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Type: Correspondence
Published: 2019-05-10
Page range: 592–596
Abstract views: 58
PDF downloaded: 2

A revisit to the Melitaea taxon nigrogygia Verity, 1939 (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) and designation of a Lectotype

Oakmeadow, Wessex Avenue, East Wittering, West Sussex PO20 8NP, U.K.
Natural History Museum, Zoological Section ‘La Specola’, University of Florence, via Romana 17, 50125, Florence, Italy.
ornata phoebe Istria Croatia Koper Slovenia Lepidoptera

Abstract

The two syntypes of Melitaea phoebe nigrogygia Verity, 1939 present in the Florence University Natural History Museum are examined from high quality photographs of both sides. It is concluded that there is a high probability that they represent two different species: M. phoebe ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775) and M. ornata Christoph, 1898. Alternatively one or both could be hybrids between the two species; hybrids have been encountered nearby in Slovenia. In order to solve the nomenclatural problem, a Lectotype has been chosen, which fixes the name nigrogygia Verity, 1939 to be associated with Melitaea ornata.

References

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    Denis, J.N.C.M. & Schiffermüller, I. (1775) Ankündung eines systematischen Werkes von den Schmetterlingen der Wienergegend. Verlag Augustin Bernardi, Wien, 322 pp.

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    https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4438.3.5

    Russell, P. & Pateman, J. (2013a) To which Melitaea species does nigrogygia Verity, 1938 belong? Observations on a Croatian population of Melitaea phoebe ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775), with rearing results and comments on f. occitanica Staudinger, 1871 (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae). Entomologist’s Gazette, 64, 43–51.

    Russell, P. & Pateman, J. (2013b) To which Melitaea species does nigrogygia Verity, 1938 belong? Observations on a Croatian population of Melitaea phoebe ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775), with rearing results and comments on f. occitanica Staudinger, 1871 (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae)—corrigendum. Entomologist’s Gazette, 64, 84.

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    https://doi.org/10.3897/nl.39.5929

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    Verity R. (1950–1951) Le farfalle diurne d’Italia 4: Divisione Papilionida, Sezione Libytheina, Danaina e Nymphalina: Famiglie Apaturidae e Nymphalidae. Marzocco S.A., Firenze, xxv & 380 pp. [colour pls. 38–53, monochrome pls. 54, XV–XX (1951)]