Matskási István (szerk.): A Magyar Természettudományi Múzeum évkönyve 99. (Budapest 2007)

Bálint, Zs., Horváth, Z. E. , Kertész, K. , Vértesy, Z. ; Biró, L. P.: Observations on scale structures and spectroscopic properties of Polyommatus lycaenid butterflies (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae)

be expressed well by measurements. Their low level of distinctness is not a surprise as the taxa are presumably quite young, originating from glacial isolations (eros: Alpine, eroides: Balkan and erotides: Altai) of a hypothetical ancestor widely distributed on cold steppe regions of the Old World. The rather similar reflectance spectra of P. ariana and P. icarus can indicate that they have a relatively close common ancestor, and probably it would be correct to place them in the same species group, which is distinct from the eros species group. This scenario can be easily tested not only by modern molecular studies but also via studying certain closely related taxa formerly placed in the ariana and icarus species groups. Importance of light signaling - The importance of light manipulation as pre-mating signal of the polyommatine lycaenids is stressed by the observation of the senior author with more than 30 years of field experience: He carried out field works in habitats where often more than five Polyommatus species with qualitatively similar genital structures were in flight syntopically and synchronically (BÁLINT, in prep., see Appendix II), but never found any interspecific copulation in the field. Table 2. Spectral characteristics of the species investigated. All spectra are composed from five individuals (see Appendix I) Spectral position of the Spectral position of the Taxon name reflectance maximum: secondary reflectance peak: Taxon name reflectance (%)/wavelength reflectance (%)/wavelength (nm) (nm) Eros species group Polyommatus eroides 22/445 12/250 Polyommatus eros 24/445 11/250 Polyommatus erotides 28/500 10/250 Outgroup taxa Polyommatus arinaus 62/450 20/255 Polyommatus icarus 70/400 22/255 Hence butterfly scale micro- and nanostructures should play an important role as they create pre-mating barrier on individual as well as on population level in the life of butterflies. This barrier plays an important role in sexual communication more promptly then any other contact based on physical or quasiphysical approaches of the individuals. Signaling is not only important to male-male interactions, but also in male-female communication.