-5.69 (mean 5.5683, 6cf) for P. (A.) dorphicus
and 5.97-6.73 (mean 6.38, 13cf ) for P. (A.) ripartii. The differences between the means
of these non-overlapping ranges of variance is statistically significant (PcO.OOl, two-
tailed t-test assuming equal variances). In other words, the valva of P. (A.) orphicus is
disproportionally longer, relative to individual size, than that of P. (A.) ripartii.
Female genitalia (Fig. 42). Henia similar to that of P. (A.) aroaniensis (Fig. 43),
with minor differences in sclerotisation and dimensions of unknown significance due to very
limited number of females available for dissection. Henia of P. (A.) ripartii clearly shorter
and stouter (Fig. 44), that of P. (A.) admetus much longer and more slender (Fig. 45).
Karyotype (Figs. 1-8). Clear countable metaphase plates, mostly MI, were
obtained in preparations of five males: ZK99001, ZK99004, ZK99010, ZK99017, and
ZK99019. In all plates that could be counted precisely the haploid chromosome number
was n=41-42. The karyotype is identical in structure and chromosome number to that
of P. (A.) d. dantchenkoi (Lukhtanov et al. 2003: 66) and in structure also to that of
P. (A.) aroaniensis (Coutsis et al. 1999).

Differential diagnosis. From nominotypical P. (A.) dantchenkoi the new taxon is
distinguished by the presence of a white postdiscal streak on the forewing underside,
a generally larger postdiscal ocelli on the hindwing underside, and less contrasting
veins on the upperside. From P. (A.) aroaniensis, which it resembles extremely closely
on the upperside, the new taxon is distinguished by the constant presence of a clear
white postdiscal streak on the forewing underside, as a rule a complete series of
larger postdiscal spots on the underside, and the constant presence on the hindwing
underside of a white streak (completely absent in at least half of the individuals in
any given population of P. (A.) aroaniensis) which is wider, better defined, and more
contrasting than in P. (A.) aroaniensis individuals possessing such a streak. From the
sympatric and syntopic P. (A.) ripartii the new taxon is distinguished by the presence
on the forewing underside of a white postdiscal streak and on average a more strongly
curved row of postdiscal spots, and on the upperside the veins are less pronounced and

Nota lepid. 28 (1): 25-34

Figs. 10-18. Undersides of P. (A.) dantchenkoi orphicus ssp. n. 10. Holotype cf, S Bulgaria, Rhodopi Mts.,
open dry rocky slopes above Hvoyna village, 800-950 m, 7. vii . 1999, Z. Kolev leg., ZK. 11-18. Paratypes,
same data. Figs. 1 2—16, 18: cT ; Figs. 11, 17: 9, and Fig. 1 1 6. vii. 1999. - Figs. 19-26. Underside of P. (A.)
aroaniensis. 19. c f, SW Bulgaria, S Pirin Mts., vie. Paril village, 850 - 950 m, 30.vi.1994. 20. cf, SW
Bulgaria, Mt. Alibotush, Hambar Dere gorge, 1500-1600 m, 1 1. vii. 1993. 21, 22. 9, same data as Fig. 20,
but 3.VÜ.1994. 23, 24. cf , S Bulgaria, Rhodopi Mts., vie. ‘Trigradski skali ’ chalet, ca. 1400 m, 1 1. vii. 2003.
25. 9, same data, as Fig. 19, but I. vii. 2003. 26. 9, SE Bulgaria, Stara Planina Mts., vie. Sliven, ca. 1000
m, 1-2. viii. 1999. -Figs. 27-32. Undersides of P. (A.) ripartii. 27-30. cf, same data as Figs. 10-18. 31-32.
9, same data as Figs. 10-18. Scale bar = 1 cm.

Kolev: Polyommatus dantchenkoi in Bulgaria

concolorous with the ground colour or only slightly darker. Worn individuals of the two
taxa may be indistinguishable externally. A character that appears useful for separation
of P. (A.) ripartii and P. (A.) orphicus is the longer valva in the male genitalia of P (A.)
orphicus which in the studied samples shows no numerical overlap with P. {A.) ripartii
(see above). However, the samples studied are small and a further research into the
significance of this character is therefore necessary. From the sympatric P. (A.) admetus
the new taxon is very easily separated on account of the very distinct appearance of
P. (A.) admetus , especially its strongly marked underside which almost never has a
hindwing streak in the western part of the species’ range.

Derivatio nominis. The adjective orphicus has two meanings: ‘without apparent
significance to the senses nor obvious to the intelligence; beyond ordinary understanding' ;
and ‘ascribed to Orpheus'. Both meanings apply to P. (A.) orphicus'. the former alludes
to the highly cryptic appearance of the new taxon which can easily be confused with the
sympatric P. (A.) ripartii , while the latter meaning refers to the range of P. (A.) orphicus:
the Rhodopi Mountains, home to the mythical Thracian poet and musician Orpheus.
Life history. P. (A.) orphicus inhabits xerothermic and xeromontane calcareous
localities. The vegetation of the type locality is sparse and dominated by low-growing
xerophytous calciphilous species, with scattered Juniperus bushes and low Pinus nigra
trees. In all known localities P. (A.) orphicus ssp. n. is syntopic with P. (A.) ripartii,
which is widespread and abundant in calcareous habitats in the western Rhodopi (pers.
observ.). The lowest known locality of P. (A.) orphicus , the gorge of Lukovitsa river,
is a xerothermic submediterranean habitat supporting a very large population of P. (A.)
admetus and a very small population of P. (A.) ripartii. In the type locality the ratio
ripartii : orphicus equals 2.6 based on the collected unbiased sample of 32 specimens.
There are as yet no observations regarding the larval host-plant of the new taxon.
Distribution. Collection material from three further localities in the western Rhodopi
agrees well with P. (A.) orphicus , but this additional material (see above) is not inclu-
ded in the type series because no karyological data from these localities are available so
far. Three known localities of P. (A.) orphicus (including the type locality) are situated in
the gorge of the Chepelarska river at altitudes between 400 and 1 100 m, the fourth (vie.
Gela village) is on the northern slope of the Mursalitsa ridge at 1500 m. The habitats
are situated on mostly karstified Proterozoic marbles of the Dobrostan formation
(Zagorchev 1995) which are widespread in the western Rhodopi. Thus, it is to be
expected that this taxon occurs elsewhere in Rhodopi as well.

Records of P. (A.) aroaniensis from Rhodopi have been very scarce so far. In Greece
only two localities are known at low altitude in the southern foothills of the massif
(Kolev & van der Poorten 1997; Coutsis & Ghavalâs 2001). In the collection of IZS
are preserved lef from the ‘Skalni Mostove’ karst arches and lç from the ‘Kolarovski
Livadi’ locality, both specimens completely lacking a white streak on the hindwing
underside. The first of these records corroborates a record of P. (A.) aroaniensis from
“Cudnite mostovi” [‘Chudnite Mostove’ karst arches very close to Skalni Mostove]
(Bahnt 1995), based on specimens lacking a streak (Z. Bahnt, in litt.). This locality is in
immediate proximity to the known range of P. (A.) orphicus. In addition, during a short
visit to the vicinity of ‘Trigradski skali’ chalet on 1 1 .vii.2003 I collected a small sample
(3cf, I9) with various degrees of reduction of the streak on the hindwing underside
and lacking postdiscal streak on the forewing underside (Figs. 23, 24). Thus these
specimens correspond well to P. (A.) aroaniensis and differ from P. (A.) orphicus

Nota lepid. 28 ( 1 ): 25-34

Figs. 33-34. Uppersides of P. (A.) dantchenkoi orphicus ssp. n. 33. Paratype cf, S Bulgaria, Rhodopi
Mts., open dry rocky slopes above Hvoyna village, 800-950 m, 6.-7. vii. 1999 (same specimen as Fig.
13). 34. Paratype 9, same data as Fig. 33 (same specimen as Fig. 11). - Figs. 35-36. Uppersides of P.
(A.) aroaniensis. 35. cT, SW Bulgaria, S Pirin Mts., vie. Paril village, 850-950 m, 30.vi.1994 (same
specimen as Fig. 19). 36. Ç, same data as Fig. 35, but 1 .vii. 2003 (same specimen as Fig. 25). - Figs. 37-38.
Uppersides of P. (A.) ripartii. 37. cf, same data as Fig. 33 (same specimen as Fig. 28). 38. 9, same data as
Fig. 33 (same specimen as Fig. 31). Scale bar= 1 cm.

(samples for karyological analysis could not be obtained). The known records of
P. (A.) orphicus and P. (A.) aroaniensis in Bulgaria are shown in Fig. 46. Syntopy of
these two taxa has not been established so far, but is very likely in view of the very
close proximity of their known ranges.

Discussion

Morphologically P. (A.) dantchenkoi orphicus combines characters of P. (A.) aroaniensis
(smooth dark brown upperside with inconspicuous veins) with characters of P. ( A. ) ripartii
and nominotypical P. (A.) dantchenkoi (white streak on hindwing underside always
present and very prominent; postdiscal ocelli usually prominent). The most conspicuous
external character that separates P. (A.) dorphicus from these and all other Agrodiaetus
taxa examined is the constant presence in the studied material of P. (A.) dorphicus of a
whitish postdiscal streak along vein M3 in space M2 on the forewing underside. Based
on examined material and photographs of brown Agrodiaetus , such a streak also occurs
at very low frequencies in some taxa that have an underside hindwing streak. Thus,
I have found only one specimen of Bulgarian P. (A.) ripartii with a forewing streak
among more than 60 specimens examined.

Recent DNA research (Wiemers 2003; Kandul et al. 2004) indicates that the closest
relatives of P. (A.) d. dantchenkoi are the Turkish taxa P. (A.) alcestis (Zemy, 1932) with
n= 19-21 and P. (A.) [eriwanensis] inter jectus (de Lesse, 1960) with n=29-32 (Wiemers
2003), and the Transcaucasian P. (A.) eriwanensis eriwanensis (Forster, 1960) with
n=29-34 (Lukhtanov et al. 2003; Kandul et al. 2004). Lukhtanov et al. (2003) stated
that nominotypical P. (A.) dantchenkoi is also phenotypically most similar to P. (A.)
e. eriwanensis and P. (A.) e. interjectus. According to Wiemers (2003) these taxa form a

Kolev: Polyommatus dantchenkoi in Bulgaria

Figs. 39^tl. Male genitalia. 39. P. (A.) dantchenkoi orphicus ssp. n., paratype (ZK99001 ) (same specimen
as Fig. 16). a. lateral view, aedeagus removed, setae and membranous parts omitted, b. dorsoventral
(above) and lateral (below) view of aedeagus including caecum, c. uncus and tegumen, dorsal view. 40.
Valva of P. (A.) aroaniensis. SW Bulgaria, Mt. Alibotush. Hambar Dere gorge. 1500-1600 m, 3. vii. 1 994
(same specimen as Fig. 22). 41. Valva of P. (A.) ripartii (ZK99005), S Bulgaria, Rhodopi Mts., open dry
rocky slopes above Hvoyna village, 800-950 m, 6-7.vii.1999. Scale bar = 1 mm.

cluster whose sister group is formed by the closely related P. (A.) aroaniensis and P. (A.)
humedasae (Toso & Baletto 1976), the latter endemic to the Aosta valley in northern Italy.
The taxonomic status of P. (A.) orphicus as presently proposed is tentative. It is possible
that this taxon is a distinct species despite the identical karyotypes of P. (A.) d.
dantchenkoi. Conspecificity of P. (A.) orphicus and P. (A.) aroaniensis is unlikely
considering the difference of six chromosome pairs in their karyotypes (Lukhtanov
et al. 2003), the morphological differences, and the fact that these taxa occur in
close proximity, possibly sympatrically and syntopically, in the western Rhodopi.
Conspecificity with P. (A.) dantchenkoi might be challenged by the morphological
differences between the two taxa and the considerable distance between their ranges.
This distance, over 1500 km, is particularly great considering the very small ranges of
many Agrodiaetus taxa. It must also be stressed that nominotypical P. (A.) dantchenkoi
is so far only known from a region characterized by very high butterfly endemism,
especially among Lycaenidae. This region has very little zoogeographical affinity
with the central Balkan Peninsula in general and the Rhodopi Mts. in particular.
While the occurrence of P. (A.) dantchenkoi further west in Turkey is not impossible,
it is notable that so far other researchers have not come across such karyologically
distinct populations in central Turkey. Thus, for the time being P. (A.) dorphicus is not
given species status owing to the fact that its karyotype is identical to that of P. (A.)
dantchenkoi. Molecular studies are needed to resolve the status of this new taxon.

Nota lepid. 28 (1): 25-34

Figs. 42-45. Female genitalia. 42. P. (A.) dantchenkoi orphicus ssp. n., paratype (same specimen as Fig.
17). 43. P. (A.) aroaniensis, SW Bulgaria, S Pirin Mts., vie. Paril village, 850-950 m, 30. vi. 1994. 44. P. (A.)
ripartii (ZK99005), S Bulgaria, Rhodopi Mts., open dry rocky slopes above Hvoyna village, 800-950 m,
6.-7. vii. 1999. 45. P. (A.) admetus, S Bulgaria, Rhodopi Mts., vie. Asenovgrad, Asenova krepost, 400-500
m, 17. vii. 1992. Scale bar= 1 mm.

Fig. 46. Map of Bulgaria with records of P. (A.) dantchenkoi orphicus (squares; white-centred: type
locality) and P. (A.) aroaniensis (circles).

Kolev: Polyommatus dantchenkoi in Bulgaria

3,4

■ orphicus ssp. n.
O ripartii

Fig. 47. Scatter diagram of individual
values of forewing and valva length in
P. (A.) orphicus (squares) and sympatric

3.2

_ _ ■

and syntopic P. (A.) ripartii (circles). All

specimens determined from chromosome

_ ■

counts. Note the virtually complete overlap

of forewing lengths of the two taxa but the

lack of overlap between their valva length.

i1 2.8

° @° o

* 2,6
2,4

o o

2,2

17 18

Forewing length (mm)

Acknowledgements

I thank Dr. Seppo Nokkala (Department of Genetics, University of Turku. Finland) and Dr. Snezhana Grozeva
(Institute of Zoology, Sofia, Bulgaria) for their invaluable assistance with the karyological methods used in this
study and the many inspiring discussions on the subject. Thanks to Dr. Stoyan Beshkov (National Museum
of Natural History, Sofia, Bulgaria) and Mr. Julius Ganev (Sofia, Bulgaria) for providing material from their
collections, and to Prof. Dr. Alexi Popov (National Museum of Natural History, Sofia. Bulgaria) and Mr.
Alexander Slivov (Institute of Zoology, Sofia. Bulgaria) for providing access to the public collections under
their care.

References

Bahnt. Z. 1995. Adalékok a Balkan boglârkalepke-faunâjâhoz (Lepidoptera, Lycaenidae) [Contributions to the
lycaenid butterfly fauna of the Balkans (Lepidoptera, Lycaenidae)]. - A Janus Pannonius Müzeum Evkönyve
39: 69-77 (in Hungarian).

Brown, J. 1976. Notes regarding previously undescribed European taxa of the genera Agwdiaetus Hübner. 1822
and Polyommatus Klus, 1801 (Lep., Lycaenidae). - Entomologist's Gazette 27: 77-84.

Brown, J. & J. Coutsis 1978. Two newly discovered lycaenid butterflies (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae) from Greece,
with notes on allied species. - Entomologist’s Gazette 29: 201-213.

Coutsis, J. G. & N. Ghavalâs 2001. The skippers and butterflies of the Greek part of the Rodöpi massif
(Lepidoptera: Hesperioidea & Papilionoidea). - Phegea 29 (4): 143-158.

Coutsis, J. G., J. Puplesiene & W. De Prins 1999. The chromosome number and karyotype of Polyommatus
( Agwdiaetus ) ripartii and Polyommatus (Agwdiaetus) amaniensis from Greece (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae).

- Phegea 27 ( 1 ): 81-84.

Grozeva, S.M. & S. Nokkala 1996. Chromosomes and their meiotic behavior in two families of the primitive
infraorder Dipsocoromorpha (Heteroptera). - Hereditas 125: 31-36.

Hesselbarth, G., H. van Oorschot & S. Wagener 1995. Die Tagfalter der Türkei unter Berücksichtigung der
angrenzenden Länder. - Selbstverlag Sigbert Wagener, Bocholt, vols. 1-2, 1354 pp., vol. 3, 847 pp.

Kanduï N. P, V. A. Lukhtanov, A. V. Dantchenko, J. W. S. Coleman, C. H. Sekercioglu, D. Haig & N. E. Pierce
2004. Phylogeny of Agwdiaetus Hübner 1822 (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae) inferred from mtDNA sequences
of COI and COII and nuclear sequences of EF 1-11: karyotype diversification and species radiation.

- Systematic Biology 53 (2): 278-298 .

Kolev, Z. 1994. Two Polyommatus ( Agwdiaetus ) species new to Bulgaria, with notes on the related Bulgarian
taxa (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae). - Phegea 22 (2): 61-71.

Kolev, Z. & D. van der Poorten 1997. Review of the distribution of the Balkan endemic Polyommatus
( Agwdiaetus ) awaniensis (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae). - Phegea 25 ( 1 ): 35^10.

Lesse, H. de 1960. Les nombres de chromosomes dans la classification du groupe d 'Agwdiaetus ripartii.

- Revue française d'Entomologie 27: 240-264.

Lukhtanov, V. A., M. Wiemers & K. Meusemann 2003. Description of a new species of the “brown” Agwdiaetus
complex from South-East Turkey. - Nota lepidopterologica 26 ( 1/2): 65-71.

Wiemers, M. 2003. Chromosome differentiation and the radiation of the butterfly subgenus Agwdiaetus
(Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae: Polyommatus) - a molecular phylogenetic approach. PhD Thesis, Bonn

- September 2003, 204 pp.

Zagorchev, 1. 1995. Pirin - geological guidebook. - Academic Publishing House “Prof. Marin Drinov”, Sofia.
70 pp., 1 map.

Nota lepid. 28 ( 1 ): 35^-8

New data on the taxonomie status and distribution of
Polyommatus andronicus Coutsis & Ghavalas, 1995
(Lycaenidae)

Zdravko Kolev

Porttikuja4E 101, FIN-00940 Helsinki, Finland; e-mail: zdravko.kolev@helsinki.fi

Summary. This paper details the first records of the poorly known and controversial taxon Polyommatus
andronicus Coutsis & Ghavalas, 1995 from Southwestern Bulgaria (Mt. Alibotush, southern and central
Pirin Mts.). This is a significant extension of the known range of this taxon, previously known only from
NE Greece. The characters used to justify the species status of P. andronicus are re-evaluated. Statistical
confirmation was obtained for the differences in mean wing length and male genitalia size, which support
the specific distinctness of this taxon. The geographical and altitudinal range, habitat preferences, possible
effects of human activity on its distribution, as well as the conservation status of P. andronicus are
discussed.

Key words. Lepidoptera, Lycaenidae. Polyommatus , P. icarus. P. andronicus , genitalia, taxonomy,
biometrics, sympatry, syntopy, distribution, endemism, Balkan Peninsula, Bulgaria.

Introduction

The nominal taxon Polyommatus andronicus Coutsis & Ghavalas, 1 995 was described
from north-eastern Greece on the basis of several morphological, anatomical, and
ecological differences from its closest relative, the widespread Polyommatus icarus
(Rottemburg, 1775). Compared to P. icarus, the original description states that
P. andronicus is larger and with slightly broader forewings; the upperside colour in
males is darker, deeper violet-blue; and the male and female genitalia are constantly
and disproportionately larger. In addition, P. andronicus was reported to be univoltine
and found only higher than 1000 m, being syntopic and synchronous with second-brood
P. icarus (Coutsis & Ghavalas 1995). Coutsis & Ghavalas (1996) reported one further
difference: under UV-light the wing underside was found to have a different reflection
pattern, being as a whole more reflective in P. andronicus than in P. icarus.

Ten years later, the taxonomic status of P. andronicus is still ambiguous. Although some
recent authors listed it as such (e.g. Karsholt & Razowski 1996; Tolman & Lewington
1997; Tolman 2001), others did not recognize it as separate from P. icarus (Kudrna
1996, 2002; Bahnt & Johnson 1997). The latter view is not difficult to understand.
P. icarus exhibits considerable individual, seasonal and geographical variation over
its vast range and, while actually noting this, Coutsis & Ghavalas (1995) stated that
“superficial differentiating characters [between P. icarus and P. andronicus ] are, as
far as we can tell, statistical rather than absolute.” However, regrettably, they did not
back their claim with the statistical analysis that such a claim invites. Moreover, a very
recently published molecular study seemed to seal the fate of P. andronicus as just
another synonym of P. icarus: the former was found to be exceedingly close genetically
to Greek P. icarus and its separation from the latter was stated to have been “based
on disputable evidence” (Wiemers 2003: 90). Yet the fact remains that to this day no
one has specifically set out to refute or confirm the evidence presented by Coutsis &
Ghavalas (1995).

Nota lepidopterologica, 07.06.2005, ISSN 0342-7536

Kolev: On Polyommatus andronicus

Coutsis & Ghavalas (1995) stated that P. andronicus was only found on the closely
clustered massifs of Falakrö, Menfkio. and Orvilos in the district of Drama. Örvilos is
a compact massif straddling the border between Greece and Bulgaria and is known in
the latter country under the names Alibotush and Slavyanka. I collected on Alibotush
on several occasions, most extensively during July 1993 and 1994. In 1996, after
acquainting myself with the description of P. andronicus , I re-examined my material
from Alibotush and discovered a large Polyommatus female corresponding closely to
that description. This female, collected on 1 1 .vii. 1 993 in the karst gorge of Hambar
Dere, southwest of Paril village at an altitude of ca. 1400 m, markedly exceeds
the maximum size reached by female P. icarus in Bulgaria. Its forewing measures
18.6 mm against a maximum of 17.0 mm for the Bulgarian female P. icarus that
I examined (n=34$), which is also exactly the maximum reported for Greek female
P. icarus (Coutsis & Ghavalas 1995). The tentative identification of this specimen as
P. andronicus was confirmed by John G. Coutsis who examined its genitalia in 1997
and found them to be of the large P. andronicus type (Coutsis, pers. comm. ). This female
represents the first record of P. andronicus from Bulgaria, which I communicated
to Tom Tolman. On the basis of this information, Alibotush was listed as part of the
range of P. andronicus (Tolman 2001: 122).

The large size of this female and its genitalia show that it conforms to the description of
the nominal taxon Polyommatus andronicus , but this in itself does not constitute proof
of specific distinctness of this taxon from P. icarus. Such evidence, as was said above,
is sorely needed. The lack of more specimens from Alibotush and the difficult access
to this border region unfortunately prevented me from gathering a more representative
sample for assessing the taxonomic rank of P. andronicus. This discovery, however,
prompted me to conduct purposeful search for P. andronicus in other mountains
immediately adjacent to Alibotush.

Methods

Material. Specimens with P. icarus-Yike morphology were collected on two separate
field trips to the southern and central parts of the Pirin range, situated immediately to
the north of Alibotush. The study area is shown in Fig. 25. In geomorphological terms
Pirin and Alibotush are really no more than parts of the same massif (Zagorchev 1995)
with their flora also showing a great degree of similarity (Bondev 1991) and it was
expected that their butterfly faunas would also be very similar, as indeed they turned
out to be. The first trip, carried out during 25. -26. vii. 1998, concentrated on the region
between the Popovi Livadi pass (ca. 1400 m) and the highest summit of central Pirin,
Orelek (2099 m). On my second trip, during 30.vi.-4.vii.2003, 1 was accompanied part
of the time by Mr. Slobodan Davkov (Skopje). Together we studied more exhaustively
the region which I had visited in 1998, collecting as low as ca. 700 m in southern Pirin.
Following that I visited the montane and subalpine zone of southern Pirin, in the region
of its highest peak, Sveshtnik (1975 m). In preparation for this comparative analysis,
I also collected a comparative sample of P. icarus from various other localities in
Bulgaria encompassing the whole resident altitudinal range of P. icarus from sea level

Nota lepid. 28 ( 1 ): 35^-8

to ca. 1900 m and the whole gamut of habitats occupied by P. icarus , from xerothermic
to subalpine.

Wing and genital measurements were taken using an eyepiece-mounted
scale bar on a Wild stereomicroscope. Wings of set specimens were measured from
wing base to tip, including fringe, with an accuracy of 0. 1 mm. Genitalia were extracted
following maceration of the abdomen in a 10 % solution of KOH, cleaned of residual
tissue, and measured. The length of the male genitalia was measured from the base
to the tip of the valva with an accuracy of 0.01 mm. In addition, the numerical data
provided by Coutsis & Ghavalas (1995) for Greek P. icarus and P. andronicus were
included in the analysis. For the wing (FWL) and valva (VL) measurements a unit-less
index FWL/VL was calculated to eliminate the effect of overall size variation. The
means were statistically evaluated using a Student’s two-tailed /-Test with assumed
equal variances.

Karyology. The haploid chromosome number in P. icarus and all studied
species of the Peros-eroides complex is n=23 (Robinson 1971: 569). However,
P. buzulmavi Carbonell, 1992 from the Turkish provinces of Hakkari and Van, a taxon
morphologically similar to P. icarus and P. andronicus, has a very different karyotype
with n=45 (Puplesiene & Olivier 2000). It was therefore considered of importance
to study the karyotype of specimens tentatively identified as P. andronicus. Testes
were extracted, fixed in the field in a 3:1 solution of 96 % ethanol and glacial acetic
acid, and refrigerated until further study. Preparations were made at the Department
of Genetics, University of Turku, Finland following a methodology developed by
Dr. Seppo Nokkala (Grozeva & Nokkala 1996). Countable first-metaphase (MI) plates
were photographed at a magnification of lOOOx with an Olympus DPI 1 microscope
digital camera system mounted on an Olympus BH-2 light microscope. The brightness
and contrast of the images were enhanced in Jasc Paint Shop Pro 7.04; no other post-
processing was applied.

Results

Already on first examination in the field most of the collected specimens fell
naturally into two groups: smaller, lighter blue males corresponding to P. icarus
and larger, darker males corresponding to P. andronicus as described by Coutsis &
Ghavalas (1995). However, external characters (size, colour, underside pattern) and
condition of the individuals were found to be variable to the extent that the placement
of many specimens was uncertain. For this reason, the first stage of the analysis was
a morphometric study of the male genitalia, the only character that according to
Coutsis & Ghavalas (1995) shows no numerical overlap between the two taxa. Rather
than applying statistical analysis, these authors illustrated the forewings and valvae
of eight P. icarus and six P. andronicus specimens on pis. 5-9 (pp. 154-156). While
showing the existence of size differences, this form of presentation is not well suited for
assessing their significance, especially as all illustrated P. icarus are of approximately
the same large to very large size and thus do not reflect the size variation in this species
as a whole.

Kolev: On Polyommatus andronicus

Figs. 1-2. Lateral view of the left valva (setae omitted). 1. P. andronicus cf, Central Pirin, below Dobro
Pole plateau, 1800-1900 m, 26.vi.1998 (forewing length 17.7 mm). 2. P. icarus cf, East Bulgaria, East
Stara Planina Mts., Karandila nature park, 1000 m. 16. vi. 1999 (forewing length 17.7 mm).

Figs. 3—4. Dorsoventral view of the female genitalia (bursa and part of ductus bursae omitted).

3. P. andronicus Ç, Central Pirin, Popovi Livadi - Orelek. 1600 m, 2.VÜ.2003 (forewing length 17.3 mm).

4. P. icarus Ç, Pirin, Popovi Livadi, 1400 m, l.vii.2003 (forewing length 14 mm). Scale bars = 1 mm.

Genitalia. There is a strong dichotomy in the size of male and female genitalia in
the sample from Pirin (Figs. 1^4). The valva length values fall into two clear-cut groups
with no overlapping values whatsoever (Figs. 5, 6), and their means of variance differ
very significantly (PcO.OOOl). Values and variance in these groups match well the
numerical values given by Coutsis & Ghavalas (1995). Given these strong similarities,
for simplicity throughout this chapter I shall refer to the group with smaller male and
female genitalia as the ‘(Pirin) P. icarus ’ and to that with larger genitalia as the ‘(Pirin)
P. andronicus ’ respectively. Note however that this should not be taken as a taxonomic
conclusion regarding the species status of the latter taxon at this point.

Coutsis & Ghavalas (1995) stated that the male genitalia of P. andronicus are
disproportionately larger than those of P. icarus , but this assertion was not tested in
a statistically meaningful way. To do this the FWL/VL ratio is used here (Tab. 1).
The mean ratio for P. andronicus (5.66) is significantly (PcO.OOOl ) smaller than the
mean ratio for P. icarus (6.38). This confirms that in P. andronicus the genitalia are on
average larger relative to the individual’s size than they are in P. icarus.

Female genitalia in the Pirin material likewise show a clear dichotomy in the size and
shape of genitalia, though this is more difficult to quantify and analyze because, on one
hand, the female genitalia are largely membranous and thus susceptible to distortion,
and on the other hand, the number of available P. andronicus females was very small.
Due to this a statistical analysis was not attempted. Nevertheless, the difference
observed bears out the observations of Coutsis & Ghavalas (1995), with the genitalia
being clearly longer and more massive in Pirin P. andronicus than in Pirin and other
Bulgarian P. icarus (Figs. 3, 4).

Nota lepid. 28 (1): 35—48

Tab. 1. Pooled key measurements of males of P. icarus from the Pirin Mts., P. andronicus and P. icarus
from other localities in Bulgaria, as well as of P. icarus and P. andronicus from Greece (the latter taken
from Coutsis & Ghavalas 1995), with confidence levels for the differences in means (Student’s two-way
/-Test).

Character

P. icarus
(52 c?)

P. andronicus
(29c?)

confidence

min

max

mean

min

max

mean

level (P)

Forewing length FWL
(mm)

11.3

17.7

15.42

16.10

19.50

18.07

<0.0001

Valva length VL
(mm)

1.96

2.62

2.42

2.84

3.50

3.19

<0.0001

Index FWL/VL

5.59

7.06

6.38

5.21

6.16

5.66

<0.0001

Morphology. Having established the marked dichotomy of the Pirin sample in
terms of genital characters, it has to be seen if and how these differences in genital
morphology correlate with differences in external morphology.

Size. The Pirin P. icarus correspond well to other Bulgarian P. icarus from similar
altitudes (700-1850 m) while the Pirin P. andronicus, collected between 1600 and
1950 m, are on average larger. The female from Alibotush clearly falls inside this latter
group. As was said above, the forewing length variance of the Pirin P. andronicus
partially overlaps that of Bulgarian P. icarus (see Tab. 1 and Figs. 7-22). Nevertheless,
the difference between the means is statistically very significant (P<0.0001) in the
males (Tab. 1), and whereas an insufficient number of females of Pirin P. andronicus
was available for analysis, there appears to be a similar degree of difference in female
wing length too.

Wing shape. Coutsis & Ghavalas (1995) stated that the forewing in male
P. andronicus is broader than in P. icarus, and illustrated this with drawings of forewings
to scale (pp. 154-156) but, again, provided no numerical values. Examination of my
material does not support this character, which shows no clear correlation with the two
distinct valva types. Many Pirin P. andronicus (e.g. Fig. 13) have markedly narrow and
pointed forewings while many Pirin (and other Bulgarian) P. icarus have very broad
wings. Variation in this character is so considerable in both groups that further analysis
was not considered necessary.

Upperside colour in males. Coutsis & Ghavalas (1995) noted that on
average male P. andronicus have a deeper, darker blue upperside colour than P. icarus.
Such difference however is difficult to see in colour plate 10 of the original description,
where in addition the blue of both P. icarus and P. andronicus specimens has an
unnatural, silvery cast when compared to actual specimens. The Pirin P. andronicus
do have a remarkably uniform darker blue corresponding well to the description of
P. andronicus, while fresh P. icarus from Pirin are generally lighter, as in most other
Bulgarian P. icarus. However, this difference, if at all real, is clearly visible only in
fresh or almost fresh specimens. In older males of both series the upperside colour is
more difficult to determine due to loss of wing scales and membrane. Furthermore,

Kolev: On Polyommatus andronicus

(/)

û>

(/)

icarus
I andronicus

V V V V V V v ÎV' V V 'b' 'b' *V V *y 'b'

o,' çr v y t» b v a <b y <y v or y u' v

N' V V V V V V V A' V V *b' 'b- V V 'b' 'b'

valva length (mm)

Fig. 5. Distribution of valva length values in male P. icarus and P. andronicus. Original data from Bulgaria
are combined with numerical data from Coutsis & Ghavalas ( 1995).

the tone of the male upperside colour exhibits great seasonal and individual variability
in P. icarus , even in fresh specimens. Likewise, occasionally. P. andronicus males
have a lighter blue shine similar to that of P. icarus (Coutsis & Ghavalas 1995: pi. 10
fig. 4). The female upperside ground colour and the development and colour of the
submarginal lunules are identical in the Pirin P. icarus and P. andronicus. Compared to
the former, as well as other Bulgarian P. icarus, the only difference appears to be that
Pirin P. andronicus females either lack completely (as does the Alibotush female) or
have very limited blue basal suffusion. This suffusion is much more variable and often
very extensive in other Bulgarian P. icarus. This upholds the stated difference between
females of Greek P. andronicus and P. icarus (Coutsis & Ghavalas 1995).
Underside pattern. There is considerable variation both in terms of ground
colour and development of maculation in both series. The Pirin P. andronicus are on
average slightly more boldly marked with larger black spots. The wedge-shaped distal
extensions of the white ring surrounding the discal spot on the fore- and hindwings
are on average longer, wider at the base, and altogether more prominent than in Pirin
or other Bulgarian P. icarus. However, there is some variation in this character in
P. icarus, with these wedge-like markings being sometimes well developed. The
metallic blue-green basal suffusion on the underside of the hindwing is extensive in
Pirin P. andronicus males while on average much more restricted or nearly absent in
the summer brood male Pirin (and other Bulgarian) P. icarus. A few very worn P. icarus

Nota lepid. 28 ( 1 ): 35^8

Fig. 6. Correlation of valva and forewing lengths of male P. andronicus and P. icarus, with trend lines.
Original data from Bulgaria are combined with numerical data from Coutsis & Ghavalas ( 1995).

of the spring brood collected at higher altitudes in Pirin show extensive basal suffusion
similar to that of the Pirin P. andronicus. All of these traits correspond to those observed
in Greek P. andronicus and P. icarus (Coutsis & Ghavalas 1995).

Karyotype. More than 20 countable first-metaphase (MI) plates with a stable
haploid number of n=23 (Fig. 23) were found in preparations of testes from two males
of Pirin P. andronicus (No ZK0303 and No ZK0304). The karyotype of P. andronicus
is thus identical to that of P. icarus.

Altitudinal range, sympatry and syntopy. The Pirin P. icarus
were found in flowery open places in the deciduous and coniferous forest zones
from the lowest foothills to the tree line at 1800-1850 m. This corresponds well
to the upper limit of the resident range of P. icarus on other high mountains in
Bulgaria (pers. observ.) and Greece (Coutsis & Ghavalas 1995). In contrast, Pirin
P. andronicus were not found lower than 1500 m, but as high as ca. 1950 m. However,
my observations at the latter altitude, on the slopes below the summit of Orelek,
indicate that P. andronicus may range freely as high as Orelek itself (2099 m); there is
certainly no physical barrier to prevent them from doing so and the habitats close to the
summit are basically the same as at 1950 m.

In Pirin P. icarus and P. andronicus were found syntopically in flowery open habitats
(roadsides, forest glades, and subalpine meadows) between ca. 1500-1850 m; no habitat
segregation was apparent between the two there. This situation closely corresponds to

Kolev: On Polyommatus andronicus

Figs. 7-22. Uppersides (two upper rows) and undersides (two lower rows) of P. icarus (7-10. 15-18)
and P. andronicus (11-14, 19-22). 7-4: tfcr, 15-22: 99. 7, 12, 14, 15, 22. Central Pirin, Popovi Livadi
- Orelek, 1600 m, 2.VÜ.2003. 8. South Pirin, Popovi Livadi - Sveshtnik, 1400-1500 m, 3.VÜ.2003.
9. East Stara Planina Mts., Karandila nature park, 1000 m, l-2.viii.1999. 10, 16. Pirin, Popovi Livadi.
1400 m, l.vii.2003. 11, 21. South Pirin, Sveshtnik. 1850-1950 m. 3.vii.2003. 13, 20. Central Pirin, below
Dobro Pole plateau, 1800-1900 m, 26. vi. 1998. 19. Alibotush, Hambar Dere gorge, 1400 m, ll.vii.1993.
17. Rhodopi, Smolyan, 1000 m, 16.V.1990. 18. Same data as 3, but 19.-20. vii. 1999. All leg. et coll. Kolev.
Scale bar = 1 cm.

that described for P. icarus and P. andronicus in NE Greece, except that in Greece the
published upper limit for both P. icarus and P. andronicus is given as 1800 m (Coutsis
& Ghavalas 1995). However, this is rather due to the fact that observations from higher
altitudes are lacking so far and P. andronicus is expected to occur higher than 1 800 m
in its Greek range as well (Coutsis, in litt.). In confirmation of this 1 am informed that
P. andronicus has been discovered between 1900 and 2000 m on Falakrö in the summer
of 2004 (Davkov, in litt.).

Vo 1 1 i n i s m . Judging by the condition of the Pirin P. andronicus collected in the first
days of July 2003, some of which were very worn, it can be concluded that the first had
emerged already in mid- June. Emergence appears to be protracted: among the small, as
a whole very worn series collected in late July 1998, there were a male and a female in
relatively good condition. Thus, it can be anticipated that the imago flies from the second
half of June till early or mid-August, like other univoltine Lycaenidae inhabiting this
altitude zone in the study region, such as e.g. Lycaena candens , Plebeius artaxerxes, j
Polyommatus eroides , P. escheri dalmaticus , P. nephohiptamenos , and P. coridon. All
these species were encountered during both collecting seasons and their emergence had J

Nota lepid. 28 (1): 35^8

Fig. 23. Karyotype (MI) of Polyommatus andronicus a", Central Pirin, Popovi Livadi - Orelek, 1600 m,
2.VÜ.2003, fixation No ZK0303. Scale bar = 10 /<m.

either already begun or was just beginning in early July 2003. The emergence of Pirin
P. andronicus begins clearly earlier that most of the above species excluding P. escheri
dalmatica. Thus, although for now I assume that the Pirin P. andronicus develop in a
single generation, as concluded by Coutsis & Ghavalas (1995), I cannot exclude the
possibility that a second, perhaps only partial, generation can develop in particularly
favourable years at lower altitudes (1500-1600 m). I have found such partial second
generation for P. artaxerxes and P. escheri dalmatica in the second half of August at
lower altitudes in Rhodopi (unpublished data).

Most specimens of P. icarus collected by myself on Pirin, as mentioned above,
are second-generation specimens though their condition is variable. On average,
however, these are in better condition than the Pirin P. andronicus , which shows that
their emergence begins somewhat later than the latter. This situation matches well
the one outlined by Coutsis & Ghavalas (1995) for sympatric Greek P. icarus and
P. andronicus.

Discussion

Taxonomy. To summarize the above findings, the analyzed sample from central
and southern Pirin can be divided into two groups. The butterflies of the ‘P. icarus-
like’ group occur from 700 m (the lowest studied altitude) to ca. 1850 m, have
constantly smaller male and female genitalia, two generations annually, and identical
size and external characters than other Bulgarian P. icarus. The individuals of the
lP. andronicus -like ’ group occur from ca. 1400-1500 m to at least 1950 m (and probably
higher), are on average larger than both the former group and other Bulgarian P. icarus,
have on average a darker male upperside colour and heavier underside spotting, and
their male and female genitalia are constantly larger irrespective of the individual’s
size. These two groups occur syntopically and synchronously between 1500 and
1850 m. The correlated differences in external and genital morphology, voltinism
and altitudinal range displacement with partial syntopy and synchrony between the
‘Pirin P. icarus ’ and ‘Pirin P. andronicus ’ represent exactly the same situation as that

Kolev: On Polyommatus andronicus

Fig. 24. Habitat of Polyommatus andronicus and P. icarits above the tree line at ca. 1850 m in South Pirin
(in the background is Sveshtnik peak, 1975 m), 3.VÜ.2003.

described for Greek P. icarus and P. andronicus by Coutsis & Ghavalas (1995). The
only explanation for the observed phenomenon is that the two groups of butterflies up
till now referred to as ‘Pirin P. icarus ’ and ‘Pirin P. andronicus ’ do indeed represent
two specifically distinct entities: respectively, the ubiquitous P. icarus and the montane
P. andronicus. Hence, the results presented here confirm the conclusions of Coutsis &
Ghavalas (1995). On the other hand, it is found that differences stated by Coutsis &
Ghavalas (1995) in external characters such as forewing shape, upperside colour in
males, and underside pattern are too variable to be reliable identification markers. In
addition, there are no differences between the karyotypes of the two species.

In reality, what is traditionally known as the widespread Palearctic species P. icarus is a
complex of an unknown number of specifically distinct taxa, of which P. andronicus is
only one. Another possibly distinct species is the taxon P. tumangensis Im, 1988 from
North Korea and the Russian Primorye. This taxon is larger than P. icarus (forewing
length up to 19 mm) and is univoltine (Gorbunov 2001: 142-143), thus representing, in
a very superficial sense, an ‘equivalent’ of P. andronicus. From a European perspective
a recent molecular study (Wiemers 2003) revealed that “while populations [of P. icarus]
from Spain to Iran appear as a monophyletic group (including the Greek Polyommatus
andronicus Coutsis & Ghavalas, 1995 which has been separated only recently from |
P. icarus based on disputable evidence), the Moroccan specimen of P. icarus is placed
outside this clade. This result came as a surprise because Northwest African populations
of P. icarus are thought to represent the same subspecies as in Europe [...]. The COI and
ITS-2 p-distances between the Moroccan and Eurasian populations of P. icarus differ to 1

Nota lepid. 28 (1): 35-48

Fig. 25. Known localities (white-centered circles) of Polyommatus andronicus in Bulgaria. A. Alibotush.
SP. Southern Pirin. CP. Central Pirin. NP. Northern Pirin.

a much higher degree than in other species [...], including those with well differentiated
subspecies in Northwest Africa (like Polyommatus amandus), and are on the level of
well differentiated species. The Moroccan specimen also differs in phenotype from
the other P. icarus (f. celina Austaut), but P. icarus is an extremely variable species
throughout its vast, trans-Palaearctic distributional range. Without further material it
cannot be decided if Northwest African populations of P. icarus are so divergent from
Eurasian ones that they should better be seen as representing a distinct Polyommatus
species.”

It would seem that the molecular data obtained by Wiemers disprove conclusively the
taxonomic distinctness of P. andronicus. However, I do not see this to be the case.
The observed morphological and genital differences between partly sympatric and
syntopic P. icarus and P. andronicus in both Greece and Bulgaria agree entirely, and it
is impossible to explain these in any other way than by accepting the existence of two
biological species - no matter how closely related genetically. There is little doubt that
the species status of P. andronicus is justified. This situation is a good reminder that
genetic distances provide a measure on relatedness, not a straightforward indication of
taxonomic status, and also exposes the risks inherent in basing taxonomic decisions
on results from limited DNA sequences. If anything, then, the DNA data available
so far should make taxonomists scrutinize more closely what is currently known as
‘P. icarus s. str.’ (excluding P. andronicus), as several good species can be expected
to exist within this taxon, even inside the western Palearctic. Further DNA studies
on this complex, involving COII sequences as well, are most desirable. It is worth

Kolev: On Polyommatus andronicus

remembering that, beside P. andronicus , three other species-level taxa very similar to
P. icarus were described from Europe in recent years: P. abdon Aistleitner & Aistleitner,
1994 from Southern Spain, and P. elena Stradomsky & Arzanov, 1999 and P. neglectus
Stradomsky & Arzanov, 1999 from the steppes of easternmost Europe. All of these are
presently considered synonyms of P. icarus (Kudrna 1996: Tshikolovets 2003), and due
to lack of material it has not been possible to reassess their status here. However, several
circumstances of interest must be noted with respect to the latter two taxa. Stradomsky
& Arzanov (1999) reported that P. elena and P. neglectus are sympatric and syntopic
with P. icarus while showing differences in genital structure. Particularly remarkable
is the sclerotization pattern in the female genitalia which differ drastically from what I
have myself observed in females of Bulgarian P. icarus and P. andronicus.

The only character that could not be evaluated in the present study is the difference
between P. icarus and P. andronicus in the UV-reflective pattern of the wing underside
reported by Coutsis & Ghavalas (1996). Such differences are perhaps of little
taxonomic significance. The quantity of UV-reflected pigments stored in the wings of
P. icarus is heavily dependent on the flavonoid content of the legume plant parts eaten
by the larvae; inflorescences are richer in flavonoids than leaves of the same plant, and
in laboratory rearings it is possible to vary the UV-reflectivity of P. icarus individuals
by varying the larval diet (Burghardt et al. 1997). Thus, the differences observed by
Coutsis & Ghavalas (1996) could have been induced by differing larval diets of syntopic
P. icarus and P. andronicus , the latter feeding predominantly on inflorescences. This
might indicate that in conditions of syntopy these two taxa prefer different parts of the
same plants, thereby reducing competition for a common food resource.
Ecological preferences of P. andronicus. This is a xeromontane species
that prefers flowery rocky habitats between 1000 and 1950 m (Fig. 24), possibly reaching
up to ca. 2100 m (see above). All known localities are on partly karstified Proterozoic
marble of the Dobrostan formation (Zagortchev 1995). The larval host plant remains
unknown.

My detailed observations in Pirin show that there is an altitudinal displacement
between the two species. While P. icarus barely reaches above the tree line (just as
in other Bulgarian mountains), P. andronicus inhabits also higher, subalpine habitats
considerably above the tree line, including barren karst terrain. In Pirin the two species
occur together over most of the altitudinal range of P. andronicus , 1500-1850 m. This,
however, may be a relatively recent development brought about by human interference
with the natural succession of the vegetation. I observed the highest density of
P. andronicus (including all females seen and a pair in copula) in southern Pirin on the
slopes of Sveshtnik peak above the tree line (between 1800 and 1950 m). Only a few
males were recorded below that altitude, invariably flying rapidly along narrow dirt
roads in otherwise contiguous dense coniferous forest. In central Pirin most butterflies
were found in sheltered, sunny flower-rich roadsides along the road leading to Orelek,
at altitudes of 1500-1600 m. In both central and southern Pirin all habitats currently
utilized by P. andronicus between 1500 and 1750 m owe their existence to human
activities that have led to disruptions in the forest cover.

Therefore the primary post-glacial habitat of P. andronicus under a natural vegetational
succession appears to have been flowery subalpine grassland on stony calcareous
ground at and above the natural tree line, i.e. higher than 1700-1800 m (Fig. 24). This

Nota lepid. 28 (1): 35^8

is supported by the difference in the lowest altitude at which P. andronicus occurs in
Greece (1000 m: Coutsis & Ghavalas 1995) and Bulgaria (central and southern Pirin:
1500 m, Alibotush: ca. 1400 m, but based on only one specimen). From these numbers
it appears that in Bulgaria P. andronicus does not reach as low as in Greek mountains.
A possible reason for this can be fact that in Greece P. andronicus finds even more
favourable conditions for downward dispersal on account of Greek mountains being on
the whole much more deforested than Bulgarian mountains (Coutsis & Ghavalas 1991;
Polunin 1997). My observations in southern Pirin suggest that males of P. andronicus
in particular can fly long distances down into the forest using man-made ‘corridors’
such as roads. It is also certain that these human activities must have also facilitated
the simultaneous upward dispersal of P. icarus , thereby enhancing the contact between
the two species.

Range and conservation status of P. an dronicus. The newly discovered
Bulgarian localities (Fig. 25) significantly expand the total distribution of P. andronicus.
This Balkan endemic is now known to be restricted to several massifs clustered in a
small area between the valleys of Struma/ Strimon and Mesta/ Nestos. In my opinion
there is little chance of any further significant additions to the known range of this
species. One further region deserves attention in this regard, namely the karst section of
northern Pirin below Vihren peak. At ca. 1800-2000 m in the vicinity of ‘Vihren’ chalet
there are karstified marble slopes with xerophylous plant communities dominated
by sparse Pinus heldreichii stands that are similar to the communities found at that
altitude on Alibotush (pers. observ.). As was said above, P. andronicus has successfully
adapted to secondary, man-made habitats and has thus managed to considerably expand
its altitudinal range in the historical past. That having been said, this species does
nevertheless have a very limited range and should probably be regarded as ‘Vulnerable’
and of high conservation interest on a European scale.

Conclusion

The present study provides independent and full support to the conclusions of Coutsis
& Ghavalas (1995) regarding the specific distinctness of P. andronicus. This is so far
the only known sibling species of P. icarus in Europe and, what is especially interesting,
the two occur in partial syntopy and synchrony. This offers good opportunities for
research on the ecology of both species.

The significance of the morphological characters of P. andronicus was re-assessed
and the conclusions of Coutsis & Ghavalas (1995) are largely confirmed. However,
I found that the male upperside colour and forewing shape are too variable in both
P. andronicus and P. icarus to present reliable differences. P. andronicus is found to
be an even larger species than originally described, with the forewing of the largest
Bulgarian specimens measuring 19.5 mm (male) and 18.6 mm (female).

The Bulgarian localities reported here expand considerably the known distribution of
this Balkan endemic. My observations on its habitat preferences and altitude range
in Bulgaria lead me to conclude that in the historical past this species has apparently
benefited considerably from human activity (deforestation, road building) allowing it to
expand its range to lower, previously heavily forested, regions. A ‘Vulnerable’ status is
nevertheless considered justified in the light of its very limited total range.

Kolev: On Polyommatus andronicus

Acknowledgements

I thank Dirk van der Poorten and Willy De Prins (Belgium, Antwerpen) for the interesting discussions
on the taxonomic status of P. andronicus. The kind hospitality of Willy De Prins made it possible for me
to study the paratypes of P. andronicus in the now-dissolved Vlaamse Lepidoptera Collectie Antwerpen.
John G. Coutsis (Greece, Athens) was especially helpful in confirming my identification of the first known
Bulgarian specimen of P. andronicus. I thank Mr. Slobodan Davkov (Republic of Macedonia. Skopje)
for his inspiring company on my second field trip in 2003 and for the communication of his 2004 find of
P. andronicus on Falakrö.

References

Balint.Z. & K. Johnson 1997. Reformation of the Polyommatus section with a taxonomic and biogeographic
overview (Lepidoptera, Lycaenidae, Polyommatini). - Neue entomologische Nachrichten 40: 1-68.

Bondev, I. 1991. [The vegetation of Bulgaria. Map 1: 600.000 with explanatory text]. - St. Kliment
Ohridski University Press, Sofia, 184 pp., 1 map sheet (in Bulgarian).

Burghardt, E, K. Fiedler & P. Proksch 1997. Uptake of fiavonoids from Vicia villosa (Fabaceae) by the
lycaenid butterfly, Polyommatus icarus (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae). - Biochemical Systematics and
Ecology 25 (6): 527-536.

Coutsis, J. G. & N. Ghavalâs 1991. Agriades pyrenaicus (Boisduval, 1840) from N. Greece and notes on
Apatura metis (Freyer, [1829]) from N.E. Greece ( Lepidoptera : Lycaenidae , Nymphalidae). - Phegea
19: 133-135.

Coutsis, J. G. & N. Ghavalâs 1995. Notes on Polyommatus icarus (Rottemburg, 1775) in Greece and the
description of a new Polyommatus Latreille, 1804 from northern Greece (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae).
-Phegea 23: 145-156.

Coutsis, J.G. & N. Ghavalâs 1996. Ultra-violet reflection pattern in Polyommatus andronicus Coutsis &
Ghavalas, 1995 and Polyommatus icarus (Rottemburg, 1775) (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae). - Phegea
24: 167-169.

Gorbunov, P. Y. 2001. The butterflies of Russia: classification, genitalia, keys for identification
(Lepidoptera: Hesperioidea and Papilionoidea). - Thesis, Ekaterinburg, 320 pp.

Grozeva, S. M. & S. Nokkala 1996. Chromosomes and their meiotic behavior in two families of the
primitive infraorder Dipsocoromorpha (Heteroptera). - Hereditas 125: 31-36.

Karsholt, O. & J. Razowski 1996. The Lepidoptera of Europe: A distributional checklist. - Apollo Books,
Stenstrup, 380 pp.

Kudrna, O. 1996. Mapping European Butterflies: Handbook for Recorders. - Oedippus 12: 1-60.

Kudrna, O. 2002. The Distribution Atlas of European Butterflies. - Oedippus 20: 1-342.

Polunin, O. 1997. Flowers of Greece and the Balkans - a field guide. - Oxford University Press, xv + 592
pp., 64 pis.

Puplesiene, J. & A. Olivier 2000. The karyotype and chromosome number of Polyommatus buzulmavi
(Lycaenidae). - Nota lepidopterologica 23: 71-77.

Robinson, R., 1971. Lepidoptera genetics. - Pergamon Press, Oxford - Braunschweig, 687 pp.

Stradomsky, B.V. & Yu. G. Arzanov 1999. Polyommatus elena sp. n. and Polyommatus neglectus sp.
n. — new taxones <sic> of the family Lycaenidae (Lepidoptera). - Kharkov Entomological Society
Gazette 7 (2): 17-21 (in Russian, with English summary).

Tshikolovets, V.V. 2003. Butterflies of Eastern Europe, Urals and Caucasus. An Illustrated guide. - Kyiv
- Brno, 176 pp.

Tolman, T.W. 2001. Photographic Guide to the Butterflies of Britain and Europe. - Oxford University
Press, xvi + 305 pp.

Tolman, T.W. & Lewington, R. 1997. Butterflies of Britain and Europe. - Collins Field Guide Series,
HarperCollins Publishers, 320 pp., 104 pis.

Zagorchev , I. 1995. Pirin - geological guidebook. - Academic Publishing House “Prof. Marin Drinov”,
Sofia, 70 pp. + 1 map sheet.

Nota lepid. 28 (1): 49-54

A new species of Meharia Chrétien, 1915 (Cossidae) from the
Lower Volga Region

Dmitry A. Komarov 1 & Vadim V. Zolotuhin 2

1 The laboratory preservation of surroundings of Volgograd department of Pri volzhskoy train-service, ul.
Buchanzeva 48, RUS-Volgograd; e-mail: komarov@tele-kom.ru

2 Department of Zoology, Uljanovsk State Pedagogical University, pi. 100-letiya Lenina 4, RUS-432700
Uljanovsk, Russia; e-mail: ulgpu@mv.ru

Abstract. Meharia scythica sp. n. is described from the Astrakhan Region of Russia. A diagnosis of the
genus Meharia Chrétien, 1915, is given, here listed for the first time from Russia and Europe as a whole.
The holotype of the new taxon is kept in the collection of the entomological Museum of Thomas J. Witt
(Germany, Munich).

Zusammenfassung. Meharia scythica sp. n. wird aus Rußland, Astrakhan Gebiet, beschrieben. Von der
Gattung Meharia Chrétien, 1915, hier erstmalig für Rußland sowie Europa nachgewiesen, wird eine
Gattungsdiagnose gegeben. Der Holotypus der neuen Art wird in der Sammlung des entomologischen
Museums Thomas J. Witt (München) deponiert.

Pe3K)Me. C TeppnTopnn AcTpaxaHCKon oÖJiacTH Poccnn onncaH Meharia scythica sp. n. /], aH anarH03
poaa Meharia Chrétien, 1915, BnepBbie OTMeuaeMoro ajm TeppmropMH Pocchh h Eßponw b ueaoM.

Key words. Lepidoptera, Cossidae, Meharia, new species, Russia, Volga Region.

Introduction

A small sample of remarkable cossid moths was collected in August 1996 in the Akhtuba
District of the northern Astrakhan Province (the Lower Volga Region of Russia) near
Baskuntschak Lake by the senior author. The moths were later identihed by the junior
author as an undescribed species of primitive cossids of the genus Meharia Chrétien,
1915. Taking into consideration that this genus is for the first time noted from Russia
and is absent from the Key for the European part of the country (Zagulajev 1978),
a description of the new species and a diagnosis of the genus are given below.

Meharia Chrétien, 1915 was established in the Tineidae as a monotypic genus for
Meharia incurvariella Chrétien, 1915 with type locality Biskra, Algeria. Later, this
species was considered conspecihc with Alavona semilactea Warren & Rothschild,
1905. In 1951, the genus was transferred to the Cossidae by Bradley (1951: 178).
Blalia vittata Rungs, 1943, the type species of Blalia Rungs, 1943, described from
Sahara, Morocco, is a junior synonym of M. incurvariella. Therefore, Blalia is a
junior subjective synonym of Meharia (Fletcher & Nye 1 982).

The species of the genus are mostly very similar, apart from color pattern. The
mesepimeron is rather triangular and lacks a pale band; the labrum has more or
less developed pilifers; the pronotum is low; the metascutum is medially wide;
the metascutellum is medially wide and more or less antero-medially extended;
tergite I is membranous in its anterior half; the parepisternum anteriorly is well
separated from basisternum II; the upper parepisternal suture is set diagonally over
pre-episternum II; the mesomeron is slightly narrower than eucoxa II; eucoxa III is
wide; the midtibial spurs are located at or slightly beyond the middle of the tibia;

Nota lepidopterologica, 07.06.2005, ISSN 0342-7536

Komarov & Zolotuhin: Meharia scythica sp. n. from the Volga Region

Fig. 1. Meharia scythica, holotype cf.

the fifth tarsomere is approximately 0.8 times the length of the fourth; the forevving
is widened at about one-third of its length; CuA2 in the forewing is very distal;
the costal region of the hindwing is narrowing very distally; and the anal plate is
long. Because of these characteristics, Meharia was excluded from the Cossidae,
but not attributed to any family by Schoorl (1990: 244). However, in our opinion
Meharia is considered to be part of the Cossidae. Knowledge on the peculiarities
of the preimaginal stages would be especially interesting to define its phylogenetic
relationships more precisely.

Meharia Chrétien, 1915: 367

Type species: Meharia incurvariella Chrétien, 1915: 368, fig. 11, by monotypy.

Blalia Rungs, 1943: 174. Type species: Blalia vittata Rungs, 1943, by original designation.

Diagnosis. Small cossids with elegant, long body. Wing expanse 20-32 mm. Eyes
nude. Male antennae bipectinate until the apex, with long rami. Proboscis absent.
Labial palpus about 1.5 time longer than eye diameter, horizontal; third segment about
3.5 time shorter than second and somewhat directed downward. Legs long and thin, ;
foretibia without spurs but with long band-shaped epiphysis and hair pencil near base; ;
metatibia with two pairs of spurs, the inner ones much stronger. Forewing narrow and
elongated, with rounded external margin; pattern of primitive net-like type with lighter

Nota lepid. 28 ( 1 ): 49-54

Figs. 2-3. Meharia scythica. 2. Venation. 3. cf fore leg (scale bar 1 mm).

spots or bands on greyish or brownish ground color; stroke pattern elements as typical
for the family are absent in Meharia. Hindwing without pattern, usually dark colored.
Venation (Fig. 2). Forewing Sc free as well as bases of all 5 R; M2 practically in the
middle between Ml and M3; bases of both cubitals free or shortly stalked; A1 weak,
distally developed as fold; A2 and A3 anastomosed on distal half but basal fork well
developed; R-Cu cell with M branch and additional radial cellula. Hindwing bases of
all veins free; three anals developed but A1 present in basal third only as fold; R-Cu cell
with well developed, ramified medial branch.

Male genitalia. Simple, with unpaired uncus, cone-shaped gnathos, weakly sclero-
tized costa on valva and well-developed saccus; juxta as a plate, weakly attached with
phallus and bases of valvae; phallus tubular, straight or slightly curved, with distinct
sclerotized knob on distal edge, without cornuti but with zones of weak sclerotization
on vesica.

Female. Unknown.

Preimaginal i n s t ars . Unknown.

Life history. The genus is native to arid (mainly desert, semi-desert and steppe)
biotopes, where the larvae probably develop on (?in) roots and bulbs. Moths fly at dusk
and first half of night low above the ground and are attracted to artificial lights.
Diversity and distribution. The specific composition of Meharia is not completely
known. Apart from the new species describing here, the following taxa are known: the
type-species M. semilactea Warren & Rothschild, 1905 (northern Africa to Arabia and

Komarov & Zolotuhin: Meharia scythica sp. n. from the Volga Region

Fig. 4. Meharia scythica sp. n.. paratype: male genitalia (above, left: caudal view; above, right: lateral
view) and phallus shown lateral (above) and dorsal view below (scale bar 0.5 mm).

Iran, with further names introduced for local populations incurvariella Chrétien, 1915,
vittato Rungs, 1943, persica Wiltshire, 1946 - their status needs special investigation),
M. philbyi Bradley, 1952 (Saudi Arabia) and M. tanganyikae Bradley, 1952 (Africa.
Tanganyika and Tindiga). Validity and rightfulness of the synonymization of the taxa
listed above need special investigation. The genus is for the first time here noted from
Russia and Europe as a whole.

Meharia scythica sp. n.

Material. Holotype: cf [Russia] Astrakhan Prov., Akhtuba Distr., passing-track Martovsky, outsk.
Bolshoe Bogdo Mt., lum., 2 1 .viii. 1 996, D. Komarov leg. (coll. Museum Thomas Witt. Munich, later
assigned to Zoologische Staatssammlung München). - Paratypes: 3cf, same data, coll. Zoological Institute
(St. Petersburg) and coll. D. Komarov.

Diagnosis. This taxon clearly differs from all other species of the genus by the more
uniform coloration without contrasting bands and spots as well as by the dark hindwings.
The male genitalia can be recognized by the rounded valvae and the weak sclerotization
of their costal margins. The only known species from the western Palaearctic, Meharia
semilactea Warren & Rothschild, 1905, can be separated nicely by the white or whitish
transversal bands on the brown ground color in the forewing (de Freina & Witt 1990).
Description. Male (Fig. 1). Head and body with yellowish to cream-colored scales;
abdomen darker. Underside with whitish scales; distal edges of abdominal segments
ringed with yellowish scales. Forewing length 12 mm. Forewing with dark yellowish-

Nota lepid. 28 ( 1 ): 49-54

white ground color and darker reddish-brown to greenish-brown scales forming
tessellate pattern with prominent basal, anal, and costal spots. Cilia with two rows
of scales, the inner reddish with brown tips and the outer, checkered, yellowish and
brown. Hindwings dark grey to blackish without pattern, basal field with prominent,
whitish bunch of hair-like scales; cilia as in forewing but outer row unchecked,
whitish. Venation (Fig. 2) as described for genus. Foretibia (Fig. 3) with long, S-shaped
epiphysis and distinct hair bunch at about 2/3 of length.

Male genitalia (Fig. 4). Uncus narrow; valvae short and rounded with weak costa,
covered on inner surface with numerous, elongated, strong setae; phallus long, slightly
curved, with short dorso-lateral sclerotization.

Habitat. The type-series was collected at light in the Achtuba District of the Astrakhan
Province in the vicinity of Baskuntschak Lake (by Bolshoe Bogdo Mt.). The natural
vegetation in the area is that of desert steppes dominated by Artemisia lerchiana,
Agropyron desertorwn , Stipa sa rep tana. Festnca valesiaca s.l., frequently in an assemblage
with wormwood ( Artemisia pauciflora) on saline soils. Predominance of annual and
biennial plants (Descurainia sophia, Lepidium perfoliatum. Sisymbrium altissimum etc.)
is typical for passing-track Martovsky. Along the railway line, which is directed NNW-
SSE, is a rather wide forest belt with a predominance of Ulmus pumila. The railway
is a path for various weeds and adventive plants growing in appreciable quantities
on the embankment. Many of these plants are not native to the area (for example,
species of Papaver). Five to eight kilometres eastwards from the railroad the unique
biotopes of Mount Bolshoe (Large) Bogdo contain significant floristic diversification
and a lot of rare plants. In the south-east of the mountain lies an austral karst field
(Shar-bulak) with numerous karst gullies, in which Crataegus ambigua , Prunus
spinosa , and Rosa spp. can be found.

The climate of the area is sharply continental, droughty. The average precipitation for
one year is about 250 mm, but the evaporation is much higher: about 1500 mm. The
average annual temperature is +7.7°C. The strong daily and seasonal differences in
temperature are characteristic. In summer, the air temperature can rise up to +44°C,
while in winter it can go down to -37°C.

Life history. The moths were collected while flying to the light of mercury lamps
(250 W). They sat on the ground some distance from the lamp.

Distribution. The species is known only from its type locality - the northern part of
the Astrakhan Province of Russia. It undoubtedly has a wider distribution in desert and
steppe biotopes of the Kalmyk Republic, Lower Volga, and western Kazakhstan.

Acknowledgements

Our special thanks go to Dr Roman V. Yakovlev (Russia, Barnaul) for his bibliographic help and support
during this investigation, Alexandre V. Popov (Russia, Volgograd) for a characteristic of the vegetation at
the type locality, and Svetlana V. Nedoshivina (Russia, Uljanovsk) for technical assistance.

References

Bradley, J. D. 1951. Notes on the family Arrhenophanidae (Lepidoptera: Hereoneura), with special
reference to the morphology of the genitalia, and descriptions of one new genus and two new species.
-The Entomologist 84: 178-185.

Komarov & Zolotuhin: Meharia scythica sp. n. from the Volga Region

Chrétien, R 1915. Contribution à la connaissance des Lépidoptères du Nord de l'Afrique. - Annales de la
Société Entomologique de France 84: 367-368.

Fletcher, D. S. & I. W. B. Nye 1982. The Generic Names of Moths of the World. Vol. 4. - Trustees of the
British Museum (Natural History), London. 192 pp.

Freina, J. de & T. J. Witt 1990. Die Bombyces und Sphinges der Westpalaearktis. Band 2. - Edition
Forschung & Wissenschaft, München. 140 pp.

Rungs, Ch. 1943. III. Notes de lépidoptérologie marocaine (XI). Addition à la faune du Maroc:
Fépidoptères des régions sahariennes. - Bulletin de la Société des Sciences Naturelles et Physiques du
Maroc 22: 174-177.

Schoorl, J. W. 1990. A phylogenetic study on Cossidae (Lepidoptera: Ditrysia) based on external adult
morphology. - Zoologische Verhandlungen 263: 1-296.

Zagulajev, A. K. 1978. Farn. Cossidae. - In: Medvedev G. S., Key to the Insects of European Part of the
USSR. 4 Fepidoptera. Part 1: 177-186. - Nauka, Leningrad, (in Russian).

Nota lepid. 28 (1): 55-64

Risk spreading in the voltinism of Scolitantides orion orion
(Pallas, 1771) (Lycaenidae)

Andreas Tränkner 1 & Matthias Nuss 2

1 Antonstr. 39, D-01097 Dresden, Germany; e-mail: andreastraenkner@web.de

2 Museum für Tierkunde, Königsbrücker Landstr. 159. D-01109 Dresden, Germany;
e-mail: matthias.nuss@snsd.smwk.sachsen.de

Abstract. As far as known the Chequered Blue ( Scolitantides orion (Pallas, 1771)) develops either one
or two generations per year. To clarify the voltinism strategy adopted by a population of this species in
eastern Germany, we continuously monitored them under natural conditions in 2004. In parallel, breeding-
experiments were undertaken in four cages placed within the habitat. Both sets of observations revealed
three distinct generations of adults, but only two generations of preimaginal stages were detected per
year. The first adults emerged from diapausing pupae in spring. This first generation of adults produced
a second generation (the first preimaginals of this season) which developed diapausing as well as non-
diapausing pupae. Adults of this second generation again produced diapausing and non-diapausing pupae
(the second generation of preimaginals of this season). From the non-diapausing pupae emerged a third
generation of adults, which however did not reproduce. The first generation of every year is recruited from
all diapausing pupae of the two preimaginal generations of the preceding year. This voltinism is interpreted
as a risk-spreading strategy that allows the plastic development of a maximum number of generations
during one season. In the study area, the larvae of S. orion orion feed exclusively on Sedum maximum
and the facultatively myrmecophilous larvae were associated with ant species of Formicinae as well as
Myrmicinae, but also developed without such an association. Five ant species were identified in these
associations, Formica ( Serviformica ) glauca Ruzsky, 1895, Lasius {Lasius) emarginatus Olivier, 1791,
Tetramorium impurum (Förster, 1850), Formica (Seniformica) fusca Linnaeus, 1758, and Camponotus
ligniperda Latreille, 1802, and the first three species are recorded for the first time to be associated with
this lycaenid species.

Key words, diapause, plastic voltinism, risk spreading, Scolitantides orion , Lycaenidae, facultative
myrmecophily, ant species, host plant, Sedum maximum.

Introduction

The Chequered Blue ( Scolitantides orion (Pallas, 1771)) is a Palaearctic species
occurring from the Atlantic coast to Japan (Coulondre 1994; Tolman & Lewington
1998). Within this region, the distribution of S. orion is a patchy pattern of several
disjunct areals, for which six subspecies are recognised: S. o. orion from Central and
southeastern Europe and Turkey; S. o. parvula de Sagarra, 1926 from the Pyrénées and
the Iberian Peninsula; S. o. ultraornata Verity, 1937 from southern Fenno-Scandia;
S. o. ty fieri Evans, 1924 from Tibet; S. o. ornata Staudinger, 1892 from Central
Asia to the Far East, and S. o. jezoensis Matsumura, 1919 from Japan (Coulondre
1994). In Germany several populations occur in Hesse, Rhineland-Palatinate, Baden-
Wuertemberg, Bavaria, Thuringia, and Saxony (Gaedike & Heinicke 1999). S. orion
is a xerothermophilous species. Populations usually occur in sunny places within
mountainous areas, often in river valleys (Settele et al. 1999; Huemer 2004). Despite
the fact that S. orion is generally well known to lepidopterists certain features of its
life history are still insufficiently studied. One controversial issue is the number and
phenology of generations per year and these are the main foci of the study presented
here. The data available for S. o. orion suggest that there are different numbers of

Nota lepidopterologica, 07.06.2005, ISSN 0342-7536

Tränkner & Nuss: Voltinism of Scolitantides orion

generations per year. One generation is stated for populations from Central Europe
(Tolman & Lewington 1998), but two are reported for several areas in Switzerland
(Tolman & Lewington 1998; Lepidopterologen-Arbeitsgruppe 1994). Forster &
Wohlfahrt (1955) generally mentioned two generations for Central Europe but only one
at the upper altitudinal limit of the species’ distribution in the Alps. Within the Czech
Republic two generations were reported from Central Bohemia (Srdinko 1912), but
only one from Moravia (Kudla 1951). Two generations are also mentioned from South
Tyrol (Huemer 2004). Even within Germany, different numbers of generations per year
have been recorded for various regions. While in Rhineland-Palatinate there appears
to be only one generation (Reinhardt & Kinkier 2004), a partial second generation
occurs in Thuringia (Bergmann 1952), and two generations are recorded from Saxony
(Reinhardt 2003). According to Coulondre (1994), voucher specimens of the second
generation of S. o. orion in insect collections represent only 0-10% of the quantity of
the first generation. As many of these data are based on voucher specimens collected
in different years, we investigated the phenology in one population in eastern Germany
in order to obtain reliable data for an entire season. Observations made on larval host
plant use and on their associated ants are mentioned as well.

Methods

The study site is situated to the north-west of Meissen (Germany: Saxony) in a south-
facing granite-quarry that is extremely xerothermic on most of its surface. Here large
stands of Sedum maximum are growing. However, plants like Humulus lupulus, Rosa
canina , and Rubus sp. are encroaching this area and three more Sedum species, viz.
Sedum acre , S. sexangulare , and S. rupestre, are also present.

Usually, our observations of S. orion in this habitat took place every second day. but
every day during periods when butterflies were emerging or when a generation was
about to be completed. Thus, observations were made on the following days: April 21,
23, 27, 28, 29; May 03,04, 11, 14, 18, 19,24, 27, 28; June 01, 03, 04, 07, 09, 11, 14, 15,
21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 28, 30; July 01, 02, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17,
19, 20, 21, 23, 25, 27, 29, 30; August 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 08, 09, 11, 12, 14, 16, 18, 19,
21,22, 24, 26, 30; and September 02, 03, 04, 06,07,08, 10, 13, 14, 17, 19, 20, 22, 23
2004. No observations were undertaken during strong rains or thunderstorms. At the end
of April and the beginning of June the stands of S. acre , S. sexangulare , and S. rupestre
were intensively investigated for the presence of eggs and larvae of S. orion.

Four cages were installed in the habitat to observe the development of S. orion under
somewhat controlled conditions. Each cage was composed of two plastic dishes
covered by a mosquito net held by willow rods. The measurements for each cage were
60x40x30 cm. The plastic dishes were filled with a mixture of sterilised soil from the
quarry habitat and commercial potting soil. One dish of each cage was planted with
S. maximum from the quarry habitat after the plants had been checked to be free of
aphids, thrips, hover fly larvae, and immatures of S. orion. The second dish contained
different plants: cage 1, 2 and 2a were planted with Sedum album from the Dresden

Nota lepid. 28 ( 1): 55-64

Botanical Garden, cage 3 received only a large stone, and cage 4 a mixture of
S. maximum and S. rupestre from the Dresden Botanical Garden. Between all plants
we placed stones of about 8 cm in diameter. The cages were controlled during each visit
to the site and were moisturised if necessary. Cages 1, 2 and 3 were installed on April
23. Cages 1 and 2 were covered immediately. Cage 3 was left uncovered until the first
eggs were laid on its S. maximum plants, which happened until April 27. On April 29
two females of S. orion were placed in cage 1 and one in cage 2 for oviposition. In cage
1 all fully developed larvae pupated in places where they could be controlled easily.
Thus, all pupal shells could be removed after the adults emerged while generation
3 started to develop. In cage 2 pupation often took place in hidden places. Therefore,
after the emergence, copulation, oviposition, and death of the adults of the second
generation their eggs were transferred to a new cage called cage 2a, while the pupae of
the second generation that had not yet emerged were left in cage 2. Cage 4 was installed
on May 1 9 and one S. orion female was put inside the same day. On September 20 all
cages were removed and inspected in detail. The remaining pupae were placed in a
plastic container on mosses and left outdoor.

Results

Field observations

Flight times in the field (Fig. 1). First generation. Butterflies of the first
generation were noted during two months from April 21 to June 21. The first eggs on
Sedum maximum were found on April 27. No S. orion of this first generation flew after
June 21, though the weather was sunny, warm, and dry.

Second generation. On July 4 an obviously freshly-emerged adult of S. orion
was detected. Two butterflies were observed on each of the following four days. The
main flight activity lasted between July 12 and August 6. After August 6 the number of
observed specimens decreased until August 12, when the last two adults of the second
generation were seen, even though the weather was warm and dry afterwards.

Third generation. An obviously freshly-emerged adult of S. orion was detected
on August 21 and also on August 22. During the following days, the weather was
cold and rainy and thus it was impossible to observe any butterfly. At the beginning
of September the weather became warm and sunny again and during the hot day of
September 4 another adult S. orion was seen. This summer-like weather continued until
September 1 7. During this period, three butterflies were observed on September 8 and
10, two butterflies on September 14 and 17, and the last one on September 19.

Host plants of the larvae. The larvae were found exclusively on Sedum maximum,
though congeneric S. acre, S. rupestre, and S. sexangulare were also present in the
study area.

Association with ants. S. orion larvae were observed in association with four species
of Formicinae ants: Camponotus ligniperda Latreille, 1802, Formica ( Serviformica )
fusca Linnaeus, 1758, Formica ( Serviformica ) glauca Ruzsky, 1895, and Lasius
( Lasius ) emarginatus Olivier, 1791 .

Tränkner & Nuss: Voltinism of Scolitantides orion

Fig. 1. Number of adult S. orion in the study area during 2004. Double counts cannot be excluded because
specimens were not marked.

butterflies
in the field

1st generation

2nd generation

3rd generation

cage 1

eggs - larvae - pupae - adults eggs - larvae - pupae - adults

cage .

eggs— larvae - pupae - adults

cage 3

eggs - larvae - pupae - adults

cage 4

eggs - larvae - pupae - adults

CD CD CD CD

April

Mav

June

July

August

September

Fig. 2. Phenology of S. orion in cages in relation to flight periods in the field. Each bar for each cage starts
with oviposition and ends with butterfly emergence. Development until the third generation was completed i
in cage 1 only (black bar: first generation; white bars: second generation; grey bars: third generation).

Nota lepid. 28 (1 ): 55-64

cage

number of days

Fig. 3. Duration of development of the preimaginal stages of S. orion. Grey bar: egg stage; white bar: larval
stages; black bar: non-diapausing pupae; black and dotted bar: diapausing pupae. The right edge of the
black bars also indicates the beginning of the emergence of the adults.

Observations in cages Figs. 2, 3

Cage 1. D e v e I o p m e n t of the second generation. On May 3 we found
the freshly-laid eggs of the two S. orion females that had been inside the cage since
April 29. All 17 eggs were laid on Sedum maximum , though S. album was present too.
Eight larvae developed to the pupal stage, from which six adults emerged on July 3 and
subsequent days. The remaining two pupae did not emerge, but died and were removed
later. The development of eggs required about 1 5 days, whereas the development of
larvae took about 31 days and the development of pupae about 16 days. All adults
emerged within three days. The entire developmental period of the second generation
lasted about nine weeks. After the larvae became seven millimetres long, they were
associated with Lasius emarginatus until the pupal stage. Since it was possible to find
all pupae, cage 1 was used to study the development of the following generation also.
Development of the third generation. The butterflies of the second
generation emerged on July 3 and the first copulation was observed on July 4. On July 5
the first eggs were found on S. maximum. Again S. album was not used for oviposition.
Subsequently, nine larvae developed to the final stage. The larvae were first visited by
L. emarginatus when they were about four millimetres long. Egg development required
about nine days whereas the development of larvae took about 22 days and that of

Tränkner & Nuss: Voltinism of Scolitantides orion

pupae about 13 days. At that time it was impossible to detect the pupae without taking
apart the entire cage. On August 18 emerged the first adult of the third generation after
a development from egg to adult of about 44 days. This butterfly remained alone and
finally died between August 27 and 29. When the cage was inspected in autumn two
live pupae were found hidden deeply in the plastic dish. However, six other pupae were
not found.

Cage 2 and 2a. Development of the second generation. The female
placed inside this cage laid eggs that we found on May 3. 40 eggs were attached to
Sedum maximum, but 17 eggs also on S. album. LI -larvae were mining inside the leaves
of the latter plant species but all of them died. 1 5 LI -larvae developed on S. maximum,
feeding on the youngest leaves at the tip of the plants and after pupating from June
1 3 onwards. After some of the S. maximum plants had been totally defoliated by the
feeding larvae three of the full-grown larvae continued feeding on 5. album. However,
after adding two S. maximum plants they returned to this food source. Finally, five
pupae were detected only, but seven imagines emerged between June 30 and July 4.
The inspection of the cage on September 20 revealed only one live pupa. Thus, seven
individuals from the original 15 Ll-larvae were missing at the end. Egg development
required about 14 days whereas the development of larvae took about 29 days and the
development of non-diapausing pupae about 16 days. The adults emerged during three
days. The entire time of development lasted 8.5 weeks. Tetramorium impurum (Förster,
1850) ants were present when Ll-larvae emerged, and first associations were observed
one day later. Workers of Formica glauca were observed for the first time inside the
cage and in association with the larvae when these reached 10 millimetres long.
Development of the third generation. On July 2 the first S. orion eggs
were found on newly added S. maximum plants. No eggs were laid on S. album. The
plants with the eggs were then transferred into cage 2a where larvae emerged after nine
days. A thunderstorm destroyed this cage on July 20 and all larvae were lost.

Cage 3. Development of the second generation. On April 27 the first
S. orion eggs were found on S. maximum plants in this still open cage. Eggs were laid
between April 23 (day of installation of cage during cold and rainy weather) and April
27. Larvae emerged after 16 days, pupated after 41 additional days, and the pupal stage
required about 17 days. Thus, the entire period from egg to adult comprised about
74 days. On June 21 two of the full-grown larvae drowned in a little puddle that formed
after three days of rain. On July 8 one imago emerged while a pupae was found dead.
17 days after the emergence of larvae the first ants were detected inside the cage.
At that time, the larvae already had a length of nine millimetres. Formica (Serviformica)
fusca was the first ant species to be observed in a clear association with the S. orion
larvae. One week later workers of Tetramorium impurum were found also. They were
temporarily seen together with workers of F. fusca on the same shoot of a S. maximum
plant but always at different S. orion larvae. Breeding was not continued in this cage.
Cage 4. D e v e 1 o p m e n t of the second generation. The S. or/on-female
placed in this cage lived for 11 days, from 19 until 30 May. Oviposition took place
during six days and resulted in 84 eggs, three on one S. maximum shoot, 61 eggs on

Nota lepid. 28 ( 1): 55-64

another, and 20 eggs on a third shoot. No eggs were found on many other available
S. maximum shoots. Larvae emerged after 10 days, developed for 34 days, and the
pupal stage lasted 13 days. The first adult emerged on July 21 and died on July 28.
A second adult emerged on July 30 and died on August 2. These two adults died
without reproductive success. On August 6 two other dead butterflies with undeveloped
wings were detected. There was no more emergence. Developmental time from egg to
adult took about 58 days. During the inspection of the cage on September 20, 21 living
pupae were found. After all S. maximum plants became leafless many full-grown larvae
continued feeding on S. rupestre , but returned to S. maximum when this plant species
was provided again. No ants visited this cage.

Spring 2005. Altogether, 24 diapausing pupae survived the winter of 2004/2005.
The adults emerged in late April 2005.

Discussion

This study focuses mainly on the phenology and voltinism of S. o. orion. It was
especially important to have a high rate of field observations to detect the short, but clear
breaks in flight activity between generations and to avoid misinterpretations resulting
from bad weather conditions with no flight activity. Our continuous observations in the
field as well as in cages show clearly that S. o. orion developed three generations in the
study area during 2004.

So far as we could verify, previous reports of one or two generations per year were
derived from single observations or collection specimens, but not from continuous
observations of the development of individual specimens in the field. Moreover,
Reinhardt (2003), Reinhardt & Hardtke (2003), and Reinhardt & Kinkier (2004)
constitute their interpretations on samples of adults from small areas, but amalgamate
samples from different years to one hypothetical year. Thus, these authors could not
recognise the short interruptions in the flight activity between generations of S. o. orion
because the phenology varies too much between years. Furthermore, the samples
analysed from Saxony by Reinhardt (2003) and Reinhardt & Hardtke (2003) did
not comprise voucher specimens from the entire period during which the adults of
S. o. orion are on the wing.1

The development of three generations in the study area might be correlated to local
circumstances and thus can not necessarily be generalised. We assume that the variable
numbers of generations per year reported in the literature (Kudla 1951; Bergmann
1952; Forster & Wohlfahrt 1955; Henriksen 1982; Koch 1984; Tolman & Lewington
1998; Reinhardt 2003; Huemer 2004; Reinhardt & Kinkier 2004) are related to altitude
and latitude of the habitats, and thus to different ecological conditions, i.e. temperature
and length of growing season. These abiotic factors are well known to influence the

1 It is anecdotal that lepidopterists from Dresden and its vicinity traditionally visit the 5. orion
habitats along the right edge of the Elbe during May since decades, combining their excursions with a
visit in the nearby restaurants to enjoy the Asparagus season. Thus, voucher specimens from this
area well represent the first generation, but significantly less so for subsequent generations.

Tränkner & Nuss: Voltinism of Scolitantides orion

developmental rate (Fischer & Fiedler 2002) and dormancy (Müller 1992) of insects.
Thus, all data available suggest that S. orion has a plastic developmental strategy
depending on local climatic conditions.

However, our study on S. o. orion did not compare the influence of, e.g. temperature
in different populations. Instead, one population was investigated at a very restricted
location and thus it can be assumed that all specimens observed were influenced by
abiotic factors in the same manner. Besides the fact that S. o. orion develops three
generations the synchronous development of diapausing and non-diapausing pupae in
the second as well as the third generations is a phenomenon hitherto not recorded in the
literature. The factors influencing the development of these diapausing pupae are still
unknown since dormancy-inducing exogenic abiotic factors can be excluded at least
for the second generation. Müller ( 1992) refers to the possibility of endogenic factors
inducing dormancy in insects in the absence of exogenic dormancy-inducing factors.
He calls such a prospective dormancy parapause. However, a prospective dormancy
does not explain the coexistent development of diapausing and non-diapausing pupae.
The strategy for a genotype to develop both non-diapausing and diapausing phenotypes
in one generation is described by Hopper (1999) as “risk-spreading,” though the
mechanism underlying this risk-spreading and its genetical basis are still unknown.
The discovery of this phenomenon in S. o. orion was unexpected. Thus, no statistically
relevant numbers of diapausing and non-diapausing pupae were noted. However, the
fact that this species has the ability for “risk-spreading” guarantees a maximum number
of generations per year under the relevant local conditions - and thereby a higher
offspring number. Moreover, the ability for “risk-spreading” may explain why only one
or two generations are recorded for S. orion from areas with shorter vegetation periods
as in mountain hills or at more northerly latitudes. It can also explain why a ‘partially
second generation’ is frequently recorded for S. o. orion (Bergmann 1952; Coulondre
1994; Lepidopterologen-Arbeitsgruppe 1994).

All observations made in the study area revealed that larvae of S. o. orion developed
on Sedum maximum while all larvae fed with S. album died. In contrast, Weidemann
(1995) records that S. orion develops on Sedum album too, but it is questionable
whether this record is just taken from Henriksen (1982) who mentions this host
plant for S. o. ultraornata from Fenno-Scandia. Host plant quality can influence the
development of insects, it can also influence diapause and voltinism under constant
photoperiod and temperature as shown for Choristoneura rosaceana (Lepidoptera:
Tortricidae) by Hunter et al. (1996). Such observations pose the question whether the
varying voltinism observed for different S. orion populations may also depend on the
host plant used by the larvae.

In the Elbe valley west of Dresden S. o. orion develops new generations as long as
favourable conditions exist. Apparently, the third generation appears so late during
the season that the adults do not reproduce successfully, but diapausing pupae of the
second and third generations guarantee the survival of the population.

Our observations confirm that S. orion larvae are steady, but facultatively myrme-

Nota lepid. 28 (1): 55-64

cophilous, since larvae developed without ants in cage 4 as well. Until now, ant
species associated with S. orion have only rarely been recorded (cf. Aigner-Abah
1899; Malicky 1969; Fiedler 1991). In the present study, Formica ( Serviformica )
glaitca, Lasius ( L .) emarginatus (Formicinae), and Tetramorium impurum (Myrmi-
cinae) were found in association with S. orion larvae for the first time. Camponotus
ligniperda and Formica ( Serviformica ) fnsca have also been observed in association
with S. orion , which is already recorded by Fiedler (1991) and Saarinen (1995).
Anyhow, the attractiveness of S. orion larvae for ants appears to be very high
because all larvae in the field were found in association with ants. In fact,
S. orion was one of the earliest European lycaenid species on which the phenomenon of
myrmecophily was studied (Ehrhardt 1914; cf. Malicky 1969; Fiedler 1991).

Acknowledgements

The first author wishes to thank Rolf Entzeroth (Technical University Dresden) for participating in taking
care of the diploma thesis. Barbara Ditsch and Ingo Uhlemann (Botanical Institute, Technical University
Dresden) kindly provided and identified the Sedum plants. We thank Conny Hättasch and Katja Bochnig
(Dresden) for their assistance in different technical matters. We appreciate the constructive discussions on
S. orion and its host plants in the vicinity of Dresden with Hans-Jürgen Hardtke (Possendorf), Michael
Kurze (Dresden), and Hanno Voigt (Dresden). Konrad Fiedler (Wien) provided critical and helpful
comments on the manuscript, and Bernard Landry (Genève) kindly checked the English text.

References

Aigner- Abaft, L. 1899. Über die myrmekophile orion- Larve. - Illustrierte Zeitschrift für Entomologie 4:
124.

Bergmann, A. 1952. Die Großschmetterlinge Mitteldeutschlands 2. - Urania, Jena. 495 pp.

Coulondre, A. 1994. Systématique et répartition de Scolitantides orion (Pallas, 1771) (Lepidoptera:
Lycaenidae). - Linneana belgica 14: 383^120.

Ehrhardt, R. 1914. Über die Biologie und Histologie der myrmekophilen Organe von Lycaena orion.
- Berichte der naturforschenden Gesellschaft zu Freiburg i. Br. 20: xci-xcviii.

Fiedler, K. 1991. Systematic, evolutionary, and ecological implications of myrmecophily within the
Lycaenidae (Insecta: Lepidoptera: Papilionoidea). - Bonner Zoologische Monographien 31: 1-210.

Fischer, K. & K. Fiedler 2002. reaction norms for age and size at maturity in response to temperature: a test
of the compound interest hypothesis. - Evolutionary Ecology 16: 333-349.

Forster, W. & T. A. Wohlfahrt 1955. Die Schmetterlinge Mitteleuropas 2: Tagfalter. - Franckh’sche
Verlagshandlung Stuttgart. 126 pp. 28 pis.

Gaedike, R. & W. Heinicke 1999. Verzeichnis der Schmetterlinge Deutschlands. - Entomofauna
Germanica 3. - Entomologische Nachrichten und Berichte, Dresden, Beiheft 5: 1-216.

Henriksen H. J. & I. Kreutzer 1982. The butterflies of Scandinavia in nature. - Skandinavisk Bogforlag,
Odense.

Hopper, K. R. 1999. Risk-spreading and bet-hedging in insect population biology. - Annual Review of
Entomology 44: 535-60.

Huemer, P. 2004. Die Tagfalter Südtirols. - Veröffentlichung des Naturmuseums Südtirol 2. - Folio Verlag,
Wien. 232 pp.

Hunter, M. D. & J. N. McNeil 1996. Host-plant quality influences diapause and voltinism in a polyphagous
insect herbivore. - Ecology 78 (4): 977-986.

Koch, M. 1984. Wir bestimmen Schmetterlinge. - Neumann, Leipzig & Radebeul. 792 pp.

Kudla, M. 1951. Quelques notes sur l’écologie et l'apparition de l’espèce Scolitantides orion Pali. (Lep.,
Lyc.). - Acta societatis entomologicae cechosloveniae 48 (2): 132-134 (in Czech).

Tränkner & Nuss: Voltinism of ScoHtantides orion

Lepidopterologen-Arbeitsgruppe 1994 (4th edn.). Tagfalter und ihre Lebensräume 1. - Schweizerischer
Bund für Naturschutz, Basel. 516 S.

Malicky, H. 1969. Versuch einer Analyse der ökologischen Beziehung zwischen Lycaeniden (Lepidoptera)
und Formiciden (Hymenoptera). - Tijdschrift voor Entomologie 112: 213-298.

Müller, H.-J. 1992. Dormanz bei Arthropoden. - Gustav Fischer, Jena. 289 pp.

Reinhardt, R. 2003. Beitrag zur Biologie und Generationsfolge des Fetthenne-Bläulings ScoHtantides
orion (Pallas, 1771) in Sachsen (Lep., Lycaenidae). - Entomologische Nachrichten und Berichte
47 ( 3 — 4): 165-172.

Reinhardt, R. & H.-J. Hardtke 2004. ScoHtantides orion (Pallas, 1771) - Sammlungsmaterial aus dem
Staatlichen Museum für Tierkunde Dresden sowie weitere sächsische Daten [LEP-Lyc]. - Mitteilungen
Sächsischer Entomologen 68: 10-12.

Reinhardt, R. & H. Kinkier 2004. Ein weiterer Beitrag zur Generationsfolge von ScoHtantides orion
(Pallas, 1771) insbesondere im Rheinland (Lep., Lycaenidae) sowie ergänzende Funddaten aus Bayern
und Thüringen. - Entomologische Nachrichten und Berichte 48 (3-4): 167-172.

Saarinen, P. 1995. Kalliosinisiiven ( ScoHtantides orion) ekologia ja esiintyminen Lohjalla vuosima
1991-92. -Baptria 20 (4): 195-198.

Settele, J., R. Feldmann & R. Reinhardt 1999. Die Tagfalter Deutschlands. - Ulmer, Stuttgart. 452 pp.

Srdinko, J. 1912. Beitrag zur Kenntnis von L. orion. - Internationale Entomologische Zeitschrift, Guben.
6: 102-103.

Tolman, T. & R. Lewington 1998. Tagfalter Europas und Nordwestafrikas (Deutsche Übersetzung von M.
Nuß). - Franckh-Kosmos, Stuttgart. 319 pp., 104 pis.

Weidemann, H.-J. (1995): Tagfalter: Beobachten, Bestimmen. - 2., völlig neu bearb. Auf! - Natur-
buchverlag, Augsburg. 659 S.

Nota lepid. 28 ( 1 ): 65-67

Neotypus melanocephalus (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae):
the first record of a parasitoid wasp attacking Maculinea teleius
(Lycaenidae)

Andras Tartally

University of Debrecen, Faculty of Sciences, Department of Evolutionary Zoology and Human Biology,
Hungary, H-4010 Debrecen, P.O.B. 3; e-mail: tartally@delfin.unideb.hu

Abstract. A Maculinea teleius (Bergsträsser, 1779) pupa was found near Meszes (NE-Hungary)
in a Myrmica scabrinodis Nylander, 1846 nest. Some hours later emerged a wasp that proved (det.
K. Horstmann) to be Neotypus melanocephalus Gmelin, 1790 (Ichneumonidae). The wasp with the
exuvium and specimens of the host ant are deposited in the Hymenoptera Collection of the Hungarian
Natural History Museum (25.vii.2002; Meszes; leg. A. Tartally). It would be desirable to obtain more
Neotypus specimens from M. teleius pupae to test if the wasp really is N. melanocephalus , or a form of
N. pusillus Gregor, 1940. or even a new cryptic species of Neotypus.

Key words. Neotypus , Maculinea, Myrmica, Ichneumonidae, Lycaenidae, parasitoid, Hungary.

The larvae and pupae of four of the five European species of Maculinea van Eecke,
1915 butterflies are known hosts of parasitoids from the Ichneumonidae family. The two
cuckoo Maculinea species for which the caterpillars are fed by worker ants (Thomas
& Elmes 1998) have Ichneumon sp. parasitoids. Ichneumon eumerus Wesmael, 1857
was recorded as a parasitoid of M. rebeli (Hirschke, 1904) and the same or a sibling
Ichneumon species attacks M. alcon ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775) as well (Thomas
& Elmes 1993; Munguira & Martin 1999; Sielezniew & Stankiewicz 2004; Thomas,
Fitton & Hilpert, pers. comm.). Two of the three Maculinea species, of which the
caterpillars are predators of ant broods (Thomas & Elmes 1998), have Neotypus
parasitoids: N. pusillus Gregor, 1 940 was bred from M. nausithous (Bergsträsser, 1 779)
(Thomas & Elmes 1993) and another Neotypus sp. from M. avion (Linnaeus, 1758)
(Thomas, Wardlaw & Fitton, pers. comm.). So far as known, each of these parasitoids
is host-specific to a single Maculinea species, but until now no parasitoid wasp of the
predatory M. teleius (Bergsträsser, 1779) was known.

Maculinea species and their parasitoids are of high interest to evolutionary and
conservation ecology because of their extreme adaptations to a myrmecophilous life-
style and because all are rare and globally endangered (IUCN 2004; Hochberg et al.
1996; Munguira & Martin 1999). The larvae of these butterflies feed briefly on specific
foodplants before being adopted by Myrmica ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in
which colonies they live as social parasites for 1 1-23 months (Thomas & Elmes 1998).
Neotypus pusillus oviposits on young M. nausithous larvae on the larval foodplant
while Ichneumon spp., perhaps in response to the different population structure found
in cuckoo species, penetrate Myrmica nests to seek Maculinea larvae (Thomas &
Elmes 1993). These parasitoids both emerge from host pupae inside ant colonies and
are presumed to have similar specialisations to those described for I. eumerus (Thomas
et al. 2002) to escape unharmed from nests.

Nota lepidopterologica, 07.06.2005, ISSN 0342-7536

Tartally: A parasitoid wasp attacking Maculinea teleius

Between 2000 and 2003, hundreds of Myrmica nests at eight sites were examined for
caterpillars, pupae, and exuvia of M. teleius to measure host specificity and to investigate
whether parasitoids of this butterfly occur in the Carpathian Basin. Hungary.
Twenty-four caterpillars, one exuvium, and eight pupae of M. teleius were found at
five sites. One of the pupae contained a parasitoid. This was collected on 25 July 2002
near the village of Meszes (NE-Hungary; Borsod-Abaüj-Zemplén County) in a marshy
meadow with a profusion of Sanguisorba officinalis (I intentionally do not give the
exact location as a precaution against collectors; only two more pupae were found
there but these were not parasitized). The pupal cases of M. teleius and M. nausithous
are hard to distinguish, but this pupa was found in a Myrmica scabrinodis Nylander,
1846 nest within one meter from a S. officinalis plant. My. scabrinodis is the main
host ant of M. teleius in Europe (Thomas et al. 1989; Stankiewicz & Sielezniew 2002;
Tartally & Csösz 2004) and no other species of Maculinea nor any other foodplant
of Maculinea , occur at this site (Varga, pers. comm.). Moreover, M. nausithous , the
only other Maculinea species that uses S. officinalis , is not known from NE-Hungary
(Bâlint 1996). Based on this evidence, this pupa was identified as M. teleius. Some
hours after collection, a wasp hatched from this pupa. The wasp with the exuvium and
specimens of the host ant (My. scabrinodis) were placed into a small vial with 75%
ethanol. The full sample is deposited in the Hymenoptera Collection of the Hungarian
Natural History Museum (25.vii.2002; Meszes; Tartally leg.). The wasp was sent to
Dr. Klaus Horstmann (Theodor-Boveri-Institut für Biowissenschaften, Würzburg) for
determination; it proved to be Neotypus melanocephalus Gmelin, 1790, a species that
had not previously been recorded as a parasitoid of any Maculinea host (Thomas, pers.
comm.).

There are several known M. nausithous populations infected by N. pusillus that
co-occur with M. teleius in Europe, but in those studied in the Rhone valley (France),
there is strong evidence that N. pusillus never parasitizes M. teleius (Thomas, pers.
comm.). It would be worth checking more widely whether N. pusillus uses only
M. nausithous as a host or whether it can infect M. teleius too. This is important
because N. melanocephalus has, at times, been synonymised with N. pusillus ; but
current studies in the EU ‘MacMan’ programme suggest that N. melanocephalus is a
cryptic sibling species (Thomas, pers. comm.), a phenomenon well known in parasitoid
taxa (Godfray 1994). It would be desirable to obtain more Neotypus specimens from
M. teleius pupae and to test whether this wasp really is N. melanocephalus , or a form
of N. pusillus , or even a new cryptic species of Neotypus. If, as I suspect, it is both a
good species and specific to M. teleius , then, like other parasitoids of Maculinea, it will
by definition be rarer and more threatened than its host, and its populations will be in
greater need of conservation (Hochberg et al. 1996; Thomas et al. 2002).

Acknowledgements

I would like to thank Enikö Toth, Dr. Jeremy A. Thomas. Dr. Klaus Horstmann, Sändor Csösz, and
Dr. Zoltân S. Varga for their help. The research was funded by the EC within the RTD project "MacMan”
(EVK2-CT-200 1 -00 126).

Nota lepid. 28 ( 1 ): 65-67

References

Bâlint. Zs. 1996. A Kârpât-medence nappali lepkéi i. rész. [Butterflies of the Carpathian Basin vol. 1 1

- Magyar Madârtani és Természetvédelmi Egyesület, Budapest. 183 pp.

Godfray, H. C. J. 1994. Parasitoids. - Princeton University Press, Princeton. 488 pp.

Hochberg, M. E., G. W. Eimes, J. A. Thomas & R. T. Clarke 1996. Mechanisms of local persistence in
coupled host-parasitoid associations: the case model of Maculinea rebeli and Ichneumon eumerus.

- Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Biological Science 351: 1713-1724.
International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) 2004. IUCN Red list

of threatened animals. A global species assessment. - The IUCN Species Survival Commission,
Cambridge. 217 pp. (full list of species also at http://www.iucnredlist.org )

Munguira M. L. & J. Martin (eds.) 1999. Action Plan for the Maculinea butterflies in Europe. - Nature and
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Sielezniew, M. & A. M. Stankiewicz 2004. Simultaneous exploitation of Myrmica vandeli and M. scabrinodis
(Hymenoptera: Formicidae) colonies by the endangered myrmecophilous butterfly Maculinea alcon
(Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae). - European Journal of Entomology 101: 693-696.

Stankiewicz A. & M. Sielezniew 2002. Host specificity of Maculinea teleius Bgstr. and M. nausithous
Bgstr. (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae) the new insight. - Annales Zoologici 52: 403^408.

Tartally, A. & S. Csösz 2004. Adatok a magyarorszagi Maculinea fajok (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae)
hangyagazdairöl. [Data on the ant hosts of the Maculinea butterflies (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae) of
Hungary.] - Természetvédelmi Kôzlemények 11: 309-317.

Thomas, J. A. & G. W. Elmes 1993. Specialised searching and the hostile use of allomones by a parasitoid
whose host, the butterfly Maculinea rebeli , inhabits ant nests. - Animal Behaviour 45: 593-602.
Thomas, J. A. & G. W. Elmes 1998. Higher productivity at the cost of increased hostspecificity when
Maculinea butterfly larvae exploit ant colonies through trophallaxis rather than by predation.

- Ecological Entomology 23: 457-464.

Thomas, J. A., G. W. Elmes, J. C. Wardlaw & M. Woyciechowski 1989. Host specificity among Maculinea
butterflies in Myrmica ant nests. - Oecologia 79: 452-457.

Thomas, J. A., J. J. Knapp, T. Akino, S. Gerty, S. Wakamura, D. J. Simcox, J. C. Wardlaw & G. W. Elmes
2002. Parasitoid secretions provoke ant warfare. - Nature 417: 505-506.

Nota lepid. 28 ( 1 ): 69

The geographic range of Rhyacionia hafneri (Rebel, 1937)
(Tortricidae)

Josef Jaros1 & Jan Liska2

1 Institute of Entomology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Branisovskâ 31, CZ-370 05 Ceské Budëjovice,
Czechia; e-mail: jaros@entu.cas.cz

2 Forestry and Game Management Research Institute, Strnady 136, CZ-156 04 Praha 5 - Zbraslav,
Czechia; e-mail: liska@vulhm.cz

Recently, Huemer (2003) redescribed the tortricid moth Rhyacionia hafneri (Rebel, 1937) and
recorded this species from Slovenia for the first time. Huemer (2003) also illustrated diagnostic
characters and discussed the distribution of R. hafneri and closely related taxa. It seems that
R. hafneri is a locally distributed, probably rare submediterranean species. With the exception
of the type locality ‘Dalmatia - Knin’ (coastal Croatia) and records from three localities in
Slovenia (Huemer 2003), no other distributional data are available and the life history remains
unknown. Referring to Huemer ’s (2003) diagnosis and additional data provided by Razowski
(2004), several additional specimens of R. hafiieri have now been discovered:

Material. 3cf, 2ç Slovenia, Nanos Mts, Strmec (45°50'N, 14°00'E), 800 m a.s.l., 28.V.2000, Liska
leg., Liska & Jaros coll.; lç Bulgaria, foothills of the Rhodope Mts., Asenovgrad (42°00'N, 24°55'E),
300 m a.s.l., 29.V.1984, Jaros leg. et coll.; 29 Hungary, Vertés Hills, Csâkberény (47°20'N, 18°15'E),
350 m a.s.l., 8.V.2003, Liska leg. et coll.; I9 Czechia, South Moravia, Ketkovice (49°10'N, 16°15'E), 360
m a.s.l., 28.V.1999, Sumpich leg. et coll.j Id1 Bflé Karpaty Mts, Certoryje National Reserve, (48°50'N,
17°25"E), 350 m a.s.l., 5.-7. vi. 1997, Sumpich leg. et coll.; I9 Moravskÿ kras (Moravian Karst),
Olomucany (49°20'N, 16°40'E), 500 m a.s.l., 23.V.2002, Z. Lastuvka leg., Jaros coll.

All the localities are characteristic limestone habitats. The dominant native pine species of the
Slovenia and Bulgaria localities is Pinus nigra , which is undoubtedly the food plant of R. hafneri
there. In the Vertés Hills (Hungary) and the three localities of South Moravia (Czechia) the
only native pine species is P. sylvestris (but P. nigra was introduced into these areas more than
100 years ago and now is quite common). Therefore, it is possible that R. hafneri spread to
Central Europe when P. nigra was planted there by foresters. On the other hand, most localities of
P. nigra and associated R. hafneri in Slovenia, Bulgaria and Croatia are certainly autochthonous
(cf. Meusel et al. 1965), but recently P. nigra has been extensively planted in all these countries.
It is expected that R. hafneri will be found also in northern Italy, Austria, Romania and southern
Slovakia, where P. nigra is also planted by foresters in some regions. Food plant studies and
monitoring of the distribution and spread of R. hafneri in Europe are badly needed.

Acknowledgements

We are grateful to Zdenëk Lastuvka and Jan Sumpich for providing us with the material of R. hafneri
from Czechia. The study was partially supported by a Grant of the Czech Academy of Sciences
1QS500070505.

References

Huemer, R 2003. Rhyacionia hafneri (Rebel, 1937) sp. rev., eine verkannte Wicklerart aus dem
Mittelmeergebiet (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae). - Entomologische Zeitschrift (Stuttgart) 113: 98-101.
Meusel, H., E. Jäger & E. Weinert 1965. Vergleichende Chorologie der Zentraleuropäischen Flora. Karten.
- Gustav Fischer Verlag, Jena, 258 pp.

Razowski, J. 2004. Tortricidae (Lepidoptera) of Europe, Vol. 2: Olethreutinae. - F. Slamka, Bratislava,
301 pp.

Nota lepidopterologica, 07.06.2005, ISSN 0342-7536

Book review

Hausmann, A. 2004: Sterrhinae. - In: A. Hausmann (ed.), The Geometrid Moths of
Europe 2: 600 pp. - Apollo Books, Stenstrup (ISBN 8788757374). DKK 960.

The latest volume of The Geometrid Moths of Europe treats the geometrid subfamily
Sterrhinae that includes several taxonomically challenging genera, such as Idaea
and Scopula. Although the Sterrhinae fauna of northern Europe is well-known the
opposite is true for southern Europe. The taxonomical information of that fauna has
been scattered through the literature, which has often not only been inaccessible both
to scientists and amateurs, but also dubious because many of the authors have not been
aware of work of others. Therefore an identification book that brings together all that
knowledge has been long awaited.

The book treats 196 species of Europe and its adjoining countries, including those of
North Africa. It proposes 102 taxonomic changes including descriptions of three new
species. The book opens with a short introduction to methodological notes, which is
followed by a systematic account of taxa. Diagnoses are given for the subfamily, and
for the six tribes and 18 genera to which the species are classified. Species’ descriptions
contain list of synonyms, available and unavailable names. Diagnoses of imagos and
genitalia are short, but this is justifiable because descriptions are accompanied with
numerous text-figures and photos, which quite easily guide the reader to look into
appropriate characters. For each species a distribution map is presented, accompanied
with a written description of distribution area. There are separate sections for phenology,
biology, habitat, parasitoids, similar species, and if necessary, for remarks. These are
followed by high-quality colour plates, depicting a large number of specimens and
showing the variation of external features. The plates that contain small species have
been enlarged. For each species a drawn picture of male and female genitalia is shown.
The book ends with a systematic check-list of European and its adjoining regions’
fauna.

The book is designed for species identification and for this purpose it is excellent. The
author has examined an impressive number of 300 000 specimens during the preparation
of this volume which certainly gives reliability for the taxonomic judgment. Generally,
adequate species identification information is easily accessible and problematic
taxonomical cases, which need further study, are clearly mentioned. However, there
are a few, admittedly minor things, which deserve a note here. The author has decided
not to evert vesicae, even though it is a standard procedure in Lepidoptera systematics
nowadays, and these structures have already been shown to be of additional diagnostic
value in Sterrhinae systematics. The exclusion of this possible source of information
a priori is unfortunate. Perhaps it could have given more solid evidence for taxonomic
decisions in the difficult species groups, such as the Mediterranean Rhodostrophia
calabra- group, where other diagnostic features are vague. In this genus the vesica
characters have already been shown to offer further taxonomical information by others.
Regarding genitalia plates, certain female genital structures have systematically been
omitted in figures. Taxonomically important structures around the ostium bursae are
omitted or weakly shown and position of the ductus bursae in the abdominal sternite

Nota lepid. 28 (1): 70-71

is unknown because the latter has been removed from it. Further, the ductus seminalis is
not shown in a number of species and in several instances only parts of the genitalia are
shown, perhaps as a result of unsuccessful dissection. Also, it would have been useful
to reader if the diagnostic features were pointed out in the plates. Another issue is that
immature stages are dealt with rather superficially. For a majority of species these are
unknown, but descriptions like ’Pupa short, abdomen slender.’, as for Oar , to cite one
example, can barely be considered an improvement when compared with ’Immature
stages unknown.’ Finally, the book contains several citations to internet pages that offer
additional information on taxonomy and biology of the dealt taxa, but when writing
this the data were not available. No doubt, when the pages are functional they will offer
wealth of further information.

The other part of book, i.e. systematic treatment of taxa, is variable in quality. The
taxa are mostly classified according to recent findings, or in the lack recent research,
after the traditionally held views. In other instances the author has chosen to favour
his own taxonomical expertise. To cite an example, for the generic classification of the
Scopulini the author explains well what the recent findings made by other researchers
suggest, yet he has chosen not to follow them. The adopted, traditional approach is
justified from the point of view of nomenclatoric stability. However, elsewhere, as
in the case of Apostates , the author proposes novel taxonomic changes with little
written justification. In another example the author has failed to make the presented
taxonomical decisions easily accessible. Several new species combinations or synonyms
are mentioned in the abstract, e.g. synonymy of Rhodostrophia oxyntis Prout with
R. xesta Prout. These non-European taxa are not found in the index because they are
not treated in this monograph. By browsing through the book I found the relevant part
but there was no additional evidence that could be used to evaluate the conclusion
drawn. If the presented taxonomical decisions are not based on transparent evidence,
it unfortunately makes results appear suspect even if they are correct.

Despite the comments made above, I wish to emphasise that overall impression of
the book is very positive and the author has produced an excellent monograph that is
likely to become a standard reference in the field. The book contains a huge amount of
taxonomic and biological data and I consider it a must for anyone who is interested in
the European Sterrhinae fauna.

Pasi Sihvonen

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