Melitaea phoebe subsp. changaica, Seitz, 1909

Russell, Peter J. C., Lukhtanov, Vladimir A. & Tennent, W. John, 2022, Reassessment of the status of some European and Asian Melitaea taxa described as subspecies of Melitaea phoebe ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775), with designations of lectotypes where appropriate (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae), Zootaxa 5141 (1), pp. 25-38 : 30

M. phoebe changaica Seitz, 1909

[TL: Mongolia, Changai (Khangai or Hangayn) Mountains] uppersides of a male and female were figured by Seitz (plate 65, figs h 4 & 5).However, www.funet.fi (accessed 26.10.2020) provides a photograph (© Kosterin) of undersides of a male and female of this this subspecies in copula from Chikhalan, Chita Province, S. Transbaikalia, Siberia, Russian Federation (12 July 1996); from the photograph the characteristics typical of M. phoebe can be observed, in particular the black submarginal markings clearly touch the intervening veins on both wings of the two specimens. Also figured (© Kosterin) is a post-diapause larvae, also from the Chita region in Siberia (19 June 1995), with a black head carapace typical of M. phoebe . A specimen from Changai in the Staudinger collection ( Fig. 12 ) clearly shows the club-shaped antennae and submarginal markings on the underside typical of M. phoebe . This taxon is therefore considered to be a subspecies of M. phoebe , agreeing with van Oorschot & Coutsis (2014: 60) and Russell & Tennent (2016: 45, note 24).

Figures

FIGURE 12. Melitaea phoebe changaica Seitz, 1909, male underside. © T. Léger.