Taxonomic notes on the genus Satyrium Scudder, 1876 (Lepidoptera, Lycaenidae) of Afghanistan with description of two new taxa.

А new species and a new subspecies of Satyrium Scudder, 1876 (subfamily Theclinae, tribe Eumaeini) from the subgenera Superflua Strand, 1910 and Armenia Dubatolov & Korshunov, 1984 respectively are described from Bamyan Province, Central Afghanistan-S. (S.) skrylniki sp. n. and S. (A.) hyrcanica bamiana ssp. n. The new species of Superflua belongs to the Iranian complex of species. It inhabits the territory of Afghanistan, being isolated from two other species of the subgenus known from the territory in question. The new subspecies of Armenia is also found in isolation both from the nominate subspecies and two Middle and Central Asian subspecies. Both findings clarify some aspects of zoogeography of the Central Afghanistan mountains.

A new species of the Callophrys mystaphia Miller, 1913--group from Iran (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae: Eumaeini).

A new species, recently misinterpreted as Callophrys mystaphia Miller, 1913, Callophrys mystaphioides Krupitsky & Kolesnichenko sp. n., is described from Central Iran (Esfahan Province). The new species differs from C. mystaphia in the combination of external characters and morphology of genitalia. Possible relations of C. mystaphia--species group with other Palaearctic Callophrys are discussed.

Phylogeography of Two Enigmatic Sulphur Butterflies, Colias mongola Alphéraky, 1897 and Colias tamerlana Staudinger, 1897 (Lepidoptera, Pieridae), with Relations to Wolbachia Infection.

The genus Colias Fabricius, 1807 includes numerous taxa and forms with uncertain status and taxonomic position. Among such taxa are Colias mongola Alphéraky, 1897 and Colias tamerlana Staudinger, 1897, interpreted in the literature either as conspecific forms, as subspecies of different but morphologically somewhat similar Colias species or as distinct species-level taxa. Based on mitochondrial and nuclear DNA markers, we reconstructed a phylogeographic pattern of the taxa in question. We recover and include in our analysis DNA barcodes of the century-old type specimens, the lectotype of C. tamerlana deposited in the Natural History Museum (Museum für Naturkunde), Berlin, Germany (ZMHU) and the paralectotype of C. tamerlana and the lectotype of C. mongola deposited in the Zoological Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg, Russia (ZISP). Our analysis grouped all specimens within four (HP_I-HP_IV) deeply divergent but geographically poorly structured clades which did not support nonconspecifity of C. mongola-C. tamerlana. We also show that all studied females of the widely distributed haplogroup HP_II were infected with a single Wolbachia strain belonging to the supergroup B, while the males of this haplogroup, as well as all other investigated specimens of both sexes, were not infected. Our data highlight the relevance of large-scale sampling dataset analysis and the need for testing for Wolbachia infection to avoid erroneous phylogenetic reconstructions and species misidentification.

Taxonomy of the Neolycaena (Rhymnaria) davidi (Oberthür, 1881) species group, with the description of two new taxa from Russia and China (Lepidoptera, Lycaenidae).

Poorly known taxa of the Neolycaena (Rhymnaria) davidi (Oberthür, 1881) species group are reviewed in the light of modern findings. The taxon kozlovi Zhdanko, 1996 previously considered a subspecies of N. (R.) davidi is recognised here as a separate species, N. (R.) kozlovi Zhdanko, 1996, stat. rev., including the subspecies N. (R.) kozlovi namkhaidorji Churkin, 2004, comb. nov., based on morphological differences, the geographic isolation and ecological specialisation. A new species, N. (R.) markhasiovi sp. n., is described from Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region in China (Eastern Tian Shan, the Karlik Mountains) on the basis of distinct genitalia morphology and features of the external morphology, including colouration of the female abdomen. Populations of the subgenus Rhymnaria from southern Tuva in Russia (the Tannu-Ola Mountains) are described as a separate subspecies, N. (R.) davidi tannuola ssp. n. A checklist of the taxa of the N. (R.) davidi species group including data on their distribution and host plants is presented, as well as a key to the species of the group.

Identification of Natural Hybrids between Ahlbergia frivaldszkyi (Lederer, 1853) and Callophrys rubi (Linnaeus, 1758) (Lepidoptera, Lycaenidae) Using Mitochondrial and Nuclear Markers.

Natural hybridization is rather widespread and common in animals and can have important evolutionary consequences. In terms of taxonomy, exploring hybridization and introgression is crucial in defining species boundaries and testing taxonomic hypotheses. In the present paper, we report on natural hybrid specimens between Ahlbergia frivaldszkyi (Lederer, 1853) and Callophrys rubi (Linnaeus, 1758). To test the hypothesis of their hybrid origin, we employed the molecular mitochondrial (COI gene) and nuclear (wingless, RPS5, and Ca-ATPase genes) markers commonly used in phylogenetic studies and explored the morphology of the specimens. Our analysis revealed that hybrids bear mitochondrial haplotypes of C. rubi, while nuclear fragments are heterozygous, sharing a combination of A. frivaldszkyi and C. rubi lineages. The hybrid specimens combine morphological characters of both genera. Our results for the first time empirically demonstrate the possibility of genetic introgression between these species and between the genera Callophrys and Ahlbergia on the whole.

A new species of Deuveia Minet, 2002 (Lepidoptera, Epicopeiidae) from China.

A new epicopeiid species, Deuveia panda sp. n., is described from northeastern Sichuan, China. The new species differs from the sole congeneric species, D. banghaasi (Hering, 1936), in the remarkable black and white colouration pattern of the wings, the shape of the wings and the shape of the valva, juxta and aedeagus. The new species is geographically isolated from all known localities of D. banghaasi by highlands of the Min Mountains.

A new "elfin" butterfly species of Cissatsuma Johnson, 1992 (Lepidoptera, Lycaenidae) from northwestern Sichuan, China.

A new species of elfin blue, Cissatsuma berezowskii Krupitsky sp.n., is described from the northwestern Sichuan Province, China, based on two old museum specimens, a male and a female. The new species differs from the most closely related one, C. albilinea (Riley, 1932), in lack of white band of ventral wing surfaces, broadened blue area of dorsal wing surfaces in female, and morphology of the male and female genitalia. The distribution map of the new species and C. albilinea is provided.

Description of the female of Poecilocampa deqina Saldaitis Pekarsky, 2015 (Lepidoptera, Lasiocampidae), with notes on the biology of the species.

The female of lappet moth species Poecilocampa deqina Saldaitis Pekarsky, 2015 recently described from northwestern Yunnan Province, China based on male specimens is reported for the first time. The female, pupa and pupal case of P. deqina are described and illustrated here for the first time. External morphology of the female as well as characters of pupa are discussed and compared with close species. Data on biology of P. deqina is provided.

Systematics of the Satyrium (Superflua) deria (Moore, 1865) species group with description of a new species from Afghanistan (Lepidoptera, Lycaenidae).

Satyrium (Superflua) deria (Moore, 1865) species group is revised. The group contains four species: S. (S.) deria (northern Himalayan region and southwestern Pamirs), S. (S.) muksuria Churkin Pletnev, 2010 (southwestern Alay Mountains and Peter the Great Range), S. (S.) zabirovi Churkin Pletnev, 2010 (from northwestern Pamirs to Darvaz Range), and S. (S.) hazarajatica sp. n. (type locality: central Afghanistan, Bamyan Province, Band-e Amir valley, env. Yakawlang). The new species differs from the other members of the group in the male and female genitalia, wing pattern, and colouration. Female genitalia of the S. (S.) deria, S. (S.) muksuria and S. (S.) zabirovi are illustrated and discussed for the first time. S. (S.) muksuria is newly recorded from the Alay Mountains. A key to species of the S. (S.) deria group is provided.

Taxonomic status of Chrysophanus phoenicurus transcaucasicus Miller, 1923 (Lepidoptera, Lycaenidae), with the designation of a neotype.

The taxonomic status is clarified for the lycaenine taxon Chrysophanus phoenicurus transcaucasicus Miller, 1923 described from one male collected in eastern Turkey and currently treated within the genus Athamanthia Zhdanko, 1983. Based on the appearance and morphology of the male genitalia compared with A. phoenicurus (Lederer, 1870), it is recognized here as a separate species, A. transcaucasica (Miller, 1923), stat. nov. (= Lycaena melicertes Nekrutenko, 1985). Its holotype is lost, and a neotype is designated herein from recent material collected near the type locality to retain nomenclatural stability. A key to the species of the A. phoenicurus group based on wings pattern and male genitalia is presented.

A new species of Bembecia from China, with a catalogue of Chinese species of the genus (Lepidoptera: Sesiidae).

A new species, Bembecia altyntaghica sp. nov. from the Altyn-Tagh Mts., Gansu, West China, is described and illustrated. The data on its biotope and host plant are presented and illustrated as well. An annotated catalogue of the Chinese members of the genus Bembecia is added to this paper. The catalogue contains the following information: the references to the original descriptions, information on name-bearing types, complete bibliographies of the presented taxa, data on host plants and distribution. Here below the Oriental species Bembecia fortis Diakonoff, 1967 is transferred to the genus Oligophlebia Hampson, 1893 comb. nov. (Sesiidae: Paraglosseciini).

Systematic position of two Athamanthia Zhdanko, 1983 (Lepidoptera, Lycaenidae) taxa from the Iranian Plateau.

In the present paper we refine the systematic position of an unclear lycaenine taxon povolnyi Howarth & Povolny, 1976 previously known only from the holotype male. Based on the appearance and morphology of the male genitalia we recognize it as a subspecies of Athamanthia balucha (Howarth & Povolny 1976)-A. b. povolnyi (Howarth & Povolny, 1976), comb. nov. Morphology of the subspecies is redescribed, female is described and illustrated for the first time, and distribution data are added taking into consideration recent findings in Bamyan province of Afghanistan. Taxon athamantides Eckweiler & ten Hagen, 2001 from Central and Southeast Iran is also treated as a subspecies of A. balucha-A. b. athamantides (Eckweiler & ten Hagen, 2001), comb. nov.-based on the similarity of the male genitalia and the wing pattern with A. balucha.

A new species of the Callophrys paulae Pfeiffer, 1932 species group from Afghanistan (Lepidoptera, Lycaenidae).

A new species from the Callophrys paulae Pfeiffer, 1932 species group--C. succuba sp. n.--is described from the mountains of Central Afghanistan, Bamyan Province. The new species differs from the geographically close C. p. jomuda Nekrutenko & Tshikolovets in morphology of the male and female genitalia along with the distinct wavy shape of the postdiscal white line on the hindwing underside. Discovery of the new species from C. paulae species group extends known distribution range of the group to the eastern part of the Iranian Plateau in Central Afghanistan.