taxonID	type	description	language	source
CC3487DF04519D37FF2C9C887918CAC0.taxon	description	https: // zoobank. org / urn: lsid: zoobank. org: act: D 73 F 5 DA 0 - 4 CAD- 43 DD- 9 EF 0 - 81740 DDED 5 B 5 Plates 1 (upperside) − 2 (underside): 5, 6, 7, 8, 17, 18.	en	Churkin, Sergei V., Yakovlev, Roman V. (2024): New data about Plebejus idas (Linnaeus, 1761) (Lepidoptera, Lycaenidae) from Mongolia with the descriptions of new subspecies. Ecologica Montenegrina 73: 116-124, DOI: 10.37828/em.2024.73.12, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.37828/em.2024.73.12
CC3487DF04519D37FF2C9C887918CAC0.taxon	materials_examined	Holotype: male, Mongolia, SW Mongolian Altai, Arshantyn Mts. (north-eastern slopes), Bayangol r., 22.06.2018, 1700 − 2000 m, S. Churkin. Paratypes: 17 males, 9 females, same data, S. Churkin & V. Pletnev leg.; 12 males, 1 female, same data, K. Kolesnichenko leg.; 2 males, (south-western slopes), Khudagt loc., 20.06.2018, 2300 − 2400 m, S. Churkin & V. Pletnev leg.; 3 males, same data, K. Kolesnichenko leg.; 18 males, 9 females, W. Mongolia, Hovd aimak, Bulgan-gol basin, Arshantyn-Nuruu Mts., Bayan-gol basin, middle stream of Ulyastain-Sala river, 1700 – 2300 m, 12.07.2007, E. V. Guskova & R. V. Yakovlev leg. Additional material: 2 males, 1 female, SW Mongolia, Dzhungarian Gobi, 45 km SW Bulgan-somon, Uvkhod-Ula Mt., 1200 m, 18 - 19.06.2004, R. Yakovlev & D. Ryzhkov leg.	en	Churkin, Sergei V., Yakovlev, Roman V. (2024): New data about Plebejus idas (Linnaeus, 1761) (Lepidoptera, Lycaenidae) from Mongolia with the descriptions of new subspecies. Ecologica Montenegrina 73: 116-124, DOI: 10.37828/em.2024.73.12, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.37828/em.2024.73.12
CC3487DF04519D37FF2C9C887918CAC0.taxon	description	Description Holotype FW length 13.5 mm, paratypes (males and females) 13 − 14 mm. Antennae, palpi, body coloration and hairs seem to have no taxonomically valuable characters. Male Wings on upperside violet-blue with developed narrow marginal black stripe (1 – 1.5 mm). Tips of veins darkened up to 2 – 3 mm from wing edge. FW sometimes with noticeable discal spot. HW often with developed black bordering spots. Wings relatively narrow, as in European specimens. Wing underside light-grey, contrasting with large (but not magnified) dark spots with barely noticeable white rings around. Underside of FW: postdiscal series of spots straight or slightly curved, submarginal series complete, orange segments thick, flattened, black segments well developed to outside as well as inside from orange spots. Underside of HW: bluish suffusion not dense, developed up to basal spots; discal stroke developed; postdiscal spots large, space outside this row white, contrasting, usually bright, shaped as postdiscal band. Submarginal pattern: orange segments of spots well developed, bright, saturated (but not fused into one band), metallic scales forming large bluish bright spots to outside from orange segments. Male genitalia: not identical to those of closest subspecies, but serious conclusions require a separate large-scale study. Female Wings completely dark-brown, FW without pattern, sometimes with only 1 – 2 poorly noticeable reddish spots, HW with ordinary submarginal pattern of yellow-orange arched spots with black spots outside. Almost no bluish suffusion on underside of HW. Wing underside characters like those of male, but orange spots better developed (often forming one band on FW!), as well as metallic « plates ». Variability. Little. In three males – wide marginal band (2.5 mm), in one – thin, smoky; it is correlates with general developing of the black pigment on the underside (Figs 1 − 2: 17, 18). Note that females with blue color have not yet been found – even bases of wings are brown, without blue coating. Butterflies from Uvkhod-Ula are somewhat smaller and darker (Figs 1 – 2: 18), we did not include them in the type series only because in such a complex group it is better to limit the type territory as much as possible.	en	Churkin, Sergei V., Yakovlev, Roman V. (2024): New data about Plebejus idas (Linnaeus, 1761) (Lepidoptera, Lycaenidae) from Mongolia with the descriptions of new subspecies. Ecologica Montenegrina 73: 116-124, DOI: 10.37828/em.2024.73.12, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.37828/em.2024.73.12
CC3487DF04519D37FF2C9C887918CAC0.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis The new subspecies differs from the subspecies ssp. munkhbayar and ssp. boreas by the completely violet upperside, from ssp. belchir – by the developed pattern of the underside. From the closest ssp. shadzgat it sharply differs by the series of characters: the light underside with a contrasting white postdiscal band; the developed submarginal pattern on the underside with bright metallic spots; the completely brown females with reduced orange pattern on FW upperside (and more developed on underside!). Additionally, the marginal band in males is narrowing, the postdiscal series on FW is poorly curved. In shadzgat, the underside is darkened, almost always with brown tint, the postdiscal zone is either completely dark, or with non-contrasting whitish triangular spots (in one paratype all this zone is lightened, but without brightness or contrast, other characters of this male similar to sailjugemicus), all the pattern on the underside is less developed (including the metallic spots and pale yellowish segments of the submarginal row); the females have big blue spots on the wings, cut by darkened veins, where the orange pattern of FW is more developed from upperside. Additionally, the postdiscal series on the underside of FW is usually either heavily curved, or bent towards the wing base. Thus, the smallest and palest specimens of the new subspecies are slightly similar to the brightest shadzgat, but only in the general coloring of the underside, the metallic « plates » remain poorly developed (besides, the big bright shadzgat have the developed black coloring of the wings upperside).	en	Churkin, Sergei V., Yakovlev, Roman V. (2024): New data about Plebejus idas (Linnaeus, 1761) (Lepidoptera, Lycaenidae) from Mongolia with the descriptions of new subspecies. Ecologica Montenegrina 73: 116-124, DOI: 10.37828/em.2024.73.12, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.37828/em.2024.73.12
CC3487DF04519D37FF2C9C887918CAC0.taxon	distribution	Distribution. Almost certainly endemic to the Arshantyn-Nuruu Mountains, which are a separate (though very small in area) zookhoron (Yakovlev 2012). The distance between the type localities arshantyn and shadzgat is only 50 km, they are located in the basin of one river (Bulgan-Gola), but the difference in color is sharply expressed. Moreover, the type series of shadzgat has a certain variability, part of the specimens externally resemble munkhbayar in the underside, the others − sailjugemicus, which is indicated in the original description – but the series of the new taxon is rather monotonous, though collected from different sides of the range. Bionomics. Mountain meadows. Infrequently. Unfortunately, the food plant could not be identified.	en	Churkin, Sergei V., Yakovlev, Roman V. (2024): New data about Plebejus idas (Linnaeus, 1761) (Lepidoptera, Lycaenidae) from Mongolia with the descriptions of new subspecies. Ecologica Montenegrina 73: 116-124, DOI: 10.37828/em.2024.73.12, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.37828/em.2024.73.12
CC3487DF04519D37FF2C9C887918CAC0.taxon	etymology	Etymology. Toponymic name.	en	Churkin, Sergei V., Yakovlev, Roman V. (2024): New data about Plebejus idas (Linnaeus, 1761) (Lepidoptera, Lycaenidae) from Mongolia with the descriptions of new subspecies. Ecologica Montenegrina 73: 116-124, DOI: 10.37828/em.2024.73.12, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.37828/em.2024.73.12
CC3487DF04559D3AFF2C99697FB4CFA0.taxon	description	https: // zoobank. org / urn: lsid: zoobank. org: act: 3 F 5 EEBA 9 - EE 64 - 4 D 2 B-AA 9 B- 22 C 4 B 03 C 7 CEA Plates 1 (upperside) − 2 (underside): 1, 2, 3, 4.	en	Churkin, Sergei V., Yakovlev, Roman V. (2024): New data about Plebejus idas (Linnaeus, 1761) (Lepidoptera, Lycaenidae) from Mongolia with the descriptions of new subspecies. Ecologica Montenegrina 73: 116-124, DOI: 10.37828/em.2024.73.12, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.37828/em.2024.73.12
CC3487DF04559D3AFF2C99697FB4CFA0.taxon	materials_examined	Holotype: male, SW Mongolia, Khovd aimak, Baitag Mts., Buduun Khargaityn r., 2000 – 2500 m, 1 – 2.07.2018, S. Churkin leg. Paratypes: 11 males, 7 females, same data, S. Churkin leg.; 8 males, 2 females, same data, K. Kolesnichenko leg.; 2 males, 5 females, SW Mongolia, Khovd aimak, Baitag Mts., Buduun Khargaityn r., 2600 - 2700 m, 2 – 3.07.2018, S. Churkin leg.	en	Churkin, Sergei V., Yakovlev, Roman V. (2024): New data about Plebejus idas (Linnaeus, 1761) (Lepidoptera, Lycaenidae) from Mongolia with the descriptions of new subspecies. Ecologica Montenegrina 73: 116-124, DOI: 10.37828/em.2024.73.12, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.37828/em.2024.73.12
CC3487DF04559D3AFF2C99697FB4CFA0.taxon	description	Description Holotype FW length 13.5 mm, male paratypes 12.5 − 14 mm, female paratypes 13 – 14.5 mm. Antennae, palpi, body coloration and hairs seem to have no taxonomically valuable characters. Male Wings violet-blue on upperside with narrow marginal black stripe (usually smaller than 1 mm). Tips of veins darkened up to 2 − 3 mm from wing edge. HW often with developed black marginal spots. Wings relatively narrow, as in European subspecies. Underside grey, darkened, black pattern similar to that of previous subspecies. Underside of FW: postdiscal series of spots straight or slightly curved, submarginal series complete, spots developed, but not fused into one band. Underside of HW: bluish suffusion not dense, developed up to basal spots; discal stroke developed; postdiscal spots large, space outside from this row lightened, but, as a rule, not contrasting and having a form of whitish zone or with whitish stretched triangular spots. Submarginal pattern: orange segments of spots usually narrow, though bright; metallic “ plates ” more developed than in previous subspecies. Male genitalia: not identical to those of closest subspecies, but serious conclusions require a separate large-scale study. Female Wings on upperside with large bright violet spots, occupying basal third on FW and almost all area of HW, except for costal margin; spots clear, because not split into separate parts by veins. FW pattern with submarginal stripe of blurred but clearly noticeable orange spots. HW with developed submarginal pattern of orange arched spots with black triangles from outside. Characters of wing underside – as those of male, but submarginal pattern better developed. Almost no bluish suffusion on HW underside. Variability. Little, but noticeable. Part of males with slightly extended marginal band (up to 1.5 mm), no specimens with more extended marginal band, as well as with small spots on underside. Three females without red pattern on FW upperside, one – without that on HW too, wherein the violet pattern well developed, and marginal black spots magnified. One more female with hardly developed violet pattern – so that only root of FW and basal portion of HW are coated with blue; pattern on underside normally developed.	en	Churkin, Sergei V., Yakovlev, Roman V. (2024): New data about Plebejus idas (Linnaeus, 1761) (Lepidoptera, Lycaenidae) from Mongolia with the descriptions of new subspecies. Ecologica Montenegrina 73: 116-124, DOI: 10.37828/em.2024.73.12, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.37828/em.2024.73.12
CC3487DF04559D3AFF2C99697FB4CFA0.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis The new subspecies differs from ssp. munkhbayar and ssp. boreas by the completely violet upperside, from ssp. belchir – by the developed pattern of the underside. Obviously close to the previous subspecies because of the developed submarginal pattern on the underside and in the large metallic « plates » (in which the both taxa differ from the neighboring ssp. shadzgat). Nevertheless, the females are violet but not brown – moreover, the violet portions are almost not split into parts by veins (unlike in shadzgat), the orange pattern is usually developed on FW too, the underside (in males) without contrasting white postdiscal zone; orange spots, as a rule, are less developed. The outer black segments of submarginal spots on HW underside are more developed than the inner segments – it is clearly noticeable in females and only statistically expressed in males. One male at our disposal is almost identical to the male of ssp. arshantyn, except for the slightly more narrow band and darker underside. Considering the complete isolation of the habitat, the description of the subspecies seems necessary.	en	Churkin, Sergei V., Yakovlev, Roman V. (2024): New data about Plebejus idas (Linnaeus, 1761) (Lepidoptera, Lycaenidae) from Mongolia with the descriptions of new subspecies. Ecologica Montenegrina 73: 116-124, DOI: 10.37828/em.2024.73.12, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.37828/em.2024.73.12
CC3487DF04559D3AFF2C99697FB4CFA0.taxon	distribution	Distribution. Baitag Range, inside the Dzungarian Gobi. We have a series collected in Ikh-Khavtag-Nuruu Range, the status of this population need in further investigations. The butterflies have another set of characters partially resembling ssp. shadzgat and can represent a separate subspecies, given the range isolation. Bionomics. Mountain meadows at various altitudes, not common. Food plant unknown.	en	Churkin, Sergei V., Yakovlev, Roman V. (2024): New data about Plebejus idas (Linnaeus, 1761) (Lepidoptera, Lycaenidae) from Mongolia with the descriptions of new subspecies. Ecologica Montenegrina 73: 116-124, DOI: 10.37828/em.2024.73.12, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.37828/em.2024.73.12
CC3487DF04559D3AFF2C99697FB4CFA0.taxon	etymology	Etymology. Toponymic name.	en	Churkin, Sergei V., Yakovlev, Roman V. (2024): New data about Plebejus idas (Linnaeus, 1761) (Lepidoptera, Lycaenidae) from Mongolia with the descriptions of new subspecies. Ecologica Montenegrina 73: 116-124, DOI: 10.37828/em.2024.73.12, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.37828/em.2024.73.12
CC3487DF04559D3AFF2C99697FB4CFA0.taxon	discussion	Discussion Here are the distances between different collection points: betrween Arshantyn Nuruu and Shadzgat Nuruu – about 50 km, between Arshantyn Nuruu and Baitag Nuruu – 130 km, but through the desert; where Uvkhod-Ula Mt. is located exactly half-way. The Baitag Mts. and Ikh-Khavtag Nuruu are separated by about 15 km of desert, but in general, the territory absolutely unsuitable for habitat of idas is not less than 50 km (approximately equal to the distance between Uvkhod-Ula and Baitag). These data directly indicate that the Mongolian Altai and the adjacent mountains have a very fractional zoogeographic division, Therefore, the discovery of new taxa of the idas complex, which is prone to the formation of local forms, is not surprising. Note that even now the structure of the relationships between various taxa and their relationships / statuses is unclear: presence of belchir with a completely erased underside pattern inside the system, between the areas of munkhbayar and sailjugemicus, suggests the species status of the former taxon. But the characters of shadzgat demonstrate a certain genetic exchange with sailjugemicus, while the relationship of shadzgat and munkhbayar seems doubtless. Sharp differences between shadzgat and arshantyn (as well as the latter's similarity to the south Altai idas, which are considered as a variant of sailjugemicus – pl. 1 - 2: 16) confirms the complexity of the situation and the existing system of zoogeographical division of Mongolia (Yakovlev 2012). As already indicated, new taxa of the complex can still be discovered - both in the northern half of the huge Mongolian Altai, and on the isolated ridges in the Gobi. Two points should be emphasized separately. 1. The first is about the taxon saldaitisi Churkin et Zhdanko, 2003, described on a very small series from lake Terekhol in south Tuva on its border with Mongolia. In June 2022, the expedition of V. Tuzov, K. Kolesnichenko and S. Churkin was working in south Tuva, including at Terekhol lake. Unfortunately, the butterflies were not caught, probably due to the phenological time shift. Nevertheless, the first two specimens belonging to the complex were collected near Erzin village, close to the lake. Both are not similar to saldaitisi and in their characters look intermediate between the Central Tuvinian variant ongudai Tutt, 1909 and the Daurian subsolanus Staudinger, 1892. Butterflies similar to subsolanus were also collected by O. Kosterin in the valley of the river Tes-Khem (Kosterin 2009). It would be logical to assume that saldaitisi was described from the extreme northern end of its range, which in reality occupies desert and semi-desert areas in the Great Lakes Basin in northwestern Mongolia. However, we have a series collected by the first author in 2004 on the dry banks of the river Bogdyn-gol in Mongolia, consisting of small butterflies similar to subsolanus, by their upperside color resembling saldaitisi (the wings upperside completely darkened, but the color is not dense), but sharply different from the latter in the underside color (grey in the Mongolian butterflies, and light, similar to Plebejus chalcha Korshunov, 1982, in saldaitisi). A similar series was collected in the same region by Mongolian entomologists. The status of these series is unclear. But it is difficult to unite them with saldaitisi (as the genital examination was not undertaken in this case). 2. Despite the possibility of identifying separate species within the Siberian and Mongolian idas, the basic structure of the group in Siberia is invariably confirmed – there is undoubtedly a hybridization in appearance (and in terms of genital characteristics) of various taxa of the complex. Figures 1 and 2 show two specimens collected in Ikh-Bogdyn Mts. in the Gobi Altai system – the first (1 - 2: 19) is small and clarified, related to the darkened version of munkhbayar, the second (1 - 2: 20) is twice bigger and represents the type form of boreas, described from the east of the Gobi Altai system, Gurvan-Saikhan Mts. The collected series cannot be divided into two types in any logical way; according to the sum of its characteristics, it is included in the composition of boreas, but represents an example of hybridization - most likely positive, since within the range of munkhbayar in the south of the Mongolian Altai there is a long clear cline of the wing upperside lightening from the east (from the contact zone with boreas) to the west. Acknowledgments Many thanks to V. Tuzov, K. Kolesnichenko (Moscow) and T. Odbayar (Ulan-Bator) for the materials, advices and help during the work. We are grateful to Anna Ustjuzhanina (Tomsk, Russia) for language improvements.	en	Churkin, Sergei V., Yakovlev, Roman V. (2024): New data about Plebejus idas (Linnaeus, 1761) (Lepidoptera, Lycaenidae) from Mongolia with the descriptions of new subspecies. Ecologica Montenegrina 73: 116-124, DOI: 10.37828/em.2024.73.12, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.37828/em.2024.73.12
