Matskási István (szerk.): A Magyar Természettudományi Múzeum évkönyve 98. (Budapest 2006)

Bálint, Zs.: Arcas Swainson, 1832 is revisited: review of some species-group names, identification of the sister group and a key for species (Lepidoptera, Lycaenidae: Eumaeini)

This paper has the following aims: (1) to identify the sister group of Areas, (2) to revise the previous species concepts and formalize the synonyms plainly introduced in the CNB and (3) to present a revised identification key to Areas. The results are based on the revision of the material of the following collections: The Natural History Museum, London (BMNH), Naturhistorisches Museum, Wien (NMW) and the Museum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris (MNHN). When relevant, the material examined since BÁLINT (2002) is listed. As a closing chapter an identification key to all the species I recognise in Areas is given, with an indication to their range. THE SISTER GROUP OF ARCAS In the CNB the genus Areas is placed between two genera: Atlides and Pseudolycaena in the newly created "Atlides Section". The genus Atlides is indicated as basal genus of the section. This arrangement should reflect the intention of the compiler: as "the checklist is intended to be phylogenetic" (ROBBINS 2004: xxiv). The Atlides section was diagnosed as "the anal lob cleft

... modified from Godman & Salvin". This is an unsatisfactory diagnosis as (1) there is no indication how the CNB cleft concept diverges from that of GODMAN & SALVIN'

s (1887) and (2) anal lobe cleft identical with that of Atlides can be found in numerous other genera placed in various sections by the author of the eumaeine checklist, just to mention three (in brackets with CNB eumaeine section names): Brangas torfida (HEWITSON, 1867) d'ABRERA, 1995 {Brangas Section); Panthiades paphlagon (C. FELDER et R. FELDER, 1865) NICOLAY, 1976 (Panthiades Section); Radissima umbratus (GEYER, 1832) JOHNSON 1992 (Paiwarria Section). The other difficult point is that placement of Areas in the CNB can be understood in rather different ways, for example, (1) as sister group of Atlides with the rest of the Section (Pseudolycaena and Theritas sensu CNB), (2) as immediate sister group of Atlides; or (3) as immediate sister of Pseudolycaena (Fig. 1). On the basis of the sole list it is impossible to reconstruct which branching was the real intent of the compiler. However, none of these groupings take into consideration the presence of the androconial pouch in the hind wing ventra of the genera Areas (Fig. 2), Theritas (Fig. 3), Pseudolycaena (Fig. 4), and Denivia JOHNSON, 1992 (Fig. 5) (type species: Thecla deniva HEWITSON, 1874; lumped under Theritas without any comment in the CBN). Accordingly, the androconial pouch has no phylogenetic importance in reconstructing natural relationships (= phylogeny) or is "homoplastic or difficult to interpret" (ROBBINS 2004: xxiv).