Matskási István (szerk.): A Magyar Természettudományi Múzeum évkönyve 86. (Budapest 1994)

Bálint, Zs. ; Johnson, K.: Polyommatine lycaenids of the oreal biome in the Neotropics, part II: The Itylos section (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae, Polyommatinae)

ribly smaller when compared with other South American polyommatines (e.g. Paralycaeides) and /. fumosus represents the most least developed alulae (after Madeleinea species) which may be a primitive condition. Considering these character distributions, our view of the monophyly of Itylos and Ityloides (and the status of the latter) involves both matters of character comparison and methodology. Monophyly - Characters of Itylos and Ityloides: The monophyly of the two taxa can be confirmed by the following character states, some of which are ambiguous at the present time relative to apomorphy: (1) similar wingshape, (2) VHW pattern of the same type, (3) absence of Suspensorium, (4) very small valvae with large penis, (5) the same center of origin. The very short FW anal edge is a remarkable character among South American polyommatines. Similar, certainly convergent, phenomena are known among high altitude polyommatine lycaenids in the Palearectic region (Albulina TUTT, 1909 and Agriades HÜBNER, 1819 s.l. groups of taxa) and in the Afrotropical region (genus Harpendyreus HERON, 1909), but their measurements give a different picture (cf. LARSEN 1991: Harpendyreus aequatorialis (E. SHARPÉ, [1892]) PI. 24, Fig. 323; SAKAI 1981: "Polyommatus erigone GR.GR., 1890", PI. 45, Figs 1-3; "Agriades pheretides (EVERSMANN, 1843)", PI 24, Figs 5-23). The titicaca type of pattern (ityloid sensu NABOKOV 1945) can be easily originated from the pnin and fumosus types, which are very closely related. Thus, it appears that the ityloid pattern evolved secondary from the polyommatine type (chatochrysopoid sensu NABOKOV 1945: 45) as also suggested by the distributional data of some Latin American polyommatines. Otherwise, the polyommatine type of pattern has a worldwide distribution in oreal habitats, while the ityloid pattern (which is the most represented in South America) appears mainly in high altitude enviroments whole over the world [e.g. Lycaeides lamasem (OBERTHÜR, 1910) in Himalaya (Figs 31-32), H. aequatorialis on Kilimanjaro and Mt. Kenya (Figs 29-30), M. sp. n. prope koa in Ecuadorian Andes (Figs 27-28)]. This phenomenon must be highly adaptive depending on similar environmental pressures. The absence of the Suspensorium on the tegumen is a common, obvious charcter state, because it is even represented on the thecline-like neotropical polyommatine lycaenids (BÁLINT & JOHNSON 1994). Also worthy of mention here are the anastomosed FW coastal veins of genus Itylos. This is well represented by several taxa of the Polyommatus section (ELIOT 1973, HIROWATARI 1992), but it is typical for the plesiochor groups mainly with Oriental and Australian distributions. The "modern" polyommatines (sections Eicochrysops, Lycaenopsis, Glaucopsyche, Euchrysops and Polyommatus) have the fore wing with veins Sc and Rl free. As noted before, the genitalic structures in the case of Itylos and Ityloides are unique. These can be originated from a common ground plan, as the somewhat transitional position of/, pnin between /. fumosus and /. titicaca suggests. /. pnin is closer in some morphological and structural aspects to /. fumosus than to /. titicaca. The titicaca penis, with strong sclerotized and curved suprazonal edges, is rather reminiscent to that of genus Danis FABRICIUS, 1807 (HIROWATARI 1992: 73) but we think the fumosus, and even the pnin type of penis, with their more simple structures, reflect the more ancient habitus (genus Psychonotis TOXOPEUS, 1930 in Danis section [cf. HIROWATARI 1992: 75]. Consequently, /. titicaca is apparently the most progressive species of the monophyletic unit (aside from the above-mentioned FW venation), with strongly developed ityloid VHW markings, and very long and slender uncus and gnathos. All of three species of the unit can be found in central Peru, indicating a common chorological center. Only titicaca is found southward, to Tucumán (Argentina) (although this could be the result of the insufficient samples). The three entities fumosus, pnin and the titicaca complex form a tightknit monophyletic unit with an obvious outgroup quite unapparent at present. It is possible that a sister group may be indicated eventually through elaboration of additional historical material or from modern fieldwork.