Notes on the molecular taxonomy of the Proclossiana eunomia complex (Lepidoptera, Nymphalidae: Argynnini): analysis of DNA barcodes

Abstract

The Proclossiana eunomia (Esper, 1799) complex is currently composed of the several subspecies distributed throughout Palaearсtic region and North America. Despite the fact that some of the taxa have differences in wing pattern and body size, previous assumptions on taxonomy not supported by molecular data. Therefore, the identity of certain populations of this complex has remained unclear and the taxonomic status of several recently described taxa is debated. Here, we provide insights into systematics of some Palaearctic members of this group using molecular approach, based on the analysis of the barcoding fragment of the COI gene taking into account known morphological differences.

Cross-continental phylogeography of two Holarctic Nymphalid butterflies, Boloria eunomia and Boloria selene

“…Contrary to the findings of Yakovlev et al [ 92 ], our results confirm a high degree of phylogeographic structure within the Boloria eunomia Eurasian range. A high within-range genetic differentiation can be observed in other habitat specialist butterflies, for instance the semi-migratory species of grasslands Hesperia comma (Linnaeus, 1758) [ 93 ], the open-woodland specialist Parnassius mnemosyne (Linnaeus, 1758) [ 94 ], the polycentric dry grassland species Melitaea cinxia (Linnaeus, 1758) [ 95 ] or the steppic Proterebia afra (Fabricius, 1787) [ 96 ].…”

Boloria eunomia (Esper, 1799) (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) revised in the Caucasus: taxonomy, life history, rediscovery and conservation in Armenia

“…Yakovlev and his co-authors revealed little congruence between previous interpretations of different subspecies of B. eunomia based mainly on geographical distribution or relatively minor morphological characters with molecular data, including B. e. exspectata from the North Caucasus. Based on the analysis of DNA barcodes they mentioned that molecular data provide evidence to support a monotypic species hypothesis rather than the recognition of several subspecific forms, with the exception of B. e. riamia Korshunov et Ivonin, 1998 from Siberia in Russia [Yakovlev et al, 2018]. But these authors didn't analyze B. e. tenera due to the absence of the available fresh material of this subspecies.…”

First record of the moorland clouded yellow Colias palaeno (Linnaeus, 1761) (Lepidoptera: Pieridae) in Altai Krai (Russia, West Siberia) with notes on its DNA barcode

“…We used a sequence of the pierid Leptidea juvernica (Linnaeus, 1758) from Kaliningrad region (GenBank accession number MT210323) as an outgroup to root the phylogram. The data set of COI barcodes was analysed as described previously (Shapoval et al 2017, Yakovlev et al 2018. A Bayesian approach was used for estimating the phylogeny.…”