Colias nebulosa nebulosa Oberthür, 1894

Huang, Hao & Song, Kui, 2022, A review of the genus Colias Fabricius, 1807 (Lepidoptera: Pieridae) from Qinghai with descriptions of a new subspecies of Colias thrasibulus Fruhstorfer, 1910, Zootaxa 5105 (4), pp. 451-489 : 460-461

Colias nebulosa nebulosa Oberthür, 1894

( Figs. 16 , 19 , 41 , 43–44 , 46–47 , 49 , 62 , 69 )

Colias Nebulosa Oberthür, 1894: 8 , pl. 8, fig. 65 (TL: Danba, NE. Kangding: Grieshuber et al., 2012).

Colias sifanica nebulosa: Verity, 1909: 228 , pl. 41, figs. 26–27 & 29.

Colias pugo Evans, 1924: 973 (TL: Pugo, 12km S.-SE. Ranwu, SE. Tibet); Grieshuber et al, 2012: 163, synonymy for C. nebulosa , 183–184, discussions on type series, type locality and taxonomic status.

Colias cocandica pugo: Bang-Haas, 1927: 109 .

Colias cocandica nebulosa: Bang-Haas, 1927: 109 .

Colias cocandica sungpani Bang-Haas, 1927: 109 (TL: Sungpan = Songpan, N. Sichuan); Grieshuber & Lamas, 2007: 156, synonymic list, synonymy for C. nebulosa ; Grieshuber et al, 2012: 213, discussions on type series, type locality and taxonomic status.

Colias cocandica niveata Bang-Haas, 1927: 110 (TL: S. of Da-Tan (Tatung), Daban Shan, Qinghai: Grieshuber et al., 2012); Grieshuber & Lamas, 2007: 156, synonymic list, synonymy for C. nebulosa ; Grieshuber et al, 2012: 163, synonymy for C. nebulosa , 166, discussions on type series, type locality and taxonomic status.

Colias nebulosa nebulosa: Verhulst, 1991c: 207 , 210- figs., pl. 2, figs. 1–6, 213- fig. 7 for ♂♂ & ♀♀; Grieshuber et al., 2012: pl. 11, figs. 5–20 for ♂♂ & ♀♀ (type specimens); Grieshuber, 2014: 31, figs. for ♂♂ & ♀.

Colias nebulosa niveata: Verhulst, 1991c: 212 , partim, 213- figs. 3–5 for ♂♂ & ♀;

Colias nebulosa sungpani: Verhulst, 1991c: 214 ; Verhulst, 2001: pl. 42, figs. 1–8 for ♂♂ & ♀♀ from Xiahe.

Colias nebulosa pugo: Verhulst, 1991c: 214 , partim (not from Gyantse) 216- figs. for ♂ & ♀; Grieshuber, 2000: 263–264, figs. 1–3, 5–7 for type specimens and labels; Verhulst, 2001: pl. 43, figs. 1–12 for ♂♂ & ♀♀; Dietz, 2002: 76 - figs. 1–6 for ♂ & ♀♀.

C. nebulosa nebulosa f. sungpani: Dietz, 2002: 76 - figs. 13–15 for ♂♂ & ♀ from Xiahe.

Material examined. CHINA: Qinghai: 36 ♂♂ & 24 ♀♀ ( CSK) from Huangyuan (Riyue-xiang), Qilian (Niuxinshan, Babao), Huangzhong (Laji Shan), Guoluo (Dawu) and Yushu (Jiegu) . Gansu: 7 ♂♂ & 6 ♀♀ ( CHH), S. of Xiahe , 3500–3700m, 25.VII.2015, H. Huang leg .. Sichuan: 2 ♂♂ & 1 ♀ ( CHH), on Genie road from Litang to Batang , 4300m, 30.VII.2020, Z. Yao leg. SE. Tibet: 1 ♂ ( CHH), on pass from Sangjiu village to Gula, Chayu , 4500m, 22.VII.2012, Y. Liu leg. ; 2 ♀♀ ( CHH), N. of Demula , 4500–4700m, 12.VIII.2017 & 8.VIII.2020, H. Huang leg. ; 1 ♂ ( CWZJ), Demula , 4800m, VII.2015, Z.-J. Wu leg ..

Subspecific classification. The authors agree to Grieshuber et al. (2012) treatment that C. nebulosa niveata and C. nebulosa sungpani are synonyms of C. nebulosa nebulosa , but keep their suspicion on the treatment that Colias nebulosa pugo is a synonym of Colias nebulosa nebulosa . Both C. nebulosa karoensis Hoshiai & Rose, 1998 and C. nebulosa richthofeni Bang-Haas, 1927 stand as good subspecies by their distinct wing characters. However, Grieshuber et al. (2012) stated “It is possible that karoensis is only the end of a cline of nominotypical C. nebulosa , but this needs further investigation” and “Because of the lack of material a definitive statement about the correct status of karoensis is not possible at the moment”. The senior author collected a few specimens of C. nebulosa karoensis from Luozha (a locality ca 28.4729N, 91.0237E) and Cuomei (a locality ca 28.4805N, 91.1783E) at 4700–5000m. These are the first records of C. nebulosa karoensis out of Karola pass, Gyangtse, the type locality. C. nebulosa karoensis is distinctly different from all other subspecies not only by the more contrasted dark suffusion on the upper side of the wings and the darker green underside of the wings, but also by the more completely pale-marked veins on hindwing underside.

Specimens from Demula area and Batang-Litang area seem to form a transition from C. nebulosa karoensis to C. nebulosa nebulosa in hindwing underside ground color and vein markings. It is noted that the lectotype of C. nebulosa nebulosa from Danba area is more in common with the northern specimens from Gansu and Qinghai than with those from Litang-Batang area, being pale yellowish green on hindwing underside. Grieshuber et al. (2012) however, stated “there is a series of nebulosa in coll. Grieshuber which was collected very close to the type locality of pugo and a series from Xiahe (Labrang) (Gansu) which looks very similar, although there is a distance of about 850 km between these collecting localities”. If this is true and Grieshuber’s specimens from Tibet are collected by reliable collectors, C. nebulosa pugo should be sunk as a synonym of C. nebulosa nebulosa .

Flight period. Early July to early August in Qinghai and Gansu; mid July to early August in Sichuan; mid July to mid August in SE. Tibet.

Altitude. 3600–3900m in Qinghai ; 3500–3700m in Gansu ; 4500–4800m in SE. Tibet ; 4300m in W. Sichuan .

Distributional notes. Specimens from Niuxinshan, Qilian County, a locality between the other known localities of Colias nebulosa richthofeni in Qilian Shan Mts., produce a phenotype like Colias nebulosa nebulosa , just as Grieshuber et al. (2012: 163) stated.

Figures

FIGURE 41. ♂ genitalia and 8th tergum (with superuncus) in lateral view at same scale. Serial numbers corresponding to those of specimens. Scale bar = 1 mm.

FIGURE 43. 8th tergum in dorsal view at same scale to show superuncus. Scale bar = 1 mm.

FIGURE 44. ♂ genitalia in dorsal view at same scale. Scale bar = 1 mm.

FIGURE 46. Ring in lateral view and scaphium in ventral view at same scale. Scale bar = 1 mm.

FIGURE 47. Phallus in lateral view and coecum-process in full-face view at same scale. Scale bar = 1 mm.

FIGURE 49. Juxta in full-face view (nearly posterior view) at same scale. Scale bar = 1 mm. FIGURE 50. Valva in inner lateral and anterior views at same scale. Scale bar = 1 mm.

FIGURE 69. Distribution of Colias nebulosa subspecies, with localities in literature and in this work marked. FIGURE 70. Distribution of Colias sifancia and its form aegidii, with localities in literature and in this work marked.

FIGURES 15–17. Habitus of Colias taxa ♂♂ & ♀♀ at same scale (Upper side only). 15—Colias nebulosa richthofeni; 16— Colias nebulosa nebulosa; 17—Colias nebulosa karoensis. Scale bar = 1 cm.

FIGURES 18–20. Habitus of Colias taxa ♂♂ & ♀♀ at same scale (Underside only). 18—Colias nebulosa richthofeni; 19—Colias nebulosa nebulosa; 20—Colias nebulosa karoensis. Corresponding to figs. 15-17. Scale bar = 1 cm.

FIGURES 59–64. Biotopes of Colias species in Qinghai. 59—C. diva (Lajishan, by K. Song); 60—C. sifanica (Lajishan, by K. Song); 61—C. lada (Yushu, by K. Song); 62—C. nebulosa (Lajishan, by H. Huang); 63—C. grumi (Xidatan, Kunlun Shan, by Z.-Y. Qi); 64—C. grumi (Dachaidan, by K. Song). FIGURES 65–66. Living adults of Colias species in Qinghai. 65—C. arida cakana at Wulan (by Z.-Y. Qi); 66—C. grumi at Xidatan (by Z.-Y. Qi).