Colias fieldii chinensis Verity, 1908

(Figs. 8, 42–43, 45–46, 48–49)

C. fieldii Men. var. chinensis Verity, 1908: pl. xlvi, figs. 22–25, pl. 3, figs. 21–24 (TL: Ta-tong-kiao, Yenchuan & Traku, Siaolou, Mo-sy-mien, all from Sichuan)

Material examined. CHINA: Qinghai: 22 ♂♂ & 14 ♀♀ (CSK) from Huangzhong ( Shuangzhai village; Lusha’er), Hualong (Chapu) and Dulan (Xiariha). More than 46 specimens (CHH) from various localities in Sichuan, Gansu, Yunnan and Tibet.

Flight period. End of May to early September in Qinghai .

Altitude. 2400–3700m in Qinghai .

Distributional notes. The distributional boundary between C. fieldii fieldii Menetries, 1855 and C. fieldii chinensis is not clearly defined in Tibet. Specimens from Nielamu, Yadong and Chentang are all small, belonging to C. fieldii fieldii . Specimens from Lhasa are usually as large as those from Sichuan or even larger. Specimens from Shannan Prefecture (Cuona, Cuomei) and Linzhi Prefecture (Sejila shan, Bayi, Pai, Bomi) are variable, with both large and small forms found. Such subspecific separation is meaningful only on account of the vast ranges of both subspecies in the west and the east, without a clear boundary in the middle.