Callophrys mystaphioides Krupitsky & Kolesnichenko

Krupitsky, Anatoly V. & Kolesnichenko, Kirill A., 2013, A new species of the Callophrys mystaphia Miller, 1913 — group from Iran (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae: Eumaeini), Zootaxa 3619 (4), pp. 460-466 : 461-462

Callophrys mystaphioides Krupitsky & Kolesnichenko sp. n.

(fig. 1, a–d; I; fig. 2., a1–a3, b–c, e1–e3)

Type material: Holotype 3 ZMMU: IRAN, Esfahan prov., Golpayegan, Kocherey vill., 28.IV.2007, A. Zamesov leg.

Paratypes ZISP (1 3, the same locality as in the holotype, 27–28.IV.2007 K. Kolesnichenko leg.), DSMM (1 3, the same locality as in the holotype, 27–28.IV.2007, K. Kolesnichenko leg.), AZ (5 3, 1 Ƥ, the same data as in the holotype, A. Zamesov leg.), KK (5 3, 1 Ƥ, the same locality as in the holotype, 27–28.IV.2007, K. Kolesnichenko leg.), AK (3 3, 1 Ƥ, the same data as in the holotype, A. Zamesov leg.; 2 3, the same locality as in the holotype, 27–28.IV.2007, K. Kolesnichenko leg.).

Description. Male (fig. 1, a–b).

Antennae black, white-ringed at bases of segments, club dark, its base below white; terminal segments (apiculus) brown. Eyes brown with small pale brown hairs, surrounded by greenish-white scales. Frons green with black hairs on the sides, top of head with brown scales and greyish hairs. Palpi: 2nd segment greenish-white with green scales and white, black and pale green hairs below; 3rd segment black with white hairs and scales on the top. Thorax: upperside grey with grey hairs, underside green with greenish-white hairs. Legs white with black scales and white hairs. Abdomen: upperside brown, underside grey with grey hairs.

Upperside (fig. 1, a). Forewing: ground colour brown, varies from pale to dark, costal edge with yellowish scales; margins marked by dark brown scales; inner margin and base of spaces 1a and 1b covered by brown hairs. Androconial spot brown, elliptical, medium-sized. Hindwing: ground colour the same as on the FW; spaces 7–8 and 1a–2a covered by greyish-brown and bronse scales; basal and discal areas covered by greyish-brown hairs; outer margin marked by dark brown scales. Anal lobe not developed, wing rounded; anal angle with a small brush of long dark hairs. Inner margin (dorsum) with long white hairs. Fringes of both wings white, with long brown scales at base, chequered with dark scales along veins on hindwing. Underside (fig. 1, b). Forewing: ground colour emerald green, except of spaces 1a and 1b which are greyish-brown; basal area with rare greenish hairs; costa with yellowish scales. Postdiscal row of white spots reduced to 2–3 dots. Hindwing: ground colour the same as on forewing; almost the whole wing is covered by greenish hairs, more intensely in the basal area. Postdiscal row of white strokes present in spaces 1-2, 4-5 and 7 in all specimens.

Forewing length 12,0 mm in the holotype and 10,0– 12,5 mm in the paratypes.

Individual variability: ground colour of upperside varies from pale to dark brown.

Male genitalia (fig. 2, a1–a3, b–c).

Uncus deeply divided by tegumen, with well-developed inward lobes; falces strong, oblique, crossing at acute angles. Clasps long, divided into three parts: basal part extremely wide, nearly reach vinculum, mesial - straight, distal part narrowed. Saccus short, as long as 1/4 of the general length of genitalia. Aedeagus slender and flat, nearly straight, 1,5 times longer than the general length of genitalia, cornuti strongly serrate, upper cornutus broadened. Significant variations are absent.

Female (fig. 1, c–d)

Forewing length 11,5–12,5 mm. Similar to the male, but androconial spots are absent.

Female genitalia (fig. 2, e1–e3): papillae anales conic, small, hairy; apophyses posteriores straight, 1,2 much longer than the length of papillae anales. Antrum heart-shaped with well developed lateral lobes directed back, central lobe is absent. Ductus bursae very strong. Corpus bursae membranous with granulose surface, bears two signa, each with two spines (one spine is almost reduced). Significant variations are absent.

Distribution. The new species is known from the type locality and from southern part of Zagros Mts., Kuh-e- Dinar, Fars Prov. (ten Hagen 2006) (fig. 3).

Biology. In the type locality the butterflies inhabit a mountain plateau which is situated at ca. 2000 m over the sea level (fig. 1, k) and fly in April. In the locality in Fars they fly in May due to higher altitudes (ca. 3000 m) (ten Hagen 2006). In both localities butterflies are associated with Rheum sp.—their probable host plant (fig. 1, l). Ten Hagen (2006) mentions Rheum persicum as a host plant.

Etymology. The name points to a resemblance of the new species to C. mystaphia —« mystaphioides » (Latin) means «similar to mystaphia ».

Diagnosis. The new species is closely related to C. mystaphia (fig. 1, e–h; g; fig. 2, d–f).

Callophrys mystaphioides sp. n. differs from C. mystaphia in the following main characters:

- forewing length 10,0– 12,5 mm ( C. mystaphia : forewing length 9,0–10,0 mm)

- top of head with greyish hairs ( C. mystaphia : top of head with yellowish hairs and green scales)

- fringes white ( C. mystaphia : fringes yellowish)

- androconial spot medium-sized, oval, dark ( C. mystaphia : androconial spot small, rounded, light)

- white postdiscal row of spots on the underside more developed in comparison with C. mystaphia , spots strokelike, not rounded

- сlasps broader in lateral view, basal part of clasps broader than those of C. mystaphia , mesial part of clasps nearly straight, vinculum and saccus broader, aedeagus almost straight, serration of cornuti stronger

- antrum without central lobe, lateral lobes well-developed, apophyses posteriores short (1,2 times longer than papillae anales) ( C. mystaphia : small central lobe present, lateral lobes less developed, apophyses posteriores 2 times longer than papillae anales)