Phylogenetic analysis of subgenus Polyommatus (s. str) Latreille, 1804 (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae) based on mtDNA markers. Part II

• Main Authors: D.I. Vodolazhsky, B.V. Stradomsky
• Format: Article
• Language: Russian
• Published: Russian Academy of Science. Southern Scientific Centre. Federal Research Centre 2008-08-01
• Series: Кавказский энтомологический бюллетень
• Subjects: Polyommatus (s. str); phylogenesis; СOI gene
• Online Access: http://www.ssc-ras.ru/ckfinder/userfiles/files/12_DI%20Vodolazhsky_BV%20Stradomsky.pdf

A comparative analysis of barcodes of mtDNA СОI gene revealed a high genetic similarity of subspecies of Polyommatus eros. DNA intertaxa differences in this group are minimal (to 0.5 %); fundamental morphological differences between these taxa are absent. Such level of differences allow us to consider the followed taxa no more than subspecies of P. eros: P. eros kaabaki Korb, 2000 stat. nov.; P. eros kamtshadalis (Sheljuzhko, 1933) stat. rev.; P. eros extremiorientalis (Kurentzov, 1970) and P. eros yildizae Koçak, 1977. The taxones P. erotides (Staudinger, 1892), P. erotides krulikowskyi (Gorbunov, 2001) comb. nov. and P. erotides pacificus Stradomsky et Tuzov, 2006 stat. nov. form a very related to the P. eros but distinct phylogenetic branch. Evolutionary, P. boisduvalii (Herrich-Schäffer, 1844) is the youngest taxon in the P. eros-group. This species differs significantly and stable by the structure of the gene COI from the specimens of P. eros and P. erotides. A prominent morphologic similarity between P. boisduvalii and P. erotides krulikowskyi is a result of their convergent evolution induced by similar natural habitat, while the taxa have different genesis. The taxon P. forsteri (Pfeiffer, 1938) constitutes a phylogenetic branch separated from P. eros and P. erotides, which could suggest its specific status. Sequence differences in COI of P. forsteri and P. eros are stable and make about 1.5%. Specimens from Bulgaria, Greece, Iran, West Caucasian lowlands, the Middle East (Israel): P. icarus zelleri (Verity, 1919) and Transbaikalia: P. icarus fuchsi (Sheljuzhko, 1928) have a very similar structure of the COI gene and shall be described as P. icarus. At the same time, results of molecular biologic study of the taxon P. icarus korshunovi Gorbunov, 1995 dictate the necessity of change its specific subordination: P. icadius korshunovi Gorbunov, 1995. P. ciloicus Freina et Witt, 1983 constitutes an independent, related to P. icadius phylogenetic branch. The closest to P. ciloicus in terms of barcodes of СОI is the nominotypical subspecies P. icadius (Grum-Grshimailo, 1890). The authors conclude, based on morphological characters (a presence of expressed marginal darkening on male upperside forewing, which darkening is always absent in P. icarus yet typical for P. eros) along with molecular biological characteristics (difference in barcodes of COI in comparison with P. icarus makes up 6.0 % and more), that a status of the Northafrican taxon P. icarus celina is to be revised: P. celina (Austaut, 1879) stat. rev.