Melitaea Phoebe Research Articles

Correction to Notes on the Melitaea ornata Christoph, 1893, complex in the Levant (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) including new synonymy and observations on lectotype designations for Melitaea phoebe dorae Graves, 1925.

Correction to Notes on the Melitaea ornata Christoph, 1893, complex in the Levant (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) including new synonymy and observations on lectotype designations for Melitaea phoebe dorae Graves, 1925.

Notes on the Melitaea ornata Christoph, 1893, complex in the Levant (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) including new synonymy and observations on lectotype designations for Melitaea phoebe dorae Graves, 1925.

Two independent designations for a lectotype of Melitaea phoebe dorae Graves, 1925, are discussed and resolved. Errors of labelling in presentation of some Melitaea taxa in recent literature are identified. Synonymy of the name klili Benyamini, 2021, with M. telona Fruhstorfer, 1908, is confirmed; the name tzinensis Benyamini, 2023 syn nov., is discussed and placed in synonymy with M. telona Fruhstorfer, 1908.

The identities of some subspecies, forms and individual specimens in museums previously classified as Melitaea phoebe ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775) (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae)

The identities of further taxa associated previously with Melitaea phoebe: pseudosibina Alberti, 1969, allophylus Rütimeyer, 1942 and rubialesi Gómez Bustillo, 1973 are identified as M. phoebe, and M. ornata, respectively. Further specimens from the Gómez Bustillo collection housed in the Universidad Politécnica, E. T. S. Ingeniería de Montes, Forestal y del Medio Natural, Unidad de Entomología y Zoología, Madrid, Spain (UPM) and from the entomological reference collection of M. phoebe housed in the Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, Madrid, Spain (MNCN), Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Facultad de Ciencias, Departmento de Biología, Madrid, Spain (UAM) are reclassified as M. ornata. The distribution of M. ornata has been expanded to include locations in the Spanish Provinces of Cuenca, Guadalajara, Madrid, Palencia, Toledo, and Zaragoza.

The identity of the type material of the subspecies of Melitaea phoebe ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775) described by Emilio Turati (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae)

Two taxa described by Turati in 1920 as subspecies of Melitaea phoebe ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775), are examined from high resolution photographs. M. phoebe phoebina Turati, 1920 is identified from morphological features as M. ornata Christoph, 1893, and M. phoebe rostagnoi Turati, 1920, is confirmed as M. phoebe. The quadrinomial M. phoebe rostagnoi sterlineata Turati, 1920 from the same locality as subsp. rostagnoi is also confirmed as M. phoebe.

Some observations on hybridisation between closely related species of Rhopalocera (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae, Nymphalidae)

Details are provided of hybridisation between Polyommatus icarus (Rottemburg, 1775) from East Sussex (UK) and P. celina (Austaut, 1879) from Lanzarote (Canary Islands, Spain) under laboratory conditions. Comments are also made on natural hybrids between Melitaea phoebe and M. ornata occurring in Slovenia.

Reassessment of the status of some European and Asian Melitaea taxa described as subspecies of Melitaea phoebe ([Denis amp; Schiffermller], 1775), with designations of lectotypes where appropriate (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae).

Morphological characters of value in distinguishing Melitaea phoebe from M. ornata are exemplified from photographs of specimens from sympatric and partially synchronic populations in the Russian Federation and Slovenia. Type material of a number of subspecies classified as M. phoebe have been examined and confirmed as being subspecies of M. phoebe or as subspecies of either M. ornata or M. telona. Larval and adult morphology of M. telona is very similar to those of M. ornata, making morphological separation difficult. Distribution of M. telona forms a major criterion for separation. Lectotypes are designated for amanica Rebel, 1917 and dorae Graves, 1925. The name enoch Higgins, 1941 is recognised as a distinct species and the names abbas Gross Ebert, 1975 and zagrosi Tth Varga, 2011 synonymised with Melitaea enoch.

Integrative Taxonomy Reveals a New Melitaea (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) Species Widely Distributed in the Iberian Peninsula

Abstract The Melitaea phoebe group is constituted by six species distributed throughout the Palearctic. One of the most widespread species is Melitaea ornata Christoph, 1893, present from France (Provence) to Central Asia. Recently, populations of M. ornata were discovered in a mountainous region of south-eastern Iberia, although doubts about their taxonomy existed. To clarify the taxonomic status of these populations and to revise the distribution of this taxon in Iberia, we have sequenced mitochondrial (COI barcode region) and nuclear (wg, RPS5, MDH, and EF-1α) markers, and analyzed the male genitalia for 72 Iberian individuals and for all the species of the M. phoebe group. This information was complemented with phenological and ecological data. Our results unveiled that the Iberian M. ornata-like taxon is in fact distributed through most of the Iberian Peninsula, except for the south-west and north-east. In contrast to the univoltine M. ornata, the Iberian taxon can be bivoltine in the wild. The Iberian taxon was retrieved to be related to M. ornata, but the differences in the genetic markers and genitalia were comparable to those found between species in the group. Based on the evidence here presented and according to species delimitation results, we propose to consider the Iberian taxon as a novel species, tentatively named Melitaea pseudornata Muñoz Sariot & Sánchez Mesa, 2019, stat. nov.

Designation of lectotypes for some Spanish and other western European Melitaea taxa, some with mixed syntypic series of M. phoebe ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775) and M. ornata Christoph, 1893 (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae)

Morphological characters of value in distinguishing Melitaea phoebe from M. ornata are exemplified from photographs of specimens from sympatric and partially synchronic populations in North Macedonia and Italy. Subspecies described as belonging to M. phoebe by several authors from specimens taken in Spain and other Western European countries are examined and their identities reviewed. Those which are shown to be subspecies of M. ornata are figured together with identification labels attached to the specimens. Where syntypes have been identified, lectotypes and paralectotypes are designated where appropriate. Some subspecies which are genuinely M. phoebe are commented upon. Eleven syntypes of M. phoebe occitanica are examined and found to comprise both M. phoebe and M. ornata; a phoebe lectotype is designated and its Type Locality is restricted to Barcelona, Spain. Lectotypes are also designated for the names bethunebakeri, ornatiformis, emipunica and punicata. Original identifications predate the separation of these two species and exemplify difficulties previous researchers had in separating them. M. ornata pseudornata is sunk in synomymy with M. ornata bethunebakeri. It is noted that some historic and often worn specimens are extremely difficult to identify with certainty.

A revisit to the Melitaea taxon nigrogygia Verity, 1939(Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) and designation of a Lectotype.

The two syntypes of Melitaea phoebe nigrogygia Verity, 1939 present in the Florence University Natural History Museum are examined from high quality photographs of both sides. It is concluded that there is a high probability that they represent two different species: M. phoebe ([Denis Schiffermüller], 1775) and M. ornata Christoph, 1898. Alternatively one or both could be hybrids between the two species; hybrids have been encountered nearby in Slovenia. In order to solve the nomenclatural problem, a Lectotype has been chosen, which fixes the name nigrogygia Verity, 1939 to be associated with Melitaea ornata.

A synonymic list of names associated with western Palaearctic Melitaea phoebe (Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775) species group taxa (M. phoebe; M. punica Oberthür, 1876; M. ornata Christoph, 1893) (Lepidoptera, Nymphalidae)

A synonymic list of names associated with western Palaearctic Melitaea phoebe (Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775) species group taxa (M. phoebe; M. punica Oberthür, 1876; M. ornata Christoph, 1893) (Lepidoptera, Nymphalidae)

Long-term survival and diversification of an endemicMelitaeaspecies in mountains of Iran and adjacent areas

Disjunct distribution patterns regularly resulted in the separation of different genetic lineages in glacial refugia. Recent patterns of survival and expansion have been often revealed by climatic niche modelling. We used the combination of genetic markers, geometric morphometry and climatic niche modelling to clear up the taxonomy and reconstruct the potential range of an endemic Iranian, taxonomically disputed Melitaea species in climatically different epochs. Our results show that this species (Melitaea abbas Gross and Ebert 1975, comb. n. = M. zagrosi Toth and Varga syn. nova) is clearly separated from all taxa of the Melitaea phoebe species group and only occurs in Iran and Azerbaijan but were also predicted for some adjacent regions. Molecular markers and distribution modelling show consistently that this species should have had a long-term survival in this area, and its range could have been slightly larger during the last glacial maximum than currently. Based on the studied molecular markers, three main groups in M. abbas can be recognized: those of steppic area of Azerbaijan, western Iran and northeastern Iran. Each group is characterized by own mitochondrial haplotypes, but also a high level of genetic diversity appears in the central part of the distribution area (Zagros Mts.).

THE PROTECTED SPECIES OF LEPIDOPTERA IN THE LANDSCAPE RESERVE ‘ZVANETS’ (BELARUS)

The article contains the data on distribution, population, habitats and phenology of 16 species of lepidopteran insects (Insecta: Lepidoptera), inhabiting the landscape reserve “Zvanets” (Belarus, Brest region) and listed in the Red Book of the Republic of Belarus: Rhyparioides metelkana, Pericallia matronula, Callimorpha dominula, Arytrura musculus, Diachrysia zosimi, Chariaspilates formosaria, Scopula caricaria, Gagitodes sagittata, Lycaena dispar, Euphydryas aurinia, Eu. maturna, Melitaea phoebe, M. diamina, M. aurelia, M. britomartis, Coenonympha oedippus. The data conserning the habitat of Parnassius mnemosyne in the reserve are proposed to be considered unreliable. The study also provides the information on Polyommatus daphnis which had previously been a protected species.It was found that the preferred habitat for C. oedippus, Ch. formosaria, Rh. metelkana, A. musculus, D. zosimi is fen mire. It is possible that for Rh. metelkana and A. musculus the reserve “Zvanets” is the key area concerning their preservation in Europe. On the background of the ongoing extinction of these two species in Europe and in connection with burning of vegetation practised in “Zvanets”, the further study of Rh. metelkana and A. musculus, it is particularly relevant for the development and implementation of action plans for their saving.The widespread burning of vegetation on swamps affecting mineral islands (especially small ones) has negative impact on the Papilionoidea species. In larger forest areas which burn only fragmentary the Lepidoptera population is quickly restored in burnt places due to the resettlement from the areas not affected by fire. It requires the development of special protection measures for the Papilionoidea in the reserve area.With the legalization of target burnings in the reserve “Zvanets” the best way out of this situation is the differentiation of ways to fight the bush encroachment and overgrowth of reeds. It is expedient to split the reserve into a number of areas which will be subject to burning alternately in different years. To localize the fire they must be separated by pre-cutting of the low dividing strips. To prevent any further damage by fire to the mineral islands and margins of swamps and dams the unwanted vegetation along the margins of swamps, near the channels and on the borders of swamps with mineral islands should be removed by mowing and cutting out where possible.Key words: Lepidoptera, protection, Red Data Book, wildlife area, burning of vegetation, Belarus.

Different host plant utilization ability of two closely related Melitaea species (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae)

In natural systems plant-insect interactions are influenced by several factors. For instance plants could be characterised by the presence of defensive chemicals and herbivores are forced to evolve resistance against them. There are several studies on induced plant defence, which indicate it can mediate competition between herbivorous insects, shaping host plant choice and community structure. Therefore, realized host plant use can be much narrower than the potential one. A laboratory experiment was done to clear up the possible difference in host plant utilization ability of Melitaea phoebe and Melitaea ornata, especially their utilization of Cirsium pannonicum. The caterpillars were reared individually on three different species of host plant (Ci. pannonicum, Ci. arvense and Centaurea scabiosa). The weights of the larvae were measured every second day and the data analysed using ANOVA. M. phoebe caterpillars developed well and all pupated when fed on Cirsium arvense and Centaurea scabiosa, whereas those fed on Cirsium pannonicum developed poorly and 10% died. In contrast, M. ornata developed well on Ci. pannonicum and the other two host plants. Despite this M. ornata was only found on Ci. pannonicum in Hungary.

A new form of Melitaea phoebe (Goeze, 1779) (Lepidoptera) from theMediterranean region (Turkey)

A new form of Melitaea phoebe (Goeze, 1779) (Lepidoptera) from theMediterranean region (Turkey)

Lepidoptera of Arkhangelsk oblast of Russia: a regional checklist

The first regional checklist of moths and butterflies of Arkhangelsk oblast of Russia includes 1,036 species (538 species of microlepidoptera and 498 species of macrolepidoptera), 496 of which have been found in the oblast for the first time. The most interesting records include Gnorimoschema robustella, Caryocolum leucomelanella, Dichrorampha sequana, D. uralensis, Neptis rivularis and Melitaea phoebe. We also discovered several populations of Parnassius mnemosyne in the southern part of the oblast. The fauna of Arkhangelsk oblast appears poorer than the fauna of Northern Ural Mts. but still includes some Siberian taiga species which do not reach Fennoscandia. Also, the distribution limits of several species extend further north in Arkhangelsk oblast than in the more western parts of Europe.We estimate that 500 to 800 species remain to be found in the study region.

БУЛАВОУСЫЕ ЧЕШУЕКРЫЛЫЕ (LEPIDOPTERA, RHOPALOCERA) СТЕПНЫХ АССОЦИАЦИЙ ДОЛИНЫ СРЕДНЕЙ ЛЕНЫ

Rhopalocera fauna of steppe communities in the Middle Lena River valley (Central Yakutia) is represented by 50 species from 35 genera and 6 families, with prevalence of Nymphalidae (35,3% of total species). The xerophilic and mesophilic species inhabit steppe communities, meadow-steppe species dominate here. Percent of eu-steppe species (Pseudophilotes jacuticus, Melitaea phoebe, Triphysa nervosa, Boeberia parmenio, Erebia polaris, E. rossii) is small in collected samples (4%). Analysis of faunal similarities of steppe communities showed that studied communities form 3 groups: South-Western, Central-Yakutian and Mountain-Steppe. Distribution of species inhabiting steppe communities of Middle Lena is mainly characterized by wide longitudinal extent. At the same time, West Central Palaearctic, Euro-Siberia-Central Asian and South Siberian-Daurian-Mongolian species are recorded here; they inhabit the warmest habitats of Central Yakutia.

The effect of migration on the viability, dynamics and structure of two coexisting metapopulations

Two species of butterflies, Euphydryas aurinia and Melitaea phoebe, coexist as two metapopulations in a 38-patch network in Hebei Province, China. A Markovian model, whose transition matrix is the product of two matrices which represent the local extinction and recolonization process respectively, is used to describe the metapopulation dynamics. The application of this model to the metapopulation, consisting of 12 local populations in the northern subregion, shows that the expected life times of E. aurinia and M. phoebe are 160 and 121 years respectively and usually nearly half of the patches are occupied by E. aurinia, while only 1–3 patches are occupied by M. phoebe. We claim that E. aurinia can persist for a long time while M. phoebe faces relatively big extinction risk. By comparing the population dynamics with and without migration, we find M. phoebe benefits much more from migration than E. aurinia. Most patches are occupied mainly by local populations for E. aurinia, while by immigrants from the 8th patch for M. phoebe, meaning that E. aurinia has a classical metapopulation structure while M. phoebe has a source–sink metapopulation structure.

Effect of cultivating croplands and grazing in arid grassland habitats on the conservation of melitaeine butterflies in a mountainous area in Northern China

In the study area (Yanjiaping Village, Hebei Province, China), grazing extensity varies at different locations, small and discontinuous croplands are imbedded in some arid grassland, which are habitats for the melitaeine butterflies, Euphydryas aurinia and Melitaea phoebe. These two species of butterflies coexist in this area, in which grazing and cultivation are the main disturbances. Grazing and cultivation have a reciprocal effect on E. aurinia, rather than M. phoebe. We observed that E. aurinia preferred to occupy patches with moderate grazing and imbedded with small and discontinuous croplands, where E. aurinia also has high population density. The percentage of E. aurinia larval groups in the ribbings was significantly higher than that of M. phoebe, whereas larvae of both species tended to increase in recent years. Our data also showed that the population density and the patch occupancy rate of both E. aurinia and M. phoebe were the highest under moderate grazing. It indicates that cultivation of small and discontinuous croplands within the patch has a significant effect on the population density of both species of melitaeine butterflies. Thus, to artificially create or maintain semi-natural habitats, complemented by moderate grazing, might be an ecological strategy to conserve melitaeine butterflies effectively. Considering the distinct impacts of cultivation and grazing on the population distribution and dynamics of the two different species, human disturbance in the mountainous area might be strategically involved in proposing conservation plans for the target species in the future.

Contrasting movement patterns in two species of chequerspot butterflies,Euphydryas auriniaandMelitaea phoebe, in the same patch network

Abstract. 1. Mark–release–recapture studies were conducted on two species of chequerspot butterfly,Euphydryas auriniaandMelitaea phoebe, in the same habitat patch network in Yanjiaping, a small basin in the Taihang Mountains, north‐west of Beijing, China, in 2000.2.Euphydryas auriniatended to stay in the habitat patches and to move to neighbouring patches, whereasM. phoebemoved widely among patches in the entire network.3. The parameters of the virtual migration model showed higher daily emigration propensity inM. phoebeand inE. auriniamales than inE. auriniafemales, and significantly greater average daily movement distance inM. phoebethan inE. aurinia.4. The results are consistent with the previous findings showing genetic structuring among local populations ofE. auriniabut not among local populations ofM. phoebe.5. Based on the genetic and ecological results, it was concluded thatE. auriniahas a classic metapopulation in the study area, whereasM. phoebeappears to have a source–sink metapopulation.6. In 2000, when there was an overall increase in the abundance of the two species, the limited mobility ofE. auriniaresulted in an increase in the average local population size, whereas the increase in the number of local populations inM. phoebewas due to its high mobility.

Genetic differentiation within metapopulations of Euphydryas aurinia and Melitaea phoebe in China.

We analyzed genetic differentiation within metapopulations of two species of checkerspot butterfly, Euphydryas aurinia and Melitaea phoebe, in China. To generate genetic information, we used a new molecular technique, DALP - direct amplified length polymorphism. AMOVA results showed that most of the variation occurred among individuals within local populations of both E. aurinia and M. phoebe. However, while there was differentiation among local population in E. aurinia (P < 0.001), there was no subdivision in metapopulation of M. phoebe (P = 0.210). This is consistent with the behavior of M. phoebe adults being more dispersive than E. aurinia. Within the M. phoebe metapopulation, three neighboring patches were always occupied during the observation period (1998-2000). In addition, the number of individuals in these three populations accounted for the majority of M. phoebe larvae, and hence we conclude that the M. phoebe metapopulation might exist as a source-sink metapopulation. On the other hand, the E. aurinia metapopulation is an example of a classical metapopulation. Therefore, the conservation management of these two species should reflect these differences.