Plebejus (Afarsia) sieversii albolunulatus, Tshikolovets, 2017

Tshikolovets, Vadim, 2017, New taxa and new records of butterflies (Lepidoptera: Pieridae, Lycaenidae, Nymphalidae) from Afghanistan, Zootaxa 4358 (1), pp. 107-124 : 108-109

Plebejus (Afarsia) sieversii albolunulatus subsp. nov .

( Fig. 1 )

Type material. Holotype: ♂ with the following label “O-Afghanistan, Pandschschir-Tal, vic. Astana, Hindukusch- Hauptkamm, Ab schobá, 4–4400 m, 10.8.1970, lg. Nasuk”.

Paratype: ♂ with the following label “O-Afghanistan, Prv. Kunar-Nuristan, ob. Lindai Sin-Tal , vic. Barg e Matal, Dándizenor mts., 4000 m, 15.07.1970, leg. Naumann, Coll. Nr. ZMK 94 ”.

The holotype and the paratype are deposited in the collection of SMNK.

Description. Forewing length (from base to apex) ca. 15 mm. Forewing: ground colour of upperside darkviolet, submarginal border black ca. 1.5 mm wide; triangular dark spots in discal areas. Underside of forewing grey with black spots in discal and postdiscal areas; submarginal area with darker spots; discal and postdiscal areas with full rows of black spots; all black and dark-grey spots bordered white; black spot in submarginal area (space 3) with silver-blue scales; white triangles which connect with white borders of black spots present between black postdiscal spots and dark-grey spots in submarginal area. Hindwing: the border divided into dark spots; triangular dark spots in discal areas.

Diagnosis. The new subspecies differs from all known populations of P. sieversii in the dark-violet colour of upperside of forewing and large white triangular spots on underside of hindwings ( Fig. 2).

Distribution. Known from two localities in the extreme south-western part of the Hindukush Mountain Ridge.

Etymology. The name refers to the large white spots present in the new subspecies.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Plebejus (Afarsia) sieversii albolunulatus subsp. nov., Holotype, ♂, Afghanistan, Pandschschir-Tal, vic. Astana, Hindukusch-Hauptkamm,Ab schobá, 4400 m, 10.8.1970, leg. Nasuk (SMNK).