New data concerning the nomenclature, systematics and distribution of butterflies of Middle Asia (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae, Lycaenidae)

• Main Author: S.K. Korb
• Format: Article
• Language: Russian
• Published: Russian Academy of Science. Southern Scientific Centre. Federal Research Centre 2015-08-01
• Series: Кавказский энтомологический бюллетень
• Subjects: Lepidoptera; Nymphalidae; Lycaenidae; Middle Asia; distribution; systematics
• Online Access: http://www.ssc-ras.ru/files/files/31_Korb.pdf

A distribution of Melitaea persea Kollar, [1849] and Melitaea lunulata Staudinger, 1901 in Middle Asia is clarified. The first species is recorded from Kungey Ala-Too, Terskey Ala-Too, Gissar Range and environs of Talas town. The second species is recorded from Transili Alatau and Kungey Ala-Too. A new subspecies, Neolycaena lunara oksana Korb,  ssp. n. is described from Peter the First ridge, Surkhob River valley near Jirgatol. It is shown that valid lectotype designation of Lycaena iris Staudinger, 1886 was made by Bálint but not by Churkin and Zhdanko or Korb, but the lectotype designation of Lycaena iris Lang, 1884 by Bálint is invalid. Lectotypes of Lycaena iris Lang, 1884, Lycaena sieversii haberhaueri Staudinger, 1886, Lycaena rutilans Staudinger, 1886 are designated. It is established that Polyommatus jurii Tshikolovets, 1997 is a subspecies of Afarsia rutilans. The name Polyommatus neoiris Tshikolovets, 1997 is valid and the oldest available name for the taxon was described as Lycaena iris Staudinger, 1886. New synonymy is established: Lycaena iris Lang, 1884 = Lycaena sieversii haberhaueri Staudinger, 1886, syn. n., the taxon iris Lang has a subspecies status: Afarsia sieversii iris (Lang, 1884), stat. n. A check list of Afarsia sieversii (Christoph, 1873) species group from Middle Asia is given