Colias sifanica Grum-Grshimailo, 1891

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 : 459-460

Colias sifanica Grum-Grshimailo, 1891

( Figs. 14 , 42–43 , 45–46 , 48–49 , 60 , 70)

Colias sifanica Grum-Grshimailo, 1891: 447 (TL: Laji Shan and Riyue Shan: Grieshuber et al., 2012); Verity, 1911: pl. lxx, fig. 1, cpl. I: 1, lectotype designation ( Grieshuber et al. 2004); Hoshiai 1996: 9 -pl. figs. 39–53 for ♂♂ & ♀♀ from Xiahe and Zhugqu (Zhouqu); Verhulst 2001: pl. 40, figs. 1–24 for ♂♂ & ♀♀; pl. 138 for distribution and biotope; Dietz 2002: 71, figs. 1–9 for ♂♂ & ♀♀; Grieshuber et al. 2004: 16, discussion on lectotype; Grieshuber et al. 2012: 205, discussions on type series and type locality; Grieshuber 2014: 30, figs.; Grieshuber 2016a: photos of lectotype and paralectotypes.

C. sifanica herculeana Bollow, 1930: 109 (TL: Qinghai lake area: Grieshuber et al. 2012); Verhulst, 1991b: 185; Grieshuber et al. 2004: 20, synonymy for C. sifanica ; Grieshuber & Lamas, 2007: 161, synonymic list; Grieshuber et al, 2012: 117, discussions on type series, type locality and taxonomic status.

Colias aegidii Verhulst, 1990: 42 , figs. 1–4 A for ♂ genitalia, 41- pl. figs. for ♂♂ & ♀♀; Hoshiai, 1996: 216, discussion on status; Verhulst, 2001: pl. 39, figs. 1–24 for ♂♂ & ♀♀, pl. 139 for distribution and biotope; Dietz, 2002: 73, figs. 1–9 for ♂♂ & ♀♀; Grieshuber et al, 2012: 33, discussions on type series, type locality and taxonomic status; Grieshuber, 2014: 32, figs. syn. nov.

Colias sifanica sifanica: Verhulst, 1991b: 181 , figs 1–2 for type specimens, pl. 1 & 187-pl., figs. for ♂♂ & ♀♀.

Colias sifanica qinghaiensis Chou, Zhang & Wang, 2001: 45 , 41- pl., figs. 9–10 for ♀ paratype from Xiahe, figs. 11–12 for ♂ holotype (TL: Xining); Grieshuber et al. 2004: 20, synonymy for C. sifanica ; Grieshuber & Lamas, 2007: 161, synonymic list.

Material examined. CHINA: Qinghai: 87 ♂♂ & 21 ♀♀ ( CSK), Xiaqunsi, Ping’an, 2800m, VI.–VII. 2005 –2019, K. Song leg.; 24 ♂♂ & 5 ♀♀ ( CSK), Chapu, Hualong, 2700m, VI.–VII. 2015, K. Song leg.; 11 ♂♂ & 2 ♀♀ ( CSK), Babao, Qilian, 2900m, 24–26.VII. 2008, K. Song leg.; Gansu: 21 ♂♂ & 6 ♀♀ ( CHH), Xiahe, 3000–3400m, 20.VII.–26.VII.2015, H. Huang leg.; 11 ♂♂ & 1 ♀ ( CHH), Xiahe, 2950–3300m 30.VI.–2.VII.2016, H. Huang leg. Form aegidii . Hoshiai (1996) figured a few specimens of C. aegidii together with those of C. sifanica , both under the name, C. sifanica , which show continuous variations in wing-pattern. He discussed the possibility of the natural hybrid between C. sifanica and C. nebulosa, Oberthür, 1894 , and inclined to regard specimens of C. aegidii as individual variations of C. sifanica . Grieshuber et al (2012) stated “Although C. aegidii does fly with C. sifanica , it is only found where C. sifanica and C. nebulosa nebulosa fly in close proximity to each other” and “The possibility that aegidii is a natural hybrid between nebulosa and sifanica cannot be excluded, but there is no direct evidence for this”. However, the senior author collected 3 ♂♂ of C. aegidii from a dry valley on north of Xiahe at 2950–3300m together with a few C. sifanica and C. montium ; this locality is far away from the biotopes of C. nebulosa . By this evidence and a further record from Qinghai (discussed below), C. aegidii cannot be a hybrid between C. nebulosa and C. sifanica .

The known specimens in literature clearly constitute a continuous series of variations from C. sifanica to C. aegidii without an interruption in all of the wing characters. And the following specimens are found around the boundary: 1) 3 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀ ( Hoshiai, 1996: 9 - figs. 40–41, 48–50); 2) 2 ♂♂ (Verhulst, 1990: 41-pl., figs. 8 & 11); 3) 3 ♀♀ ( Verhulst, 2001: pl. 40, figs. 4, 8 & 15); 4) 3 ♂♂ (this paper: fig. 14, Specimens I12–I14).

Further on, the junior author collected a male of C. aegidii ( Fig. 14 , Specimen I4) from Xiaqunsi, Ping’an, Qinghai (a locality with no C. nebulosa found) among the large number of specimens of C. sifanica . He continued to collect there for 15 years and collected over 100 specimens of C. sifanica but only encountered C. aegidii once. This is the first record of C. aegidii either from Qinghai province or out of Xiahe. Verhulst (1990) erroneously recorded a male from Caka, Qinghai, which was proved to be collected actually from Xiahe ( Grieshuber et al., 2012). The co-existence of both C. sifanica and C. aegidii at Xiaqunsi, and the extreme rarity of C. aegidii for years draw to a conclusion that C. aegidii is merely a rare ecological form of C. sifanica .

During a cooperation with Dr. N. Grishin, the senior author asked him to help in making a DNA analysis for the specimens of C. sifanica and C. aegidii collected from Xiahe. The analysis (Grishin, unpublished data) was based upon 8 specimens of C. sifanica from Xiahe and Kukunor, 4 specimens of C. aegidii (including the 3 ♂♂ figured in this work) and 3 specimens of C. nebulosa from Xiahe, Sichuan and Tibet, with C. lada and C. nina Fawcett, 1904 as out-group taxa. Three trees were got: the first was from the Z chromosome (male sex chromosome) genes, the second was on the genes from the rest of the nuclear genome and the third was from mitochondrial genome. There is no separation between C. sifanica and C. aegidii at all whilst there is clear separation between C. sifanica and C. nebulosa . The result of the DNA analysis will be published separately by Dr. Grishin in the near future.

Flight period. Late June to end of July.

Altitude. 2700–2900m in Qinghai ; 2900–3400m in Gansu .

Distributional notes. Form aegidii is recorded from Qinghai for the first time.

Figures

FIGURE 14. Habitus of Colias sifanica (with form aegidii) ♂♂ & ♀ at same scale (Upper half- upper side; lower half- under- side). Scale bar = 1 cm.

FIGURE 42. ♂ genitalia and 8th tergum (with superuncus) in lateral view at same scale. Scale bar = 1 mm.

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

FIGURE 45. ♂ 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 48. 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.

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).