Melitaea ornata, Christoph, 1893

Russell, P. J. C., Bartolozzi, L., Hawkins, R. L., Tennent, W. J. & Léger, T., 2020, Designation of lectotypes for some Spanish and other western European Melitaea taxa, some with mixed syntypic series of M. phoebe ([Denis & amp; Schiffermüller], 1775) and M. ornata Christoph, 1893 (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae), SHILAP Revista de lepidopterología 48 (191), pp. 449-472 : 450-451

Separation of M. ornata from M. phoebe based on adult morphology

The identification of these two species from museum material can be problematic, as full-proof identification ideally requires an examination of the late instar larvae ( RUSSELL et al., 2007: 159 [figures]). However, forewing shape, detailed pattern of the submarginal markings of the ventral wing surfaces and the shape of the tips of the antenna usually provide a good indication (cf TÓTH & VARGA, 2011: appendix) particularly when there are several syntypes available from the same population. Details of the habitat where they were captured are also of value. M. phoebe prefers relatively moist mesophilous conditions, whereas M. ornata is usually found in hot dry biotopes ( RUSSELL et al., 2007). Figures 1-4 illustrate the undersides of specimens from two sympatric and partially synchronic populations of M. phoebe and M. ornata from North Macedonia and Italy demonstrate the following differences: forewing apices of males tend to be acute in M. phoebe but more rounded in M. ornata (females of both species tend to be rounded); the black submarginal markings on the undersides of the wings tend to be linear arches touching the intervening veins in M. phoebe but more triangular in shape and not meeting these veins in M. ornata ; tips of the antennae are club-shaped and more pointed in M. phoebe but foreshortened and spatulate in M. ornata .

Designations of lectotypes, in chronological order

Melitaea phoebe v. occitanica Staudinger, 1871 ;

the Type Locality (TL) is disputed: originally Staudinger gave “It.” (= Italy) but this was an error (recte “Iberia”, HIGGINS, 1941: 336). The syntypic series present in the Zoologisches Museum der Humboldt Universität, Museum für Naturkunde, Berlin comprises 11 specimens (5 11 and 6 00) from three different localities. All specimens have the label “Origin” on their pins but Staudinger did not specify a holotype. The syntypes are from three widely spread Spanish collecting locations: “Barcelona” (3 11 and 3 00), “Granada” (1 1 and 2 00) and “San Ildefonso”, Segovia (1 1 and 1 0). This has resulted in two different authors suggesting limiting the Type Locality to two different locations: firstly, FRUHSTORFER (1916: 82 (A) (2):1) suggested it should be “Andalusia” and this was accepted by HIGGINS (1941: 336); secondly, VERITY (1928: 163) suggested “Barcelona” and this was accepted by VAN OORSCHOT & COUTSIS (2014: 60), who figured a specimen from Barcelona. The issue arises that the specimens from Barcelona are M. phoebe but those from Granada are M. ornata , and the female from San Ildefonso (specimen c2e3b8) is M. ornata , with foreshortened antenna and submarginal markings not touching the intervening veins, whilst the identity of the San Ildefonso male is questionable with specific characteristics not well defined. However, the locality at an altitude of c. 1200 m in the Sierra de Guadarrama , where it is hot and dry in the summer, is indicative of univoltine M. ornata .

The name occitanica has been in common use by lepidopterists for almost 150 years to represent the form of M. phoebe found in the Iberian Peninsula. Thus, in order to preserve this stability, a male specimen of M. phoebe from Barcelona is here designated as lectotype for M. phoebe v. occitanica Staudinger, 1871 ( Figs 5a, b) and labelled accordingly ( Fig. 5c). The labels on the pin of the lectotype are as follows: on pink paper with black surround “Origin”; on white paper handwritten in black “Barcelona”; on white paper printed in black “ex coll.” and handwritten in black “3/11”/ printed “Staudinger”; on white paper printed in black: “http://coll.mfn-/berlin.de/u/ /c2e41c”; on purple-bordered white circle printed: “LECTO-/ TYPE”; on white paper printed in black: “LECTOTYPE/ Melitaea phoebe v. occitanica / Staudinger, 1871 / designated by Peter Russell, 2019 ”.

Remaining syntypes from Barcelona are hereby designated as paralectotypes and have had the following labels added to their pins: on circular pale blue-bordered white paper printed in black: “PARA-/ LECTO-/ TYPE”; on white paper printed in black: “PARALECTOTYPE/ Melitaea phoebe v. occitanica / Staudinger, 1871 / designated by Peter Russell, 2019 ”.

We hereby limit the Type Locality for M. phoebe v. occitanica to “Barcelona”, Spain.

In order to demonstrate the different specific identifications we also here figure a male syntype from Granada ( Figs 6a, b) and a female from San Ildefonso ( Figs 7a, b), which clearly show the characteristic morphology of M. ornata . The three syntypes from Granada and the two from San Ildefonso are here designated as paralectotypes and have had the following labels added to their pins: pale blue-bordered on circular white paper printed in black: “PARA-/ LECTO-/ TYPE”; on white paper printed in black: “PARALECTOTYPE/ Melitaea phoebe v. occitanica / Staudinger, 1871 / designated by Peter Russell, 2019 / (“misident. Recte:/ Melitaea ornata Christoph, 1893 ”) ( Fig. 6c, 7c).