Zygaena (Agrumenia) exulans exulans (Hohenwarth, 1792)

Efetov, Konstantin A., Hofmann, Axel, Tarmann, Gerhard M. & Tremewan, Walter Gerald, 2014, Taxonomic comments on the treatment of the Zygaenidae (Lepidoptera) in volume 3 of Moths of Europe, Zygaenids, Pyralids 1 and Brachodids (2012), Nota Lepidopterologica 37 (2), pp. 123-133 : 126

Taxon classification Animalia Lepidoptera Zygaenidae

Zygaena (Agrumenia) exulans exulans (Hohenwarth, 1792)

Sphinx exulans Hohenwarth, 1792, in Reiner & Hohenwarth, Botanische Reisen nach einigen Oberkärntnerischen und benachbarten Alpen...: 265, pl. 6, fig. 2. Type-locality. Austria: Kärnten, Gross-Glockner, Pasterzen Kees ('an den äussersten Alpengipfeln des Eisgebirges am Glockner, auf der sogenannten Pasterze’).

Zygaena exulans altaretensis Le Charles, 1942, Bulletin de la Société Entomologique de France 47: 178, pl. 1, figs A–C ( Zygaena ). Type-locality. France: Hautes-Alpes, Col du Lautaret, 1,800-2,200 m. [Paratype 1 ♂ examined.] Syn. rev.

Zygaena exulans bourgognei Le Charles, 1942, Bulletin de la Société Entomologique de France 47: 180 ( Zygaena ). Type-locality. France: Alpes-Maritimes, Haute Vésubie, Vallon de la Madonna de Finestre (Madone de Fénestre). Syn. rev.

Distribution and taxonomic notes.

The nominotypical Zygaena exulans exulans is widely distributed throughout the European Alps. While it is acknowledged that variation does occur among some of the populations occurring in this mountain system, we see no justification for recognising any as valid nominal subspecies. When compiling the systematic catalogue ( Hofmann and Tremewan 1996) it was decided that the most rational approach to subspecies in Zygaena exulans was to recognise only one subspecies in each major mountain range. Leraut (2012: 120) reinstated Zygaena exulans altaretensis and Zygaena exulans bourgognei as valid subspecies without providing justification; both are here formally placed as synonyms (syn. rev.) of the nominotypical Zygaena exulans exulans .