identifier	taxonID	type	CVterm	format	language	title	description	additionalInformationURL	UsageTerms	rights	Owner	contributor	creator	bibliographicCitation
EB42F330FFD3B3279147F896FBF1F8B2.text	EB42F330FFD3B3279147F896FBF1F8B2.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Melitaea Fabricius 1807	<div><p>Genus Melitaea Fabricius, 1807</p> <p>Fig. 1–30, Tables 1–6</p> <p>Our study indicates the existence of four independent species within the complex under consideration: M. lutko, M. mimetica, M. shahvarica sp. nov., and M. timandra. The latter species is well differentiated into two subspecies that are isolated both geographically and ecologically.</p> </div>	http://treatment.plazi.org/id/EB42F330FFD3B3279147F896FBF1F8B2	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		Plazi	Kolesnichenko, Kirill A.;Kotlobay, Anatoly A.	Kolesnichenko, Kirill A., Kotlobay, Anatoly A. (2022): Review of the fritillary species systematically close to Melitaea lutko Evans, 1932 (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) with analysis of their geographic distribution and interrelations with host plants. European Journal of Taxonomy 830 (1): 1-60, DOI: https://doi.org/10.5852/ejt.2022.830.1865, URL: http://zoobank.org/c1f47ad9-ecf6-4f0f-9928-55a45332ff4b
EB42F330FFD2B32A916CFE8AFAA5FA63.text	EB42F330FFD2B32A916CFE8AFAA5FA63.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Melitaea lutko Evans 1932	<div><p>Melitaea lutko Evans, 1932</p> <p>Figs 1A–B, 2A, E, I, M, 3H–I, 4E, 5, 16I, 18D–E, 29F, 30</p> <p>“ Melitaea robertsi lutko, nov.” – Evans, 1932: 185.</p> <p>Type locality: “Chitral” [Pakistan, Chitral town vicinity, Lutko (= Lutkho) river valley]. The type locality in the work of Evans (1932) is indicated by Chitral without more precise details. The holotype, by the label data, comes from the valley of the Lutko River, along the riverbed where the road runs from the city of Chitral to the settlement of Garam Chashma.</p> <p>Type material</p> <p>Holotype (Fig. 1A–B) We have photos of the holotype ♂ at our disposal with the following labels: “type, lutko / Evans ” (handwritten label); “WHE – 1932 – 274” (printed label); “ Chitral / Lutko v.[alley] / 9000/ 1.06.30” (handwritten label); BMHN.</p> <p>Material examined</p> <p>PAKISTAN • 2 ♂♂ (all dissected), 1 ♀ (dissected); Chitral, Chaghbini CGNP [Chitral Gol National Park]; alt. 2700 m; 5 Jun.2012; EDMSU.</p> <p>Redescription</p> <p>Male (Fig. 2A, I)</p> <p>WINGS. FW length is 16.5–18 mm, in holotype – 18 mm; UPS ground color is bright red-orange (the holotype, which has faded with time (Fig. 1A), has UPS ground color yellowish-orange); UPS black pattern strongly developed; UPS black marginal border is rather wide with large marginal spots along the outer edge of the wings; UPF submarginal row is well developed and formed by well-defined black strokes, UPH submarginal row represented by lunules often connected with each other (Fig. 1A); UPF discal spots enlarged and fused near the costa; UPF postdiscal pale-yellowish area, located behind the black discal spots, is weakly expressed or expressed only at the costal edge; UPH discal row is usually absent; UPH black basal suffusion covers more than ⅓ of the wing surface. Higgins (1941: pl. 9 fig. 5) gives an image of a male specimen from Murree, in which the UPH basal suffusion covers at least half of the wing area. UNF is bright red-orange, with a well-defined pale area of the outer edge of the wing between the veins Sc and M2; UNH ground color is white with an admixture of dark scales. UNH lunules forming the proximal edge of submarginal orange fascia outwardly concave and sharply pointed between veins M3 and Cu2.</p> <p>MALE GENITALIA (FigS 3H–I, 16I, 18D–E, 29F). Expanded and powerful caudal process of broad valva with 1–3 small spines on its dorsal surface and with a thin distal outgrowth curved inward. The relatively short harpe is noticeably expanded in the central part, on its inner surface there is a powerful median tooth and smaller teeth on both sides of it. The length of the harpe is about a third of the length of the valva. The aedeagus is distally straight, only slightly curved. The posterior part of the aedeagus is at an angle to the anterior part and is directed downward. There is a protrusion on the ventral side at the junction of both parts of the aedeagus. Saccus is thin, pointed at the top. Higgins (1941) pointed out that the size and shape of the saccus are not constant.</p> <p>The genitalia of studied males of M. lutko generally coincide with the description of Higgins (1941). It should be noted that Higgins made a drawing of the genitalia, placing the valva at another angle (almost perpendicular to the microscope lens) compared to the photos in this review. Because of this, the caudal process of the valva in Higgins’ drawings visually looks thinner than it actually is. The originality of Higgins’ illustrations was pointed out by van Oorschot &amp; Coutsis (2014).</p> <p>Female (Fig. 2E, M)</p> <p>WINGS. FW length is 20 mm. Higgins (1941) noted that the female is usually a little larger than the male. UPS ground color is orange-red. In general, the UPS black pattern is less developed than in males. Higgins (1941) observed slightly melanic female specimens; with UPF postdiscal yellowish-pale area expressed, there is also a yellowish spot in the discoidal cell. The UPF submarginal row has black spots, the UPH submarginal row has black lunules. The UPH black discal row is well developed. The UNS pattern of the female is similar to that of the male.</p> <p>FEMALE GENITALIA (Fig. 4E). The postvaginal plate is oval. The antevaginal plate is narrow in dorsoventral direction, and its outer edge does not extend beyond the boundaries of the bend of the postvaginal plate (auricules). The bacillus is long and thin and is connected to the antrum by a thin lintel.</p> <p>Distribution (Fig. 5)</p> <p>Pakistan: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, the vicinity of Birmoglasht, Chitral, Malakand. According to Higgins (1941) the species is distributed from Murree (Punjab) to Chitral. Gasse (2021) considers the reference to the habitation of M. lutko in Murree to be erroneous, but he does not give arguments for this.</p> </div>	http://treatment.plazi.org/id/EB42F330FFD2B32A916CFE8AFAA5FA63	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		Plazi	Kolesnichenko, Kirill A.;Kotlobay, Anatoly A.	Kolesnichenko, Kirill A., Kotlobay, Anatoly A. (2022): Review of the fritillary species systematically close to Melitaea lutko Evans, 1932 (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) with analysis of their geographic distribution and interrelations with host plants. European Journal of Taxonomy 830 (1): 1-60, DOI: https://doi.org/10.5852/ejt.2022.830.1865, URL: http://zoobank.org/c1f47ad9-ecf6-4f0f-9928-55a45332ff4b
EB42F330FFDDB32D9149FE8AFD5CF99E.text	EB42F330FFDDB32D9149FE8AFD5CF99E.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Melitaea mimetica (Higgins 1940) Higgins 1940	<div><p>Melitaea mimetica Higgins, 1940</p> <p>Figs 1C–D, 3A – G, 4F – I, 6–8, 16D – H, 18F – I, 29C, E, 30; Table 1</p> <p>Melitaea lukto [sic] mimetica Higgins, 1940: 52.</p> <p>Type locality: “ Balochistan, Khojak” [Pakistan, Balochistan, Khojak Pass].</p> <p>“ Melitaea deleréi nov. spec. ” Heydemann, 1954: 415, pl. 35 fig. 9 (holotype ♀), pl. 35 fig. 8 (allotype ♂), fig. 10 [genitalia].</p> <p>Type locality: “ Kabul Umgebung” [Afghanistan, Kabul vicinity].</p> <p>Remarks</p> <p>The taxon delerei was described from two specimens: 1 ♀ (holotype) and 1 ♂ (allotype). The butterflies were collected in the vicinity of Kabul on 23 May 1951 and 28 Apr. 1953, respectively. The text contains photos of the holotype ♀ and the allotype ♂ (Heydemann 1954). The author of the original description does not mention the existence or number of other type specimens. Van Oorschot &amp; Coutsis (2014) provide other data on the type material of delerei, and these are quoted here without changes: “Type material: ♂ holotype, 4 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀ paratypes (coll. Görgner, including ♂ with yellow label stating “Kabul, ♂, 23.5.1951, leg Delere, Heydemann, Kiel”, ♂ with orange label stating “ ♂, Mel. dodgsoni delerei, Hdm. ”, ♂ with red label stating “male, Holotypus Mel. delerei Hdm. 11.54.)”. The type material is stored in the Ernst Görgner collection (Cosswig Anhalt, Germany). We do not know the reason for such a serious discrepancy in the data on the type material of the taxon delerei.</p> <p>Type material</p> <p>The taxon mimetica is described based on the holotype, allotype, and 10 paratypes from Balochistan (Pakistan) from the following localities: Khojak, Ziarat Rd., Zaghun, Gawar, Sheik Wazil, Urak and Quetta (Higgins 1940). The number and the gender of specimens for each collection point are not specified. According to Smith (1988) the type material stored in the BMNH consists of 3 ♂♂, 1 ♀ with the labels “ Pakistan, Zaghun, 6000 ft. ” and 1 ♀ with the label “Gawar”. The storage location of the type specimens from Sheik Wasil, Urak and Quetta is unknown.</p> <p>The type locality of the holotype is mentioned by Higgins as Khojak Pass, and the place of capture of the allotype is mentioned as “ Ziarat Rd. ” (Higgins 1940). However, in the work devoted to the bibliography and catalog of type specimens of taxa described by Higgins (Smith 1988), it is indicated that the specimen marked by Higgins as an allotype has the label “Khojak”, and the holotype, on the contrary, has the label “Ziarat Rd.” In accordance with recommendation 76A.1.3. (ICZN 2004), the holotype should be considered a specimen caught on the Khojak Pass.</p> <p>Paratype (Fig. 1C–D) We have photos of the paratype (allotype), ♀, with the following labels: “Holotype [!]” (printed label); “ Ziarat Rd. / Balochistan, 6000 w. / 20.04.31” (handwritten label); “Roth. B.-1” (printed label); “ Melitaea lutko mimetica / type ♂, L. G. Higgins ” (handwritten label); “ Melitaea lutko / mimetica Higgins / C. R. Smith det. 1986, Holotype (!)” (handwritten + printed label); BMNH.</p> <p>Notes on diagnosis</p> <p>The taxon delerei was considered as a synonym of the taxon mimetica based on external features and the structure of the genitalia (Higgins &amp; Wiltshire 1956), or together with the taxon mimetica as a synonym of M. lutko (van Oorschot &amp; Coutsis 2014). In the latter case, they were able to study the genital apparatus of the paratype of the taxon delerei, whose structure in their opinion is transitional between M. lutko and M. timandra. However, the description of M. delerei clearly states that one of the features of the male is a very long and thin harpe without teeth on the inner side, which is a characteristic feature of M. mimetica. In general, the genital apparatus of the male delerei, an image of which is given by Heydemann (1954), is characterized by a thin caudal process of the valva with 2–3 teeth located distally on the dorsal side and a long braid-shaped harpe. Judging from the image, the male and female have a well-expressed postdiscal pale area on the UPF. In this case, we agree with Higgins’ opinion and believe that the taxon delerei has all the distinctive features of M. mimetica and should be treated with the latter as a synonym. We do not exclude the subspecies status of the taxon delerei, but a final decision can be made only after the identification and study of the holotype and additional material from Afghanistan.</p> <p>Material examined</p> <p>PAKISTAN – Balochistan • 2 ♂♂ (all dissected), 2 ♀♀ (all dissected); Quetta, Urak; alt. 2400–2700 m; 10–14 May 1983; Eckweiler leg.; EDMSU • 1 ♂; Ziarat; alt. 2400–2700 m; 17–23 May 1983; Eckweiler leg.; EDMSU.</p> <p>AFGHANISTAN – Bamian Prov. • 6 ♂♂ (5 dissected); 10 km S of Bamian t., Hushkak v. vicinity; alt. 2700–2800 m; 2 Jun. 2012; O. Pak leg.; EDMSU • 7 ♂♂ (5 dissected), 3 ♀♀ (all dissected); Punjub Distr., 10 km NE of Varas v.; alt. 2400 m; 20 may 2012; I. Pljushtch leg.; EDMSU • 1 ♀ (dissected); 8 km S of Bamian, Koh-e-Baba Mts, Dara-e-Khushkak; alt. 2930 m; 12 Jun. 2016; I. Pljustsh leg.; EDMSU • 7 ♂♂; Panjub Distr.; 10 km NE of Varas vil.; alt. 2400 m; 21 May 2012; I. Pljushtch leg.; coll. I. Pljushtch • 13 ♂♂, 5 ♀♀; Panjub Distr., Varas vil.; alt. 2400 m; 21 May 2012; I. Pljushtch leg.; coll. I. Pljushtch. – Ghor Prov. • 7 ♂♂ (5 dissected), 2 ♀♀ (1 dissected); 17 km E of Changcharan, 15 km S of Bandi-Ali, Gazak Mts; alt. 2400 m; 26 May 2012; O. Pak leg; EDMSU • 3 ♂♂ (all dissected), 1 ♀ (dissected); 16 km E of Changcharan, Bandi-Ali v. vicinity; alt. 2400 m; 26 May 2012; I. Pljushtch leg.; EDMSU • 1 ♂ (dissected), 1 ♀ (dissected); Bayan Ridge, 15 km S of Changcharan, Kindival valley; alt. 2800 m, 27 May 2012; I. Pljushtch leg.; EDMSU • 1 ♂; Bayan Ridge, Changcharan circ., Kindaval valley; alt. 2800 m; 27 May 2012; I. Pljushtch leg.; coll. I. Pljushtch • 4 ♂♂; 16 km E of Changcharan, Bandi-Ali vil.; alt. 2400 m; 26 May 2012; I. Pljushtch leg.; coll. I. Pljushtch. – Kabul Prov. • 1 ♀; Gargha; alt. 2000 m; 1 Jun. 2010; I. Pljushtch leg.; coll. I. Pljushtch.</p> <p>Redescription</p> <p>Male (Fig. 6A–D, I–L)</p> <p>WINGS. FW length is 17.5–19 mm, the paratype is 18 mm. UPS ground color is yellow-orange or pale orange-red; UPS black marginal border is thin with well-defined marginal spots along the outer edge of the wings; UPS submarginal row represented by small pointed black lunules; UPF discal row is formed by expanded black spots fused with each other near the costa; UPF postdiscal pale-yellowish area, located behind the black discal spots, is well expressed along the entire length and contrasts with the general background. There is a pale-yellowish spot in the distal part of the discoidal cell; UPH discal row is usually reduced; UPH basal suffusion covers no more than ⅓ of the surface of the wing. UNF ground color is pale orange-red, with a well-defined pale area of the outer edge of the wing between the veins Sc and Cu1 and in postdiscal area between veins Sc and M1. UNH ground color is white without the admixture of dark scales. UNH lunules forming the proximal edge of submarginal orange fascia outwardly concave and sharply pointed between veins M3 and Cu2.</p> <p>MALE GENITALIA (FigS 3A–G, 16D–H, 18F–I, 29C, E). The valva is oval with a slender caudal process, usually with one small spine (or without it) on the dorsal surface in the distal part. The long harpe is narrow, without spines (or in rare cases with one or two weakly developed spines) on the inner side. The aedeagus is curved in the central part, distally with a rounded convex dorsal edge. The posterior part of the aedeagus is mostly located at an angle to the anterior part and is directed downward. There is often a well-marked protrusion on the ventral side at the junction of the two parts of the aedeagus. The wide saccus is rounded distally, its length being 1.5 times greater than the width.</p> <p>Female (Fig. 6E–H, M–P)</p> <p>WINGS. FW length is 20–21 mm. UPS ground color is pale orange-red. UPF postdiscal pale area is well expressed and represented by whitish-yellow spots fused to the costal edge and contrasting well with the wing ground color. UPF well-marked pale macule is present in the discoidal cell. UPF submarginal row on the is represented by dark pointed spots, and on the UPH by thin black lunules. UPH black distal row is absent or weakly expressed. UNH pattern is similar to that of males.</p> <p>FEMALE GENITALIA (Fig. 4F–I). The postvaginal plate is rounded-trapezoidal in shape. The antevaginal plate is expanded in the dorsoventral direction, its outer edge noticeably extends beyond the boundaries of the bend of the postvaginal plate (auricules).</p> <p>Preimaginal stages: eggs (Fig. 7, Table 1)</p> <p>Material examined: 10 eggs from 1 ♀; Afghanistan, Ghor Prov., 16 km E of Changcharan, Bandi-Ali v. vicinity, alt. 2400 m.</p> <p>The egg is barrel-shaped. The height of the eggs is from 624.0 µm to 626.6 µm, the width is from 598.0 µm to 603.5 µm. The sculpture of the micropile region is formed from four to five rows of pentahexagonal cells of various lengths and widths. The diameter of the micropile rosette in the widest part varies from 37 µm to 41 µm. The micropile rosette is formed by 8–9 primary quatro-pentahedral cells 5.0 µm to 16.0 µm wide and 9.0 µm to 23.0 µm long. The micropile is rounded in shape with an average diameter of 6.6 µm. There are 23–24 lateral longitudinal ribs that limit the micropile area and decrease to ⅓ of the egg surface. The transverse ribs are weakly expressed. Below the lateral ribs the chorion is relatively smooth.</p> <p>A distinctive feature of the morphology of eggs of M. mimetica is their well-defined barrel shape. In addition, M. mimetica has the smallest eggs among the representatives of the lutko group. Their maximum height is 626.6 µm. However, the egg of M. timandra, which is oval with a slight narrowing in the apical region (Kolesnichenko &amp; Kotlobay 2020), has a height of about 850 µm, whereas that of M. shahvarica sp. nov., whose eggs are pear-shaped, has an average height of about 700 µm. In addition, the M. mimetica micropile rosette is formed by 8–9 primary cells, while in the M. timandra egg the micropile rosette is formed by 9–10 cells, and in the M. shahvarica egg the micropile is surrounded by 7–8 primary cells.</p> <p>Distribution (Fig. 8)</p> <p>Pakistan: Balochistan, Punjab; Afghanistan: Panjshir Gorge, Koh-i-Baba Ridge, mountains in the vicinity of Punjab, Bandi-Bayan Ridge.</p></div> 	http://treatment.plazi.org/id/EB42F330FFDDB32D9149FE8AFD5CF99E	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		Plazi	Kolesnichenko, Kirill A.;Kotlobay, Anatoly A.	Kolesnichenko, Kirill A., Kotlobay, Anatoly A. (2022): Review of the fritillary species systematically close to Melitaea lutko Evans, 1932 (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) with analysis of their geographic distribution and interrelations with host plants. European Journal of Taxonomy 830 (1): 1-60, DOI: https://doi.org/10.5852/ejt.2022.830.1865, URL: http://zoobank.org/c1f47ad9-ecf6-4f0f-9928-55a45332ff4b
EB42F330FFD9B32D92EEF89EFE86F8D5.text	EB42F330FFD9B32D92EEF89EFE86F8D5.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Melitaea timandra Coutsis & van Oorschot 2014	<div><p>Melitaea timandra Coutsis &amp; van Oorschot, 2014</p> <p>This species is represented by two subspecies: nominate, inhabiting the plains of the eastern part of Turkmenistan, and binaluduca subsp. nov. found in the mountainous regions of eastern Iran and central Afghanistan.</p></div> 	http://treatment.plazi.org/id/EB42F330FFD9B32D92EEF89EFE86F8D5	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		Plazi	Kolesnichenko, Kirill A.;Kotlobay, Anatoly A.	Kolesnichenko, Kirill A., Kotlobay, Anatoly A. (2022): Review of the fritillary species systematically close to Melitaea lutko Evans, 1932 (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) with analysis of their geographic distribution and interrelations with host plants. European Journal of Taxonomy 830 (1): 1-60, DOI: https://doi.org/10.5852/ejt.2022.830.1865, URL: http://zoobank.org/c1f47ad9-ecf6-4f0f-9928-55a45332ff4b
EB42F330FFD8B33492A3FE8AFC4EFA38.text	EB42F330FFD8B33492A3FE8AFC4EFA38.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Melitaea timandra subsp. timandra Coutsis & van Oorschot 2014	<div><p>Melitaea timandra timandra Coutsis &amp; van Oorschot, 2014</p> <p>Figs 1E–F, 9, 10A – F, 11A – C, 12–13, 17A – C, 19 A – C, 29G, 30; Table 2</p> <p>“ Melitaea timandra Coutsis &amp; van Oorschot, sp. nov. ” van Oorshot &amp; Coutsis, 2014: 72, pl. 14 figs 23, 25, pl. 15 fig. 1, genitalia: pl. 44 fig. 16, pls 186–187.</p> <p>Type locality: “ Turkmenistan, Sary-Yazy” [Turkmenistan, SE Kara-Kum, Mary velayat, vicinities of Sary-Yazy village].</p> <p>Type material</p> <p>Holotype (Fig. 1E–F) TURKMENISTAN • “Turkmenistan, Sary-Yasy; 22.04.1993; ex coll. Soldatis ”; NBC HO0279.</p> <p>Paratypes TURKMENISTAN • 1 ♂, 1 ♀; Badkhyz Reserve, Kepeli cordon; 20–23 Apr. 1986; A. Devyatkin leg.; EDMSU. Designated as paratypes by van Oorschot &amp; Coutsis (2014).</p> <p>Remarks</p> <p>It is necessary to elucidate upon the issues of identification of the holotype, the type locality and the origin of the paratypes of M. timandra.</p> <p>Unfortunately, van Oorschot &amp; Coutsis (2014) made many inaccuracies when describing the taxon timandra. In the text of the description, “ Turkmenistan, Kopet Dagh, Sary-Yazi” is indicated as the type locality of the taxon timandra. This indication of the type locality leads to uncertainty, since the village of Sary-Yazy is located 200 km from the nearest spurs of the Kopet Dag Ridge. As a holotype, they indicate a specimen from the de Heer collection while not providing data on either the collector or the date of collection and without reference to the image of the type specimen. From the caption to the drawing of the genitalia of the holotype (van Oorschot &amp; Coutsis 2014: 264, table 186), it already follows that it comes from the locality “ Turkmenistan, Kopet Dagh, Kara-Kala” and is in the ZMA collection. This information contradicts the original designation of the holotype and the type locality (the village of Kara-Kala is located at more than 600 km northwest of the village of Sary-Yazy). Some inaccuracies in the comments made by one of the authors (van Oorschot &amp; Coutsis 2014) have been corrected by Coutsis (2016). In the table of preparations of the genitalia, the non-existent locality “Mary-Yazi” was corrected to “Sary-Yazi” and the confusion in the attribution of the depicted genitalia to one or another species was eliminated. It is obvious that there was confusion when labeling the specimens collected, and the two names were combined – the city of Mary, the center of the velayat of the same name, and the village of Sary-Yazy, located about 150 km south of it. The curator of the collection in Leiden, Ms Eulália Gassó Miracle, where the type specimens of M. timandra are currently stored, kindly provided us with photos of the holotype and its labels, from which it follows (Fig. 1E–F) that the type locality of the holotype is the village of Sary-Yazy.</p> <p>In addition, all indications of the findings of M. timandra in the Western Kopet Dag, given by the authors of the description of the taxon timandra, as well as available in the scientific literature, raise doubts about the reliability and need additional verification and confirmation. It is highly likely that they are based on erroneous labeling of specimens. Tuzov &amp; Churkin (2000) provide photos of M. lutko, corresponding in external morphology to the taxon timandra, allegedly caught by the second author from Kara-Kala.</p> <p>A more complicated story takes place with a specimen from the vicinity of Kara-Kala, which appears as a paratype of the taxon timandra (van Oorschot &amp; Coutsis 2014). The male from the Monjukly Ridge is mentioned on page 348 in the general list of specimens whose genitalia have been studied by these authors. The copy number and the number of the genital preparation are, respectively, NO 1102 and JC 5197. The information on the label is as follows: “Kopet Dagh, SW of Monjukly Mt. range, Saf Kara-Kala, 10. iv. 1992 ” without the name of the collector. There is a note to this specimen: “ paratype, mtDNA sequencing by Wahlberg (NW 15–3 &amp; 16–1)”. Images of the specimen itself and genitalia are not given, it is also completely unclear how many specimens with similar labels besides the one mentioned are included in the type series. In the text of the description of the subspecies timandra (van Oorschot &amp; Coutsis 2014: 70) in the enumeration of paratypes there is the following entry: “ 2 ♂, 2 ♀, Kara-Kale (sic!), 20. iii. 1991; 1 ♂, same locality but 10. iv. 1992 ”. Since the date of the capture of the last male coincides with the above label, it can be assumed that the mentioned specimen from the Monjukly Ridge was meant. This specimen was used in the work on the assessment of molecular evolution of the genus Melitaea (Leneveu et al. 2009) as a voucher under the number NW15–3, but already with the label “West China ” (sic!). A photo of a sequenced voucher specimen with a label is contained in the database of electronic resources (Anonymous 2016). A special investigation undertaken by the authors of the present publication showed that none of the collectors indicated on the labels caught M. timandra on the Monjukly Ridge or in the Kara-Kala area. It is likely that there was a substitution of labels as a result of negligence in the subsequent processing and transfer of the collected specimens to the collections. We believe that all references to M. timandra from the Kara-Kala area are the result of erroneous identification of the collection site, and all specimens with similar labels originate from the vicinity of the village of Sary-Yazy.</p> <p>Material examined</p> <p>TURKMENISTAN • 5 ♂♂ (2 dissected), 10 ♀♀ (3 dissected); Badkhyz Reserve, Kyzyl-Jar Gorge; 27 Apr. 1986; A. Devyatkin leg.; EDMSU • 2 ♂♂ (all dissected), 1 ♀ (dissected); same collection data as for paratypes; EDMSU • 5 ♂♂ (2 dissected), 2 ♀♀; Dushak; 30 Apr. 1987; A. Devyatkin leg.; EDMSU • 1 ♀ (dissected); Bakharden; 4 May 1987; A. Devyatkin leg.; EDMSU • 2 ♀♀ (all dissected); Chaacha; 1 May. 1987; A. Devyatkin leg.; EDMSU • 28 ♂♂ (10 dissected), 33 ♀♀ (5 dissected); Sary-Yazy; 25 Apr. 1992; I. Pljusch leg.; EDMSU • 18 ♂♂ (6 dissected), 21 ♀♀ (3 dissected); same collection data as for preceding; S. Churkin leg.; EDMSU • 1 ♂; Murgab river, Sary-Yazy; 23 Apr. 1992; S. Churkin leg.; EDMSU • 2 ♂♂, 1 ♀; 30 km E of Bairam-Ali, Zahmet station; 22 Apr. 1991; I. Pljusch leg.; EDMSU • 1 ♂ (dissected); Kara-Kum Des., 30 km of Mary-Tedjen, 30 km SW of Mary; 6 Apr. 1979; B. Sokolov leg.; EDMSU • 1 ♀; Kushka; 24 Apr. 1992; EDMSU • 1 ♀; Bairam-Ali vic.; Apr. 1977; V. Potopolskiy leg.; ZMMSU • 2 ♂♂; Repetek; ZIN • 11 ♂♂, 12 ♀♀; Sary-Yazy; 24–25 Apr. 1992; S. Churkin leg.; coll. S. Churkin • 2 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀; Sary-Yazy; 25 Apr. 1993; S. Churkin leg.; coll. S. Churkin • 1 ♂; same collection data as for preceding; 18 Apr. 1987; A. Kotlobay leg.; coll. A. Kotlobay • 2 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀, same collection data as for preceding; 18 Apr. 1993; A. Kotlobay leg.; coll. A. Kotlobay • 1 ♀; Mary Reg., v. Bairam-Ali vic.; 15 Apr. 1987; A. Kotlobay leg; coll. A. Kotlobay.</p> <p>Redescription</p> <p>Male (Fig. 9A–D, I–L)</p> <p>WINGS. FW length is 18–21.5 mm, in the holotype 19.5 mm, in the paratype 21 mm. UPS ground color is bright yellow-orange. UPS black pattern is partly reduced; thin UPS black marginal border with well-defined marginal spots along the outer edge of the wings; UPS submarginal row formed by fine black spots or strokes; UPF discal row represented by rather small black spots usually fused near the costa; UPF postdiscal pale area, located behind the black discal spots, represented by disconnected pale-yellowish macules located along the entire length. There is a weak pale-yellowish macule in the distal part of the discoidal cell; UPH discal row is absent; UPH basal suffusion is poorly developed and covers no more than ¼ of the wing surface. UNF is yellow-orange with a well-defined whitish postdiscal macules and pale area of the outer edge of the wing between the veins Sc and M2; and along the outer edge of the wing between the veins Sc and M2. UNH ground color is white, without admixture of dark scales. UNH lunules forming the proximal edge of submarginal orange fascia are usually not sharply pointed.</p> <p>MALE GENITALIA (FigS 10A–F, 17A–C, 19A–C, 29G). Valva is elongated, its length is 2 times greater than the width with a relatively short and wide caudal process, with a spine on the dorsal side of its distal part. Harpe is thickened in the central part due to the presence of teeth on the inner surface. Aedeagus with a slightly convex dorsal edge, its posterior part is mostly located at an angle to the anterior part and is directed downward. When both parts of the aedeagus are joined, there is a well-marked protrusion on the ventral side. Thin saccus is pointed distally, its length is 2 times greater than the width. In some specimens saccus is deeply divided into relatively wide rounded lobes.</p> <p>Female (Fig. 9E–H, M–P)</p> <p>WINGS. FW length is 20–25 mm, the paratype is 22 mm. UPS ground color is pale orange-red. Externally the female is similar to the male, but UPF postdiscal pale-yellowish area is well expressed. There is a well-defined pale macule in the discoidal cell. UPF submarginal row is represented by thin black strokes. UPH black discal row is usually absent. UNS pattern is similar to that of males.</p> <p>FEMALE GENITALIA (Fig. 11A – C). The postvaginal plate is rounded-triangular in shape. The antevaginal plate is narrow in the dorsoventral direction, its outer edge does not go beyond the boundaries of the bend of the postvaginal plate (auricules).</p> <p>Preimaginal stages: egg (Fig. 12, Table 2)</p> <p>Material studied: 1 ♀, 3 eggs, Turkmenistan, Badhyz Res., Kyzyl-Dzhar. 2 ♀♀, 18 eggs, S Turkmenistan, Sary-Yazy.</p> <p>The egg is oval. The height of the egg varies from 686.0 µm to 691.6 µm, the width is from 547.0 µm to 555.6 µm (Table 2). The sculpture of the micropilar area is formed from four to five rows of pentahexagonal cells of various lengths and widths. The diameter of the micropile rosette in the widest part varies from 49.5 µm to 61.0 µm. The micropilar rosette is formed by 7–10 primary quatro-pentahedral cells with a width from 5.0 µm to 17.0 µm and a length from 9.0 µm to 37.0 µm. The micropile is rounded in shape, with an average diameter of about 8 µm. 26–28 lateral longitudinal ribs limit the micropilar area and drop to ⅓ of the egg surface. The transverse ribs are pronounced in most of the eggs studied. Below the lateral ribs, the chorion is relatively smooth.</p> <p>The eggs of the nominate subspecies are similar in shape to M. timandra binaludica subsp. nov. (Kolesnichenko &amp; Kotlobay 2020). A distinctive feature of the morphology of the eggs of M. timandra timandra is their smaller size. In M. timandra binaludica the egg height is more than 750.0 µm, and the width is just over 600.0 µm. The micropilar rosette of M. timandra timandra is formed by 7–9 primary cells, while the micropile of the egg of M. shahvarica sp. nov. is surrounded by 7–8 primary cells.</p> <p>Biology (Fig. 13)</p> <p>Observations in nature on the behavior and biology of M. timandra timandra were carried out in 1991– 1993 on the left bank of the Murgab River in the area of the Sary-Yazy reservoir in the vicinity of the village of Sary-Yazy in the Mary velayat of Turkmenistan. The flight of butterflies usually occurs in the first days of April and lasts for three to four weeks. The beginning and end of the flight period may shift by a week depending on weather conditions. The habitat of butterflies is typical of the southern zone of the Kara-Kum desert: ridge-bumpy and bumpy-cellular overgrown sands covered with psammophilic shrub and herbaceous vegetation (Fig. 13A). The absolute altitude of the area above sea level is 320– 330 m. The relative height of the sand ridges and bumps is 10– 15 m. The shrubs are represented by juzguns (Calligonum spp.) and sand acacia (Ammodendron conollyi Bunge ex Boiss.). The space between them is occupied by ephemeroid-ephemeral grass communities, in which the background species are swollen sedge – ilak (Carex physodes M. Bieb.), celine (Aristidia spp.), eastern wheatgrass (Eremopyrum orientale Jaub. &amp; Spach, bulbous bluegrass (Poa bulbosa L.), cheat grass (Bromus tectorum (L.) Kuntze). In spring, on the slopes of hills and ridges, small thickets of ferula (Ferula spp.) and single flowering plants of iris (Iris spp.) are occasionally found. Poppies (Papaver pavoninum Boiss. &amp; Buhse) are common in inter-ridge depressions. Observations have established that the host plant of M. timandra in the studied region is Phlomoides regeliana (Aitch. &amp; Hemsl.) Adylov, Kamelin &amp; Makhm. (Fig. 13B), which forms sparse curtains with an area of up to several hundred square meters in the inter-ridge depressions. Together with M. timandra in this biotope fly blue Neolycaena tengstroemi (Erschoff, 1874), steppe clouded yellow (Colias erate (Esper, [1805]), painted lady (Vanessa cardui (Linnaeus, 1758)). Melitaea timandra butterflies are active in sunny weather in the first half of the day. Males are more active than females, moving throughout the territory occupied by the host plant. Females are restricted to short flights within a few, adjacent specimens of Ph. regeliana. For laying eggs, the female chooses a plant with a shaded basal leaf rosette. Laying is carried out directly on the soil near the leaf rosette (Fig. 13C). Before laying, the female samples the soil with the ovipositor for a few minutes, apparently choosing the optimal consistency, temperature, and humidity. Under one host plant, the female produces one fairly compact clutch (Fig. 13D). The number of eggs in the five studied clutches ranged from 28 to 152 (28, 67, 113, 150, 152 respectively). In two cases, it was possible to directly observe the process of egg laying in nature. Laying of 113 eggs lasted continuously for 45 minutes, 150 eggs – a little more than an hour. Three females were placed in a cage, where after a fairly short time they also began to lay eggs on the bottom of the cage next to the host plant leaf placed there. The butterflies laid their eggs in three or four batches, several dozen in each clutch. The eggs are light, almost white, with a light yellowish-greenish color, with a diameter of about 0.5 mm. The further development of the eggs was monitored in the cage. The release of single caterpillars was noted on the third day, the mass emerging of caterpillars in the cage was observed 8–9 days after egg laying. The emerged caterpillars are slightly more than a millimeter long, they partially eat the chorion then switch to feeding on the host plant mining the leaf. The color of the body and the head capsule of newborn caterpillars of the first instar is a solid light green with a yellowish tinge. One of the caterpillars, which emerged from the egg three days after laying, went to molt in the second instar three days later. Unfortunately, for several reasons, further observations of the development of the caterpillars could not be carried out. The question at what stage happened the estivation and subsequent hibernation of M. timandra – the caterpillar of senior instars, or pupa – remains open.</p> <p>Distribution (Fig. 14)</p> <p>Turkmenistan: Badkhyz (Kyzyl-Jar Gorge, Kepeli), SE Kara Kum, Kopet Dag foothill plain (Bakharden). The main places of capture are located along the valley of the Murghab River (Sary-Yazy), up to the delta (Bairam Ali, Mary) and in the Tejen River basin (Dushak, Chaacha). To the north, it reaches Repetek. The village of Bakharden is the westernmost, and the vicinity of the village Repetek is the northernmost reliably known habitat of M. timandra timandra.</p> </div>	http://treatment.plazi.org/id/EB42F330FFD8B33492A3FE8AFC4EFA38	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		Plazi	Kolesnichenko, Kirill A.;Kotlobay, Anatoly A.	Kolesnichenko, Kirill A., Kotlobay, Anatoly A. (2022): Review of the fritillary species systematically close to Melitaea lutko Evans, 1932 (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) with analysis of their geographic distribution and interrelations with host plants. European Journal of Taxonomy 830 (1): 1-60, DOI: https://doi.org/10.5852/ejt.2022.830.1865, URL: http://zoobank.org/c1f47ad9-ecf6-4f0f-9928-55a45332ff4b
EB42F330FFC0B33C913AFAF8FADBFD92.text	EB42F330FFC0B33C913AFAF8FADBFD92.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Melitaea timandra subsp. binaludica Kolesnichenko & Kotlobay 2022	<div><p>Melitaea timandra binaludica subsp. nov.</p> <p>urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 62F42B37-68FD-4A67-8E4F-FBAA2ED93033</p> <p>Figs 2B – D, F–H, J–L, N–P, 10G – O, 11D – I, 14–15, 17D – I, 19D – I, 20, 29B, D, H, 30; Tables 3, 6</p> <p>Differential diagnosis</p> <p>Melitaea timandra binaludica subsp. nov. differs from the nominative subspecies in appearance by its smaller size, the absence or weakly expressed UPF postdiscal pale area in males, the presence of UPH discal row, the developed UPH basal suffusion and the presence of UNH dark scales both in males and females. In the structure of the male genitalia, the main distinguishing features should be considered a noticeably thinner caudal process of the valva (on average thinner than in the nominative subspecies) and a noticeably less wide central part of the harpe (1.5–2 times narrower than in the nominative subspecies). In addition, unlike the nominative subspecies, the harpe on its inner surface carries a smaller number of teeth.</p> <p>Etymology</p> <p>The name is toponymic and denotes the name of the mountain Ridge on which the type series was collected.</p> <p>Type material</p> <p>Holotype (Fig. 15A, I) IRAN • ♂; Rezavi Khorassan Prov., Kuh-e Binalud Mts, Dorrud v. vicinity; alt. 2430 m; 12–13 May 2017; K. Kolesnichenko leg.; SDM.</p> <p>Paratypes (Fig. 15B– H, J–P)</p> <p>IRAN – Rezavi Khorassan Prov. • 82 ♂♂ (7 dissected), 18 ♀♀ (6 dissected); Kuh-e Binalud Mts, Dorrud v. vicinity; alt. 2430 m; 12–13 May 2017; K. Kolesnichenko leg.; EDMSU • 28 ♂♂ (20 dissected), 10 ♀♀ (7 dissected); Qadamgan area, Dorrud v. vicinity, Gerina v.; alt. 2000 m; 4 Jun. 2009; K. Kolesnichenko leg.; EDMSU • 2 ♂♂ (all dissected); Kuh-e-Binalud, 15 km SW of Zoshk; alt. 2300– 2500 m; 7 Jun. 1999; Eckweiler leg.; EDMSU • 11 ♂♂; 6 km N of Gerine, <a href="http://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=59.18167&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=36.154324" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long 59.18167/lat 36.154324)">Kuh-e-Binalud Ridge</a>; 36°09′15.56″ N, 59°10′54.01″ E; alt. 2015 m; 9 May 2019; A.A. Kotlobay leg.; coll. A.A. Kotlobay. – Mazandaran Prov. • 1 ♀ (dissected); S macroslopes of Albors Mts, 80 km SE of Sari, 5 km NE of Foulad Mahhaleh v., E slopes of Sultan Kuh Mt.; alt. 2000 m; 2 May 2018; K. Kolesnichenko leg.; EDMSU • 1 ♀ (dissected); same locality as for preceding but 12 May 2019; A. Kotlobay leg.; EDMSU. – Horossan Prov. • 1 ♂ (dissected); 35 km N of Birjant t.; 28 Apr. 2006; K. Kolesnichenko leg.; EDMSU • 1 ♂ (dissected); 75 km N of Birjant t., Sedeh v. vicinity; alt. 1500 m; 27 Apr. 2005; R. Nazarov leg.; EDMSU.</p> <p>AFGHANISTAN – Bamian Prov. • 4 ♂♂ (all dissected), 1 ♀ (dissected); Band-e-Amir, Dzhudoi-Kvak Gorge; alt. 3200 m; 1–2 Jul. 2009; O. Pak leg.; EDMSU • 1 ♂ (dissected); Hazarajat, Band-i-Amir; alt. 9400–11000 ft; 9–10 Jun. 1960; Colin Wyatt leg.; EDMSU • 5 ♂♂ (all dissected), 1 ♀ (dissected); Band-e-Amir; alt. 3200 m; 5 Jul. 2009; I. Pljushtch leg; EDMSU.</p> <p>Description</p> <p>Male (Figs 2B–D, J–L, 15A–D, I–L)</p> <p>WINGS. FW length is 16.5–18 mm, the holotype is 18 mm. UPS ground color is bright orange. UPS black pattern well developed; UPS thin black marginal border with well-defined proximal marginal spots along the outer edge of the wings; UPF submarginal row formed by black strokes, UPH – by thin lunules, usually not connected to the black marginal border; UPF discal row represented by well-defined black spots fused closer to the costa, UPH discal row is more or less developed and formed by small black spots reduced closer to the costa; UPF postdiscal pale-yellow area, located behind discal row, is weakly expressed or absent, usually there are 2–3 pale macules near the UPF costal edge; UPF paleyellowish macule in the distal part of the discoidal cell is usually absent; UPH discal row is formed by fine black spots; UPH basal suffusion covers up to ⅓ of the wing surface; UNF is bright orange with well-developed pale area along the outer edge of the wing between the veins Sc and M2, UNF pale macules in the postdiscal area is usually absent; UNH ground color is white, with an admixture of dark scales. UNH lunules forming the proximal edge of submarginal orange fascia outwardly concave and sharply pointed between veins M3 and Cu2.</p> <p>MALE GENITALIA (FigS 10G – O, 17D – I, 19D – I, 29B, D, H). In general, the size of the genitalia is smaller than that of the nominative subspecies. Valva with a relatively narrow (on average narrower than that of the nominative subspecies) caudal process, usually with several small spines on the dorsal surface. The relatively short harpe is somewhat expanded in the central part and bears a small number of noticeable teeth on the inner surface. The expanded part of the harpe is 1.5–2 times narrower than that of the nominative subspecies. Aedeagus with a rounded convex dorsal edge, its posterior part is mostly located at an angle to the anterior part and is directed downward. When both parts of the aedeagus are joined, there is a well-defined protrusion on the ventral side. Narrow saccus is distally pointed, its width is 2–3 times less than the length.</p> <p>Female (Figs 2F–H, N–P; Fig. 15E–H, M–P)</p> <p>WINGS. FW length is 17.5–20 mm. Externally the female is similar to the male, but the pattern is more contrasting. UPF postdiscal pale area is more developed than in the male. There is a well-developed pale macule in the discoilal cell between the first and second discal spots. UPH submarginal row is usually reduced. UNS pattern is similar to that of males.</p> <p>FEMALE GENITALIA (Fig. 11D–I). In general, the genitalia are similar to those of the nominative subspecies. The postvaginal plate is roundly triangular in shape. The antevaginal plate is narrow in the dorsoventral direction, its outer edge does not extend beyond the boundaries of the bend of the postvaginal plate (auricules).</p> <p>Preimaginal stages: egg (Fig. 20, Table 3)</p> <p>Material examined: 4 specimens, 27 eggs, Iran, Rezavi Khorassan Prov., Qadamgan area, Dorrud v. vicinity, Gerina v., alt. 2000 m.</p> <p>The description of the egg of M. timandra binaludica subsp. nov. was given earlier based on 5 eggs examined using a scanning electron microscope (Kolesnichenko &amp; Kotlobay 2020). Additional material made it possible to more accurately identify real diagnostic features.</p> <p>The egg is the largest among the representatives of the lutko group. It is oval and noticeably elongated in the dorso-ventral direction (Kolesnichenko &amp; Kotlobay 2020). The height of the egg varies greatly from 761.0 µm to 855.0 µm, the width is from 627.5 µm to 703.0 µm (Table 3). The sculpture of the micropilar area is formed from four to five rows of penta-hexagonal cells of various lengths and widths. The diameter of the micropilar rosette in the widest part varies from 78.0 µm to 90.0 µm. The micropilar rosette is formed by 7–9 (in rare cases 10) primary quadro-pentahedral cells with a width from 6.0 µm to 15.0 µm and a length from 9.0 µm to 27.5 µm. The micropile is rounded in shape, with an average diameter of about 8.0 µm. Lateral longitudinal ribs from 26 to 30 limit the micropile area and fall to ⅓ of the egg surface. The transverse ribs are expressed in the first third of the egg surface. Below the lateral ribs, the chorion is relatively smooth.</p> <p>In general, the eggs of M. timandra binaludica subsp. nov. are similar to those of the nominate subspecies. A distinctive feature of the morphology of the eggs of the new subspecies is their well-pronounced elongated-oval shape. In the nominate subspecies, the egg shape is also oval, but not so elongated dorsoventrally. In addition, the eggs of M. timandra binaludica subsp. nov. are the largest, their maximum height is 850.0 µm, while the height of those of the nominate subspecies is about 700.0 µm.</p> <p>Biology</p> <p>The biology of the new subspecies in the Kuh-e-Binalud mountains and the early stages were described in detail by the authors earlier (Kolesnichenko &amp; Kotlobay 2020).</p> <p>Distribution (Fig. 14)</p> <p>Iran: Turkmen-Khorassan Mts, Kuh-e-Binalud Ridge, Kayen Mts; Afghanistan: Band-e-Amir.</p> <p>The described subspecies M. timandra binaludica subsp. nov. undoubtedly should also include specimens of M. timandra (M. lutko mimetica from the authors), caught by V. Eckweiler in Iran on Kuh-e-Binalud Ridge in the vicinity of Zoshk and Firizi (Tshikolovets et al. 2014). The butterflies on the published photos (Tshikolovets et al. 2014: tables lxi, 1–2) have an external similarity with the specimens of M. timandra binaludica available to us from the same place, caught at the same time by the same collector. The butterflies from the Bandi Amir Valley, identified by the authors (Tshikolovets et al. 2018) as M. mimetica, should also be attributed to the described subspecies M. timandra binaludica.</p> </div>	http://treatment.plazi.org/id/EB42F330FFC0B33C913AFAF8FADBFD92	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		Plazi	Kolesnichenko, Kirill A.;Kotlobay, Anatoly A.	Kolesnichenko, Kirill A., Kotlobay, Anatoly A. (2022): Review of the fritillary species systematically close to Melitaea lutko Evans, 1932 (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) with analysis of their geographic distribution and interrelations with host plants. European Journal of Taxonomy 830 (1): 1-60, DOI: https://doi.org/10.5852/ejt.2022.830.1865, URL: http://zoobank.org/c1f47ad9-ecf6-4f0f-9928-55a45332ff4b
EB42F330FFC8B30E9174FCA2FAA5F8D2.text	EB42F330FFC8B30E9174FCA2FAA5F8D2.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Melitaea shahvarica Kolesnichenko & Kotlobay 2022	<div><p>Melitaea shahvarica sp. nov.</p> <p>urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 295892C7-2C50-471F-A36B-CE1F69FA8E8C</p> <p>Figs 4A – D, 14, 16A – C, 18A – C, 21–28, 29A, 30; Tables 4–5</p> <p>Differential diagnosis</p> <p>Melitaea shahvarica sp. nov. differs well from the close species M. timandra in its smaller size (small specimens of M. timandra binaludica subsp. nov. have a wingspan of more than 16.5 mm, while the wingspan of M. shahvarica is on average 16.5 mm), a noticeable reduction in the black pattern of the UPS (absence of submarginal lunules, weak development of black basal darkening and complete or partial absence UPH discal spots), absence of developed deposition of UNH dark scales, presence of UPF fused costal black dots of the submarginal and postdiscal rows centered by pale-orange spot. For the male genitalia, a characteristic feature is the presence of a noticeable protrusion of the ventral side, due to which the valva is visually noticeably expanded in the central part, so the length of the valva is only 1.5 times as great as the width. In M. timandra, the ventral protrusion of the valva is smoothed and the length of the valva is at least 2 times as great as the width (Fig. 29). The aedeagus is characterized by the absence of a noticeable protrusion on the ventral side at the junction of the anterior and posterior parts so both parts of the aedeagus are approximately on the same straight line. The female genitalia are characterized by an oval postvaginal plate.</p> <p>Etymology</p> <p>The name is toponymic and denotes the name of the mountain on the slopes of which the type series was collected.</p> <p>Type material</p> <p>Holotype (Fig. 21A, I) IRAN • ♂; Semnan Prov., Shahrud area, S macroslope of Shahvar Mt.; alt. 2200–2400 m; 5–6 May 2018; K. Kolesnichenko leg.; SDM.</p> <p>Paratypes (Fig. 21B–H, J–P)</p> <p>IRAN – Semnan Prov. • 34 ♂♂ (10 dissected), 8 ♀♀ (4 dissected); same collection data as for holotype; EDMSU • 2 ♂♂ (all dissected); same collection data as for holotype but 18–19 May 2017; EDMSU • 16 ♂♂ (10 dissected), 5 ♀♀ (all dissected); Shahrud area, S macroslope of Shahvar Mts, Tohar v. vicinity; 7–8 May 2009; K. Kolesnichenko leg.; EDMSU • 32 ♂♂ (3 dissected), 9 ♀♀ (2 dissected), Gerdab. Elburs Ridge, Shahvar Mt.; alt. 2200 m; 6–7 May 2018; A.A. Kotlobay leg.; coll. A.A. Kotlobay • 9 ♂♂; same collection data as for preceding but 9 May 2019; coll. A.A. Kotlobay.</p> <p>Description</p> <p>Male (Fig. 21A–D, I–L)</p> <p>WINGS. FW length is 16–17 mm, the holotype is 17 mm. UPS ground color is bright orange-red. UPS black pattern reduced; UPS thin black marginal border with well-defined small marginal spots along the outer edge of the wings; UPF submarginal row usually represented by black dots or strokes. UPH submarginal row is absent or reduced. A characteristic feature for most specimens of the new species is the UPF black macule located between veins Sc and R5 and formed by the fused submarginal and postdiscal costal dots centered with orange or pale spot; UPF discal row represented by small black spots not fused with each other, UPH discal row absent or formed by small black spots reduced closer to the costa; UPF postdiscal pale-yellowish area, located behind the black discal spots, is weakly expressed or expressed only at the costal edge: usually, only 2–3 yellowish macules situated near the costa; UPF paleyellowish macule in the distal part of the discoidal cell weakly expressed; UPH basal black suffusion covers less than ¼ of the wing surface; UNF pale area along the outer edge of the wing between the veins Sc and M2 is well developed; UPH discal macules are either absent or expressed only as a row of dots between the veins A2–M3, in rare cases UPH discal row developed and formed by small and delicate macules (Fig. 21A); UNF pale macules in the postdiscal area are not pronounced; white UNH ground color with a slight admixture of dark scales; UNH lunules forming the proximal edge of submarginal orange fascia outwardly concave and sharply pointed between veins M3 and Cu2.</p> <p>MALE GENITALIA (FigS 16A – C, 18A – C, 22, 29A). A broad valva with a wide and elongated distal caudal process with 2–3 small spines on the dorsal surface. The relatively short harpe is expanded in the central part with a small number of separately spaced or fused teeth on the inner surface. Curved aedeagus with a rounded convex dorsal edge. There is a smooth bend on the ventral surface of the aedeagus at the junction of the anterior and posterior parts, as a result of which the aedeagus looks S-shaped. Saccus is thin, its length is 2 times as great as its width. In some specimens the saccus is deeply divided into relatively wide rounded lobes.</p> <p>Female (Fig. 21E–H, M–P)</p> <p>WINGS. FW length is 19–20 mm. UPS ground color is bright orange; UPF postdiscal pale area is more pronounced than in the male; there is a distinct pale macule in the distal part of discoidal cell; UPH submarginal and discal rows are usually reduced, but in some specimens well developed (Fig. 21E); UNH discal row usually represented by 2–4 black spots near the costa; UNS pattern is generally similar to that of the males, but the main color is bright white.</p> <p>FEMALE GENITALIA (Fig. 4A–D). The postvaginal plate is oval or wide-oval, in rare cases-oval-triangular. The antevaginal plate is narrow in the dorsoventral direction, its outer edge does not extend beyond the boundaries of the bend of the postvaginal plate (auricules).</p> <p>Preimaginal stages (Figs 23–26, Tables 4–5)</p> <p>Egg (Fig. 23, Table 4)</p> <p>Material examined: 26 eggs from three clutches: Iran, Semnan Prov., Shahrud area, S macroslope of Shahvar Mts, alt. 2200–2400 m.</p> <p>The egg has a well-defined pear shape. The height of the egg is from 699.4 µm to 700.6 µm, the width is from 606.5 µm to 610.0 µm (Table 4). The sculpture of the micropile region is formed from four to five rows of penta-hexahedral cells of various lengths and widths. The diameter of the micropile rosette in the widest part varies from 41.0 µm to 54.4 µm. The micropile rosette is formed by 7–8 primary quadra-pentahedral cells with width from 7.0 µm to 17.6 µm and length from 10.0 µm to 25.0 µm. The micropile is rounded in shape, with an average diameter of 5.1 µm. There are 24–26 lateral longitudinal ribs in the micropilar region which fall to ⅓ of the egg surface. The transverse ribs are often not or weakly expressed. Below the lateral ribs, the chorion has a cellular structure. The freshly laid eggs are yellow.</p> <p>In contrast to M. timandra binaludica subsp. nov., whose eggs are oval with a slight narrowing in the apical region (Kolesnichenko &amp; Kotlobay 2020), the eggs of M. shahvarica sp. nov. are characterized by a pear shape. In addition, the eggs of M. timandra binaludica are on average larger, their maximum height is about 850.0 µm, in M. shahvarica the egg height is on average about 700.0 µm. In M. timandra, the micropile rosette is formed by 9–10 primary cells, and in M. shahvarica, the micropile is surrounded by 7–8 primary cells.</p> <p>First instar caterpillar (Figs 24, 25A–B, Table 5)</p> <p>The body length of a caterpillar recently hatched from an egg is about 2 mm (1976.4 ± 2.2 µm) (Figs 24E– F, 25A). The body length of a caterpillar of the first instar before molting is about 3 mm (Fig. 25B). A caterpillar hatched from an egg is light green with a black head, covered with long hairs. The width of the head capsule is 412.5 ± 0.2 µm, the height is 322.5 ± 0.7 µm (Fig. 24A). From the side, the head capsule is triangular, expanding to the area of the oral organs (Fig. 24C–D). The distance in the widest part of this triangle between the labrum and the base of the head is 240.0± 1.4 µm. The eyes are approximately the same size, their location is similar to that of M. timandra binaludica subsp. nov. (Kolesnichenko &amp; Kotlobay 2020). The labrum with a width of 134.4± 0.4 µm is divided into 2 blades. The arrangement of the bristles on the head capsule is conservative. The distance between the bristles is shown in Table 5.</p> <p>We compared the distances between the bristles located on the lateral part of the head capsule of the first-instar caterpillars M. shahvarica sp. nov. (Table 5) and M. timandra binaludica subsp. nov. (Table 6). The location of the bristles and the distance between them on the head capsule are relatively stable for each species. Differences in the distance between the bristles in M. timandra binaludica and M. shahvarica are observed between L1–O1 (about 111.0 µm for M. shahvarica and about 113.0 µm for M. timandra binaludica) and L1–O3 (about 122.0 µm for M. shahvarica and about 127.0 µm for M. timandra binaludica).</p> <p>Second instar caterpillar (Fig. 25C)</p> <p>The body length is about 3.5 mm. The main color is brown, the head and the scoli are black, the bases of the scoli are flesh-colored. The main lines of the body are expressed due to a darker color.</p> <p>Third instar caterpillar (Fig. 25D)</p> <p>The body length is about 4.5–5 mm. The main color is brown with flesh-colored specks. The head, the scoli and the tops of the legs are black. The black outgrowths of the linea dorsalis are located on a brown background and are present only on the abdominal segments. The bases of the scoli of the subdorsal stripe are bright yellow. The bases of the scoli of the dorsal and other stripes are flesh-colored.</p> <p>Forth instar caterpillar (Fig. 25E)</p> <p>The body length is about 9–12 mm. The head capsule is black. The body pattern is formed by a black main background with light orange or flesh-colored small specks. The scoli are light orange or flesh-colored. The segments of the thoracic part are characterized by the absence of yellow or flesh-colored scoli on the unpaired linea dorsalis. The paired linea subdorsalis is marked with flesh-colored scoli at their base. The linea epistigmalis paired stripe above the spiracles is black. Bright yellow scoli are located on each segment. The stigma pair (linea stigmata) is of the base color as well. The linea hypostigmalis is black with flesh-colored scoli located on each segment. Linea basalis and linea subbasalis are black with a flesh-colored scoli on each segment.</p> <p>Fifth instar caterpillar (Fig. 26A)</p> <p>The body length is 15–17 mm. The head capsule is black. The body pattern is formed by bright yellow or flesh-colored scoli and a background color that varies from dark brown to black with pronounced fleshcolored specks. Unpaired linea dorsalis is marked with several bright yellow scoli with a dark (black or dark brown) base. However, there are no such outgrowths on the thoracic segments. The subdorsal (linea subdorsalis) and suprastigmal (linea epistigmalis) paired stripes located on the dorsal side and above the spiracles have a complete set of bright yellow scoli located on each segment of the body, with the exception of XII. Moreover, the scoli marking linea subdorsalis have a bright yellow base. The paired stigmata stripe (linea stigmata) has a background color. On each segment of the body (with the exception of the middle-thoracic, posterior-thoracic and last segments of the abdomen) in the middle of this stripe, under the base of the outgrowths, there are black spiracles bordered with yellow. The poststigmal line (linea hypostigmalis) is marked with a bright yellow scoli. Linea basalis and linea subbasalis (at the very bases of the legs) are located close to each other so that they practically form a single stripe with bright yellow scoli placed near each other. Poststigmal as well as basal and subbasal outgrowths are absent on the last segment of the body. The legs of the thoracic segments are black, the false legs are brown, with a flesh-colored border at the base.</p> <p>It should be noted that the color described above is characteristic of some of the caterpillars that have passed into the fifth instar. For some of the caterpillars of the fifth instar, the black color of the main background and the presence of black scoli are characteristic, with the exception of the paired linea subdorsalis, whose scoli are painted in bright yellow.</p> <p>Sixth instar caterpillar (Fig. 26B–C)</p> <p>The body length is 19–21 mm. The head capsule is black, 2.8 mm wide and 2–2.3 mm high (Fig. 26C), covered with black hairs. The area of simple eyes is black. The eyes are approximately the same size, four of them are located closer to the epicranial suture, and two are closer to the occipital region. The forehead, the platypus, the frontal sclerites of the frontal sutures and the area of the epicranial suture are painted black. The body pattern (the 2 nd and 3 rd thoracic and all abdominal segments) is formed due to bright yellow scoli and the background black color. The unpaired linea dorsalis bears black scoli, there are no such outgrowths on the thoracic segments. The paired linea subdorsalis is marked with bright yellow scoli with a bright yellow base. The paired linea epistigmalis located above the spiracles has a complete set of black scoli located on each segment of the body, with the exception of XII. On the last segment, only the black dorsal and bright yellow subdorsal outgrowths are well developed. The paired linea stigmata has a background color. On each segment of the body (except for the middlethoracic, posterior-thoracic and last segments of the abdomen), black spiracles are located in the middle of this stripe under the base of the outgrowths. The linea hypostigmalis is formed by black scoli. The linea basalis and subbasalis (at the very bases of the legs) are located close to each other so that they practically form a single stripe with black scoli placed near each other. Poststigmal, as well as basal and subbasal outgrowths are absent on the last segment of the body. The false legs and legs of the thoracic segments are black.</p> <p>The described pattern refers to the caterpillars of the sixth instar, passing into the estivation mode.</p> <p>Biology (Figs 27–28)</p> <p>Observations in nature on the behavior and biology of M. shahvarica sp. nov. were carried out in May 2018 and 2019 and in the first half of July 2019 in the vicinity of the village of Gerdab on the southern macroslope of the Shahvar Mountain on the Elburs Ridge (36°31′ N, 54°43′ E). Observations on the development of eggs and caterpillars of M. shahvarica sp. nov. were performed from May to September 2018 and from May 2019 to April 2020 under laboratory conditions in Moscow.</p> <p>Within the surveyed territory (Fig. 27A), M. shahvarica sp. nov. forms small but very dense local populations, strictly tied to the places of growth of the host plant. We found two populations at an altitude of 2150–2200 m and one at an altitude of 2500 m above sea level, separated by 2–3 km from each other. The flight of M. shahvarica imago at an altitude of 2150–2200 m begins, depending on weather conditions, at the beginning of the first or second decade of May and continues throughout the month. Melitaea shahvarica is the earliest species of fritillaries and one of the earliest, in terms of departure, species of butterflies on Shahvar Mt. At an altitude of 2500 m the flight starts 2 weeks later than at an altitude 2150–2200 m. The males fly out first, 5–7 days earlier than the females. Butterflies fly in the morning in sunny weather. Males patrol the bottoms of inter-ridge valleys in search of females. The butterfly rises to the top of the valley, passes over the ridge and descends across the neighboring valley, repeating the cycles of ascents and descents many times. At the most intensive flight period, up to 30 males flying in one direction are recorded in one place per hour. Fresh-born unfertilized females stay in the bottoms of valleys, sit on plants or make short flights. Fertilized females climb the slopes of the ridges to the places where the host plants grow.</p> <p>The host plant of M. shahvarica sp. nov. is Phlomoides molucelloides (Bunge) Salmaki (Fig. 27C). Phlomoides molucelloides is occasionally found in dense beds consisting of several plants on crushed stone dumps along the banks of dry riverbeds at an altitude of 2000 m above sea level in a wide intermountain valley at the foot of the Shahvar mountain. But neither the imago nor the caterpillars of M. shahvarica was found at this station. At an altitude of 2150–2500 m above sea level, Ph. molucelloides occurs outlying spurs of the southern macroslope of Mount Shahvar on the upper third of the slopes of the western, northwestern and northern exposure, as well as on the tops of the ridges. It should be noted that the form of Ph. molucelloides growing in the described conditions is characterized by its miniature size. The height of the peduncle is usually only 5–10 cm, and even in the largest specimens does not exceed 20 cm. The growth station of Ph. molucelloides at an altitude of 2150–2500 m above sea level consists of steep rubble-clay scree and clay-rubble areas occupied by sparse friganoid communities of acantholimons (Acantholimon spp.), esparcetes (Onobrychis spp.), astragalus (Astragalus spp.) and cushion-shaped sagebrush (Artemisia spp.) with the latter dominating (Fig. 27B). Phlomoides molucelloides occurs in single plants or in small groups of 2– 3 specimens almost across the specified territory, but sometimes forms very sparse (the distance between individual plants is from several to one and a half dozen meters) associations consisting of dozens to hundreds of plants and occupying a significant area. It is in such places that M. shahvarica lays eggs and caterpillars develop.</p> <p>The fertilized female, sitting on the edge of the leaf of the host plant, feels the soil under the leaf rosette with the ovipositor for several minutes, choosing the optimal characteristics of the substrate for laying (Fig. 27D). Fourteen fresh clutches of M. shahvarica sp. nov. were found during the observation of egg-laying females and the examination of 38 plants of Ph. molucelloides. The size of clutches ranged from 24 to 146 eggs. The clutches were placed directly on the ground or rubble under the leaves of the basal rosette (Fig. 28A–B). All the clutches were found under host plants that had not yet begun to develop a peduncle. A total of 79 eggs were collected in nature in order to further monitor the development of the preimaginal stages of M. shahvarica under laboratory conditions. The female, placed in a small plastic cage with a host plant, laid 162 eggs in three batches, with an interval of 1–2 days. Freshly laid eggs are light yellow greenish in color, less than 1 mm in diameter. The hatching of the first caterpillars from the eggs begins after 3 days, and the mass release occurs on 7–9 days after egg laying. Of the 241 eggs (79 collected in nature and 162 obtained from the female in the laboratory) available to us, 233 caterpillars were born (96.7% yield). The day before the release, the part of the egg, where the head capsule of the caterpillar is located, darkens. Fresh-born caterpillars are about 1 mm long, light yellow-greenish in color, covered with long light hairs. The head capsule is dark brown. Immediately after emerging, the caterpillars partially eat the chorion and fall into a stupor for several hours. After coming out of the stupor, they gather in groups on the upper side of the leaf of the host plant (Fig. 28E). First, they scrape the surface, then gnaw through the leaf, leaving the veins intact. After 2–4 days after leaving the eggs, the caterpillars molt and pass into the second instar. Immediately after molting, the head capsule is pale green, after a few hours it turns black. The surface of the body of caterpillars of the second instar darkens, but instead of hairs, outgrowths of a light green color appear with a bunch of spines on top. The caterpillars actively feed and keep together in communities. In the second instar, the caterpillars spend 3–4 days and molt into the third instar. Caterpillars of the third instar are about 1 cm long, black, the head capsule is black. Dorsal and lateral outgrowths on the body are light yellow with a bunch of black spines on the top (Fig. 28C). The III instar lasts 5–7 days. The caterpillars of the IV instar do not differ in color from the caterpillars of the III instar. After passing into the IV instar, the caterpillars leave the groups and move on to an individual lifestyle. After another 5–7 days, the caterpillars pass into the V instar. In the vast majority of V instar caterpillars, the color of the lateral outgrowths changes from yellow to black, they stop feeding, seek shelter and fall into a stupor (Fig. 28F). A total of 17 V instar caterpillars did not change color and continued to feed. The cessation of feeding and the change in color occurred in these caterpillars a week after the transition to the VI instar. Changes in the behavior and appearance of the caterpillars clearly indicate a state of diapause. The transition to the diapause of caterpillars of III–V instars for many species of Melitaea is an obligate stage of the development cycle (Walberg et al. 2001). Of the 233 caterpillars, 210 (90.1%) survived to the diapause stage. The larvae died mainly from the last batch of eggs laid by the female in the cage. The caterpillars from this group were smaller in size and somewhat slower in development. The main cause of death was a violation of the molting process, caused, apparently, by birth defects of development. The caterpillars collected in nature at the beginning of July and fed further in the laboratory also passed to diapause at V instar. Of the 23 caterpillars of instars III–IV collected in nature, 21 (91.3%) survived to diapause. Thus, the development of M. shahvarica from the moment of egg laying to the departure of the caterpillars into diapause lasts, on average, about a month. In nature, in the conditions of the Shahvar Mountain, the vegetation of Ph. molucelloides at an altitude of 2150–2200 m ends in mid-June. The vegetative and generative parts of the plant completely dry out and the caterpillars of M. shahvarica are not observed on them. At an altitude of 2500 m, the vegetation of Ph. molucelloides continues until the first decade of July, and at this time, we still found caterpillars of III–IV instars of M. shahvarica on the host plants. According to observations in nature, the caterpillars of M. shahvarica actively feed in the morning and before sunset, the rest of the day they are sedentary, sitting on the underside of the leaf or on the soil under the leaves of the host plant. It should be noted that almost all Ph. molucelloides plants have completely sclerotized leaves by the end of the growing season. This indicates a mass feeding of caterpillars and a high density of local populations of M. shahvarica The caterpillars of M. shahvarica are strict oligophages. Under laboratory conditions, we used Phlomoides tuberosa Moench as a host plant, which is systematically close to Ph. molucelloides and grows wild in central Russia. The caterpillars of M. shahvarica rejected the proposed fresh leaves of other plants known as host for the genus Melitaea (Kolesnichenko 2006), such as plantain (Plantago spp.), veronica (Veronica officinalis L.), wormwood (Artemisia spp.), and other species of Lamiaceae (Lamium spp., Mentha spp.).</p> <p>We assumed that the caterpillar of M. shahvarica sp. nov., like that of most other members of the genus Melitaea, goes through seven instars in its development and must continue feeding after diapause and go through 1–2 more instars before pupation. Given the weather conditions on the Shahvar mountain, the output of the caterpillars of M. shahvarica from diapause should occur no earlier than the end of April. Unfortunately, we were not able to determine the factor that interrupts the diapause of the caterpillars and complete the development cycle of M. shahvarica in the laboratory. The caterpillars taken out of the refrigerator in March, April, and May did not respond to changes in light conditions, temperature, and humidity, to mechanical stimulation, or to the fresh host plant leaves. They did not show motor activity and soon died. Certain questions are also raised by the contradiction between observations of the development cycle of M. shahvarica in nature and in the laboratory. In nature, the emergence of the imago occurs in early May almost simultaneously with the beginning of the vegetation of the host plant. Obviously, in this case, the butterflies are born from overwintered pupae. Otherwise, the need for further nutrition for the caterpillar that has emerged from the diapause, two more instars and pupation would have shifted the appearance of the imago 2–3 weeks later, to the second half of May. In addition, we did not find in the first half of May any overwintered caterpillars or signs of their vital activity (leaf gnawing, droppings) despite a thorough examination of many host plants. The final answer to the question about the duration and stage of diapause in the development cycle of M. shahvarica should be given by further observations of the development of preimaginal stages both in nature and in the laboratory.</p> <p>Distribution (Fig. 14)</p> <p>Iran, Elburs Ridge, Shahvar Mt.</p> <p>Of undoubted interest are the data (Tshikolovets et al. 2014; van Oorschot &amp; Coutsis 2014) on the findings of butterflies from the lutko group (M. lutko mimetica in the authors’ understanding) to the west and north of the habitat of M. shahvarica sp. nov. – on the Elburs Ridge in the vicinity of Demavend Mt. (label: Tehran, Elburz, Demavend, Ask, Lucien leg.) and on the Palyzan Ridge in the northwestern tip of the Turkmen-Khorosan Mountains (label: Golestan, E Maraveh Tappeh, N Ghazan Ghayeh, Palizan Mts). In the first case, it is about a single male, caught on 28 Jun. 1967, which, according to van Oorschot &amp; Coutsis (2014), is characterized by a “transitional” type of the genitalia. However, the same authors expressed doubts about the correct labeling of this specimen on the grounds that for almost 50 years of active collecting of butterflies in the vicinity of Demavend Mt. there are no finds confirming the presence of representatives of the M. lutko group in this area. The presence of M. timandra on the Palyzan Ridge, in our opinion, is more realistic, despite the cardinal differences in the natural and climatic conditions of this area. It is not possible to say anything with certainty about the systematic status of these specimens since the authors of both these publications do not provide images of imago or genitalia. However, based on the characteristics of the habitat and the set of species of potential host plants (Ph. labiosiformis (Popov) Adylov, Kamelin &amp; Makhm., Ph. boissieriana (Regel) Adylov, Kamelin &amp; Makhm.), we believe that systematically the butterflies from Meraveh Tappeh should most likely be closer to M. timandra binaludica subsp. nov. despite the apparent proximity of the Palyzan Ridge to the type locality of M. shahvarica sp. nov. Our assumption is supported by the absence of significant barriers for the spread of M. timandra binaludica to the west, while M. shahvarica, which lives on the slopes of Shahvar Mt, is separated from the northwestern part of the Turkmen-Khorosan Mountains by a high ridge, the northern slopes of which are covered with very moist dense forests.</p> </div>	http://treatment.plazi.org/id/EB42F330FFC8B30E9174FCA2FAA5F8D2	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		Plazi	Kolesnichenko, Kirill A.;Kotlobay, Anatoly A.	Kolesnichenko, Kirill A., Kotlobay, Anatoly A. (2022): Review of the fritillary species systematically close to Melitaea lutko Evans, 1932 (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) with analysis of their geographic distribution and interrelations with host plants. European Journal of Taxonomy 830 (1): 1-60, DOI: https://doi.org/10.5852/ejt.2022.830.1865, URL: http://zoobank.org/c1f47ad9-ecf6-4f0f-9928-55a45332ff4b
EB42F330FFF9B31393A7FE8BFAA5FC8F.text	EB42F330FFF9B31393A7FE8BFAA5FC8F.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Melitaea Fabricius 1807	<div><p>Key for determining the representatives of the lutko species group by males</p> <p>1. Thin harpe is (similar in shape to a scythe) without teeth on its inner surface (Fig. 18F–I), in rare cases teeth are weakly expressed (Fig. 18F); when looking at the genitalia from above (Fig. 16D–H), the length of harpe is half of the length of valva; the slender caudal process of valva with one small spine in the distal part on the dorsal surface; the length of the caudal process is usually 3 times its width (Fig. 29C, E). Saccus is wide (Fig. 16E–I), distally rounded, its length is 1.5 times as great as width. UPS pattern is contrasting, with a well-developed UPF pale-yellow postdiscal area (Fig. 6A– D). Afghanistan, Pakistan: Balochistan.................................................. M. mimetica Higgins, 1940</p> <p>– Harpe is noticeably thickened in the central part (it resembles a sickle in shape), there are always clearly visible teeth on its inner surface (Figs 18A–E, 19); when looking at the genitalia from above, the length of harpe is about a third of the length of valva (in the case of M. shahvarica sp. nov., it can be a half of the length) (Fig. 16A–C); the caudal process of valva is usually wide, with several spines in the distal part on the dorsal surface, the length of the caudal process is 1.5 times its width. Saccus is thin, distally pointed, its length is 2 times as great as width (Figs 16A–C, 17). UPS pattern of the is monophonic with a weakly developed UPF postdiscal pale-yellow area........................... 2</p> <p>2. Harpe is short, strongly expanded in the central part, its length is 2 times as long as width (Fig. 18D– E). On the inner surface of harpe there is a well-defined row of teeth with a powerful tooth in the central part and small teeth on both sides of it. The broad caudal process of valva is elongated and distally strongly inwardly concave with a pointed apex (Figs 3H–I, 29F). UPH black basal suffusion is well developed and covers more than a third of the wing surface, UPH submarginal row is formed by interconnected black lunules (Fig. 2A). Pakistan: Chitral, Birmoglasht, Malakand, Murree............................................................................................................... M. lutko Evans, 1932</p> <p>– The length of harpe is 3–4 times as great as width, there are small and rare teeth on the inner surface of harpe (Figs 18A–C, 19). The caudal process is distally not strongly inwardly concave with a pointed apex (Figs 10, 22, 29A–B, D, G–H). UPH black basal suffusion covers less than a third of the wing surface (Figs 2B–D, 9A–D, 15A–D, 21A–D)................................................................... 3</p> <p>3. Valva is sharply expanded in the central part, due to a well-marked protrusion of the ventral side, the length of valva is 1.5 times as great as width (Figs 22, 29A). The thin distal part of harpe is curved downwards, there are few teeth on its inner surface (Fig. 18A–C). The anterior and posterior parts of aedeagus are approximately on the same straight line, there is no protrusion at the junction of both parts of aedeagus on the ventral side (Fig. 29A). UPH submarginal row is often reduced. There is UPF black macule located between veins Sc and R5 and formed by the fused submarginal and postdiscal costal dots centered with orange or pale spot. UPH discal macules are either absent or expressed only as a row of dots between the veins A2–M3 (Fig. 21A–D). Iran: East Elburz................................................................................................................................... M. shahvarica sp. nov.</p> <p>– Valva is elongated, its length is 2 times as great as width, the ventral protrusion of the valva is smoothed (Fig. 10). Harpe is noticeably thickened in the central part due to the presence of teeth on the inner surface (Fig. 19). The posterior part of aedeagus is mostly located at an angle to the anterior one and is directed downward, at the junction of both parts of aedeagus on the ventral side there is a well-marked protrusion (Figs 10, 29B). UPH submarginal row is well defined (with rare exceptions) (Fig. 15A–D). UPF black macule located between veins Sc and R5 and formed by the fused submarginal and postdiscal costal dots is absent. UPH discal row is well defined (ssp. binaludica subsp. nov.) or absent (ssp. timandra). Iran, Turkmenistan, Afghanistan............................................................................................................... M. timandra Coutsis &amp; van Oorschot, 2014</p> <p>Key for determining the representatives of the lutko species group by females</p> <p>1. Postvaginal plate is triangular-shaped with wide lateral edges and narrowed distally (Figs 4F–I, 11)..................................................................................................................................................... 3</p> <p>– Postvaginal plate is oval or broadly oval (Fig. 4A–E)...................................................................... 2</p> <p>2. UPS black pattern is expanded and well developed: UPH basal suffusion covers at least a third of the wing surface, UPF postdiscal row, as well as UPH discal and submarginal rows are well developed along the entire length of the wings (Fig. 2E). Pakistan: Chitral, Birmoglasht, Malakand, Murree.............................................................................................................. M. lutko Evans, 1932</p> <p>– UPS black pattern is reduced: UPH basal suffusion covers noticeably less than a quarter of the wing surface, UPF postdiscal row is represented by 1–2 dots at the costal edge, UPH discal and submarginal row are reduced or partly reduced (Fig. 21E–H). Iran: East Elburz.............. M. shahvarica sp. nov.</p> <p>3. The antevaginal plate is expanded in the dorsoventral direction, its outer edge extends beyond the boundaries of the bend of the postvaginal plate (auricules) (Fig. 4F–I); UPF with a well-defined paleyellowish postdiscal area and pale-yellowish macule in the distal part of discoidal cell (Fig. 6E–H). Afghanistan, Pakistan: Balochistan........................................................ M. mimetica Higgins, 1940</p> <p>– The antevaginal plate is narrow in the dorsoventral direction, its outer edge does not extend out or barely extends beyond the boundaries of the bend of the postvaginal plate (auricules) (Fig. 11); UPF with a weakly defined pale-yellowish postdiscal area (Figs 9E–H, 15E–H). Iran, Turkmenistan, Afghanistan................................................................... M. timandra Coutsis &amp; van Oorschot, 2014</p></div> 	http://treatment.plazi.org/id/EB42F330FFF9B31393A7FE8BFAA5FC8F	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		Plazi	Kolesnichenko, Kirill A.;Kotlobay, Anatoly A.	Kolesnichenko, Kirill A., Kotlobay, Anatoly A. (2022): Review of the fritillary species systematically close to Melitaea lutko Evans, 1932 (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) with analysis of their geographic distribution and interrelations with host plants. European Journal of Taxonomy 830 (1): 1-60, DOI: https://doi.org/10.5852/ejt.2022.830.1865, URL: http://zoobank.org/c1f47ad9-ecf6-4f0f-9928-55a45332ff4b
