Boros István (szerk.): A Magyar Természettudományi Múzeum évkönyve 5. (Budapest 1954)

Issekutz, L. ; Kovács, L.: Melitaea britomartis Assmann, with special regard to its occurrence in Hungary

réfugies in the recent days of many alpine and mountainous forms. So, Melitaea diamina Lang, or Argynnis selene Schiff, of a similar distribution, can still be found around Bátorliget ; indeed, two Argynnis ino Schiff, specimens were caught at Izsák (sole Hungarian data). Nor do the populations inhabiting the Central Mountains seem to be of identical origin. Among them, the britomartis found on the plateau of the Mts. Bükk constitute a distinct group characterized, besides the external features, by the special shape of the processus posterior. As it was discussed in the previous paragraphs, we have met with this form of the processus posterior only in specimens from abroad, in the Transsylvanián Border Mountains, and more southernly, in the southern feet of the Balcan Mountains. Indubitably, the Mts. Bükk are isolated from the Transsylvanián Mountains by the NE extension otthe Great Plains. The question is, therefore, wether there be other data which may allude to the zoogeographical connection of the Mts. Bükk with the Transsylvanián Mountains in the geological past. Recent lepidopterological investigations do show that such data exist. Pieris manni Mayer became known, aside from its single Hungarian area of occurrence in the Mts. Bükk, also from Borosjenő, further away from the region of the lower Danube. A similar element seem to be a dark form of Thyris fenestrella Scop., collected, nearest to the Mts. Bükk, around Herkulesfürdő. It is worthy of mention in this connection with manni that Diószeghy collected this species also in the Mts. Retyezát, at an altitude of 1000—1900 a. s. 1., proving that it can adapt itself to low temperatures. If we correlate these facts, we cannot leave the proposal out of consideration that a zoogeographical region existed composed of the main links of the Mts. Balcán, the Lower Danube, the Transsylvanián Mountains, ending with the Mts. Bükk. The reminder of this former zoogeographical region coulcl be. among others, the britomartis population of to day, characterized by the slender processus posterior, of the Bükk plateau. If we take into account further, that the geographical connection of the Mts. Bükk and the Transsylvanián Border Mountains broke up already at the beginning of the Tertiary, we have to maintain the said faunal elements of the Mts. Bükk to be of a very old origin, indeed. We have no information as yet whether the western group of the Central Mountains britomartis was in connection with the other group in the geological past, that is, whether it became separated from it. Indubitably, both had tolive isolated from each other during a very long time. To day, the britomartis group of the western regions of the Central Mountains seem to be of the highest vitality. These have the most numerous populations, they are found in rather wide altitudinal levels (175—900 m), besides, they have the most extensive distribution. Their spreading power is revealed by the fact that they have almost reached the western border, and in the east, they have passed over the Mts. Bükk. Unfortunately, we are unable, in the absence of fossils, to shed light on the time of origin of our lepidopterous fauna. In our deductions, we are wholly dependent on the indications of the recent fauna. The fact, however, that glaciation had not exterminated every animal life in Hungary and the neighbouring areas, is sufficiently proven by mollusk fossils. L. S о ó s, in his work on the shell fauna of Hungary, sets forth species inhabiting continuously our faunal territory since the Tertiary, and, lately, J. Vágvölgyi completed this picture with valuable new data. With regard to Arthropoda, G. К о 1 о s -