Matskási István (szerk.): A Magyar Természettudományi Múzeum évkönyve 87. (Budapest 1995)

Bálint, Zs.: Two new Polyommatus species from the Himalayan region (Lepidoptera, Lycaenidae, Polyommatini)

Deposition of t y p e s - All the type specimens deposited in the Butterfly Collection of the BMNH. Distribution- North India, Himachal Pradesh (E. Punjab), at cca. 4,000 m. Bionomics- According to type data the species is most probably univoltine, flying in high elevation. The larval hostplant and the nectar sources of the imagines are unknown. Remarks- The superficial appearance of the known male specimens is so remarkable that it is very easy to distinguish them from all the Himalayan taxa of the Polyommatus section by the following character set of wing morphology: (1) Colouration. The underside ground colour is white. (2) Veins. The veins on the underside are suffused with greyish scales appearing as relatively wide, conspicuous lines between median and marginal parts. (3) Pattern. The maculation of the underside is strongly reduced. The species is known from the region of Kangra, where closely related taxa as sutleja, droshana and dux were recorded. Polyommatus pierinoi sp. n. (Figs 3-6) Type material- Holotype, male: "Nepal, Sabze Khola, 13,500 ft., 19. vii. 1950.; B. M. Exp. to Nepal., B. m. 1950-649; Sabze Khola, 13,500', 19. VII, 50; gen. prep. No. 200. Zs. Bálint; Holotypus, P. pierinoi, det. Zs. Bálint, 17. vii. 91.". Allotype (female) and paratypes (4 males and 3 females) with the same data, with glycerin vials, gen. prep. No. BÁLINT, 527 (male) and 528 (female) vials. Paratypes, 5 males and 1 female: "Nepal, Braga, 14,500 ft, 14.vii. 1950.. from meadowland, B.M. Exped. to Nepal, B.M. 1956-649". Paratype, 1 male: "Nepal: Marsiandi, 12,600 ft, 28.VI.1959, from woodland glade, B.M. Exped. to Nepal, B.M. 1956-649". Paratype, 1 female: "Nepal: Khangsar, 14,500 ft., 24.vii.I950, B.M. Exped. to Nepal, B.M. 1956-649". 1 female: "Nepal: Khangsar, 14,500 ft., 27.vii.1950, B.M. Exped. to Nepal, B.M. 1956649". Further paratypes, 2 males: "C. Nepal, Marsiyandi T, Pisang 3400 m, 31.VII.

'80., leg. Gruber." Diagnosis - Superficially close to P. stoliczkanus and its sister P. droshana, but with longer forewing costa and anal margin with deeper blue dorsal ground colour, hindwing ventral basal suffusion extended, submarginal markings strongly reduced but marginal pattern well developed. Male genitalia commonplace with shorter penis and juxta compared with congeners. Female genitalia with very long ductus bursae and showing large anterior lamella sclerotized along two wide lines, henia quadrant shaped. Description - Forewing length: 15 mm (Holotype), 15 mm (Allotype). Forewing shape somewhat rounded. Antennae, head, thorax, abdomen and genitalia as in Polyommatus section (sensu ELIOT, 1973). Male. Dorsal surface. Forewing: Ground colour shining violet blue; vein ends softly covered with black scales; terminal line black, conspicuous; subterminal cilia blackish, terminal cilia white. Hindwing ground and pattern as in forewing. Ventral surface: Forewing: Ground colour cool ash grey, but white in marginal area; discoidal spot long with well visible halo; postmedian spots very small with suffused halos; submarginal markings absent, replaced by larger white spots visible in each cell; marginal spots large and brownish; cilia as in dorsum, but greyish at vein ends. Hindwing: Ground colour somewhat darker than in forewing with brownish shade; basal area strongly suffused with gleaming blue metallic scales; discoidal spot small with large angular halo; conspicuous white stripe in ce3-2; postmedian markings strongly reduced; submarginal markings strongly reduced, only inconspicuous cups visible, but full in ce2 and eel with aurora; marginal area, termen and cilia as in forewing. Genitalia: Uncus strong, horseshoe-shaped with plane inner margin, gnathos small with long humerulus, tegumen strong, with short but strong Suspensorium, vinculum also strong juxta weak and shorter than vinculum; valva narrow with low Baird's angulation, costal process long, strongly sclerotized, apical lobe prononunced, aedeagus relatively nanow and only slightly shorter than juxta. Female. Dorsal surface. Forewing: Ground colour dark brown; anal area with scattered gleaming deep violet blue scales; discoidal spot present but very small; submarginal aurora visible; cilia as in male, but brownish. Hindwing: Ground colour as in forewing; discoidal absent; marginal area blue with black spots; cilia as in forewing. Ventral surface. Forewing: Ground colour brownish grey; discoidal and postmedian spots as in male, but somewhat stronger; large median and postmedian arrow-head spots absent; submarginal markings visible with aurora in ce3 and ce2; marginal spots large in white ground colour; termen and cilia as in male. Hindwing: Ground colour darker brown; markings as in male, but more developed, submarginal aurora larger than in male, marginal spots black; basal suffusion green; tennen and cilia as in male. Genitalia commonplace polyommatine with quadrant-shaped sclerotized henia. Deposition of types - The primary types and the paratypes are deposited in the Butterfly Collection of BMNH (London, UK). Only two paratypes taken by GRUBER are deposited in the "Zoologische Staatssammlung" (Munich, D). Distribution- Known only from high altitudes in Nepal.