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LEPIDOPTERA

Melitaea fergana Staudinger, 1882
Melitaea fergana Staudinger, 1882

• TYPE LOCALITY. «Alai-Gebirge (Prov. Fergana, Turkestan)» [Alai Mts. (northern slopes), Kirghizia].

• RANGE. From Ghissar-Darvaz, Pamirs-Alai to N. and Inner Tian-Shan: Hindu Kush.

• DISTRIBUTION AND VARIATION. Both individual and geographical variation great. Along with the nominotypical form, which populates the Alai and Transalai mts., the following subspecies have been described from the territories concerned: ssp. paradoxa Churkin et Tuzov, 2000 from the N. Tian-Shan: ssp. ketmeana Lukhtanov, 1999 from the Ketmen Mts. (these two subspecies representing the opposite extremes of a single dine, they can be treated either as one subspecies or as two good subspecies, depending on the point of view concerning clinal variation): ssp. vladislavi Churkin et Tuzov, 2000 from the At-Bashi Mts., Inner Tian-Shan; ssp. khantengri Churkin et Tuzov, 2000 from Kaingdy Mts., Inner Tian-Shan: ssp. maracandica Staudinger, 1882 from Ghissarsky Mts.; ssp. splendida Churkin et Tuzov, 2000 from Turkestansky Mts. (Pass Kumbel); ssp. darvasika Higgins, 1941 from the Darvaz; ssp. Jacobsoni Higgins, 1941 from the W. Pamirs; and ssp. grumi Churkin et Tuzov, 2000 from the E. Pamirs. The latter subspecies is probably a synonym of oxuana Lukhtanov, 1999. The status of the taxon terskeana Lukhtanov, 1999 is not clear because of a poor original description lacking photos.

• TAXONOMIC NOTES. It is very tempting to treat some subspecies of M. fergana as distinct species. For example, material from the Khan-Tengri mountain system is very clearly distinguished from that from the Ghissar. Yet our studies do not seem to allow for separation of any species from M. fergana, because we have revealed some clearly expressed dines both in colour and male genitalic structure. It is thus noteworthy that, in view of all available information concerning clinal distinctions and the high variability of all of the taxa included within M. fergana, it appears impossible to arrive at a final conclusion about the status of these subspecific names without profound investigation of their biology. We suppose that M. fergana is a complex of young semispecies where biological separation is most important. The interrelations between M. fergana and the allied species have recently been discussed (Churkin & Tuzov, 2000).

• HABITATS AND BIOLOGY. Rocky and/or shingle screes at about 1,500-3,000 m a.s.l. Flight period: mid-June to mid-July.

• SIMILAR SPECIES. Melitaea infemalis: ground colour of UPS darker, dull brown; genitalia different. M. lunulata: ground colour of UPS bright, red-brown. M. alraschid, M. ambrisia: ground colour of UPS without reddish hue, as a rule, genitalia different.

 

Photo and text: Guide to the BUTTERFLIES OF RUSSIA and adjacent territories Volume 2. PENSOFT, Sofia - Moscow. 2000