Parnassius arcticus shavlovi Yakovlev & Bakhaev, 2023

Yakovlev, Roman V. & Bakhaev, Yuri I., 2023, A new subspecies of Arctic Apollo - Parnassius arcticus (Eisner, 1968) (Lepidoptera, Papilionidae) from the Arga-Tas Range (North-Eastern Yakutia), Ecologica Montenegrina 63, pp. 1-14 : 4-13

Parnassius arcticus shavlovi Yakovlev & Bakhaev , subsp. n.

http://zoobank.org/ urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:4268E6A7-6D90-4958-B165-A9D59DCEBB6B

Figs 9−19

Material examined. Holotype, male, Russia, North-Eastern Yakutia, Verkhnekolymsky District, Arga-Tas Range , uppers of Tuora-Bygyttakh river , H− 1100−1300 m, 20−28.vi. 2022, leg. Y. Bakhaev (Zoological Institute, Saint-Petersburg, Russia).

Paratypes. 76 males, 19 females, the same locality and data (Zoological Institute, Saint-Petersburg, Russia; private collection of Roman V. Yakovlev, Barnaul and Yuri I. Bakhaev, Lipetsk) .

Description. Male. Wingspan of holotype 43 mm, paratypes – 34−46 mm. Antennae coal-black, shorter than half of fore wing in length. Head, thorax and abdomen covered with coal-black scales. Fore wing white from above, with dense sputtering of black scales basally, black scales sputtering also along costal margin from root to apex of wing, clearly expressed black stroke in centre of discal cell, black cuneal or round spot at top of discal cell, series of two-three (partially fused) black strokes between radial veins postdiscally, series of two-four small black strokes between radial cells postdiscally (closer to outer margin of wing), outer margin of wing (from apex to Cu 1) semi-transparent, with sputtering of black scales, fringe white. Fore wing from underside with completely the same pattern as on wing from upside. Hind wing from upside white, with vast black portion, occupying area from anal margin and wing base to middle of discal area and portion along Cu 2 vein, postdiscal area in cell Sc+R− Rs and cell M 1 −M 2 with tiny dark spots translucent from underside; in some males, black spot on wing upside only in cell Sc+R− Rs, very thin rim along wing margin from Rs to М 2 (rarely, M 3) (in almost half of specimens, rim torn into separate strokes), fringe white. Hind wing from underside with more contract pattern than from upside: postdiscally in cell Sc+R− Rs and cell M 1 −M 2 well developed small black spots (often developed in cells M 3 −Cu 1, Cu 1 −Cu 2 and Cu 2 −2A as well); in most specimens, tiny black spots developed submarginally in cells between medial and cubital veins, small black spots between medial veins along wing margin.

Male genitalia ( Fig. 17 ) is similar to the nominotypical P. arcticus . Uncus forked, short, with uncinate apices diverged to sides; valve cup-like, with even edges, apically semicircular; conical harpe on inner surface of valve, slightly protruding beyond the apex of valve; juxta oval, with pair of flask-shaped processes directed dorsally; saccus robust, conical; phallus thin, slightly curved along all length, apically needle-like, 1/3 longer than valve.

Female. Wingspan 35−46 mm. Antennae coal-black, shorter than half of fore wing in length. Head, thorax and abdomen covered with coal-black scales. Fore wing from upside with intensive black sputtering at root, costal margin with black sputtering; in vast majority of specimens, black sputtering distributed throughout wing field, except for some light spots and bands; black spot of medium size in middle of discal cell, large black spot at top of discal cell; postdiscally from costal margin to M2 – band of fused black spots; postdiscally closer to outer margin – relatively wide light band (or light portion), submarginally – expressed thin (often, fragmentary) light band, outer margin of wing semitransparent, with intensive grey sputtering, fringe white. Fore wing from underside with the same pattern as from upside, but significantly lighter. Hind wing from upside often with very wide dark-grey root portion (sometimes occupying all root, discal and partially postdiscal areas), large black spots (round of shaped as wide longitudinal strokes) postdiscally in cells Sc+R− Rs, M 1 −M 2, M 3 −Cu 1 and Cu 1 −Cu 2; postdiscally (closer to outer margin of wing) – wide light band with small black strokes in the range of cells from Rs− M 1 to Cu 1 −Cu 2 (steadily developed in cells Rs− M 1 and M 1 −M 2, rarely – in all cells), outer margin dark-grey or black, fringe white. Hind wing from underside in general with the same pattern as on upside but slightly lighter and more contrasting (in root area, discal cell and cell Sc+R− Rs with developed long bright black longitudinal strokes).

Diagnosis. The new subspecies clearly differs from the known subspecies in a series of characters.

From P. arcticus arcticus :

• the new subspecies on an average is larger in size: male wingspan is 34−46 mm, females – 35−46 mm (in P. arcticus arcticus : 32−41 mm and 37−40 mm, respectively);

• in the males of the new subspecies, the black spots on the fore wing postdiscally and especially, submarginally, are significantly less developed (in P. arcticus arcticus , the rows of black spots are developed steadily);

• in the males of the new subspecies, the black spot on the hind wing in cell M 1 −M 2 is absent steadily; additionally, in most specimens there is no black spot in cell Sc+R− Rs (in P. arcticus arcticus , the black spots of the submarginal row on the hind wing are well expressed);

• along the outer margin of the hind wing in most males there are small black spots (in P. arcticus arcticus , the outer margin of the wing is white);

• in the females of the new subspecies, the black sputtering on the wings from upside is much more expressed; the orange nucleoli in the black spots of the postdiscal row on the hind wing are very rare (in P. arcticus arcticus , the black sputtering on the wings from above is significantly less expressed; in most specimens, there are orange nucleoli in the black spots of the postdiscal row on the hind wing).

From P. arcticus arbugaevi :

• in the males of the new subspecies, the black spot is steadily present in the discal cell on the fore wing (in P. arcticus arbugaevi , the black spot in the discal cell on the fore wing is steadily absent);

• in the males of the new subspecies, the black spot on the hind wing in cell M 1 −M 2 is steadily absent; additionally, in most specimens there is no black spot in cell Sc+R− Rs (in P. arcticus arbugaevi , the black spots of the submarginal row on the hind wing are clearly expressed);

• in most of the males, along the outer margin of the hind wing there are small black spots (in P. arcticus arbugaevi , the outer margin of the wing is white);

• in the females of the new subspecies, the black sputtering on the wings from upside is less expressed, the pattern of fore and hind wings is more contrasting, on the fore wing there are well developed postdiscal and submarginal light bands (in P. arcticus arbugaevi , the black sputtering on the wings from upside is significantly more intense, the pattern (especially, on the fore wing) is more blurred, not distinctive; there are no postdiscal and submarginal light bands on the fore wing).

Bionomy. The adults were indicated in the middle of June on gravel screes at altitudes of 1100−1300 m ( Figs 20−21 ). The adults were observed feeding on the flower of Smelowskia jacutica (Botsch. & Karav.) Al-Shehbaz & S.I. Warwick ( Brassicaceae ) ( Fig. 22 ). The leaves damaged by the caterpillars of P. arcticus shavlovi were found on Corydalis gorodkovii Karav. (Papaveraceae) ( Figs 23−24 ).

Etymology. The subspecies is named after Roman Shavlov (Yakutsk) − an amateur zoologist well known in Yakutia, a friend on one of the authors of this article.

Distribution. Known only from Arga-Tas Range in North-Eastern Yakutia.

Discussion. It seems surprising that the new subspecies P. arcticus shavlovi was formed in the same mountain range as P. arcticus arbugaevi ( Fig. 25 ). But there is a large distance between their places (more than 230 km), and most importantly, a biotopic gap (red line) ( Fig. 26 ): a low-mountain zone. As it is known, P. arcticus lives only in the highlands (a zone of stony tundra at a height of more than 1100 m). So, the highmountain areas of the Arga-Tas Range are an isolate, which contributed to the formation of quite significant differences at the subspecies level over time.

Figures

Figure 17. Male genitalia of P. arcticus shavlovi (paratype): frontal projection, slide #178 (A. Naydenov).

Figure 22. P. arcticus shavlovi (male) on the flower of Smelowskia jacutica (photo by Y. Bakhaev).

Figure 23. Host plants of P. arcticus shavlovi: Corydalis gorodkovii (photo by Y. Bakhaev)

Figure 24. Host plants of P. arcticus shavlovi: C. gorodkovii with leaves damaged by the Arctic Apollo larvae (photo by Y. Bakhaev).

Figure 25. Distributional map of P. arcticus: 1 - upper of Kele river, Verkhoyansky range, Yakutia. The place from where this species was described by Curt Eisner in 1968, by two males; 2 - middle part of Kurbelyakh river, Suntar- Khayata Range, Yakutia. Several observations of the species in small series by lepidopterists from the beginning of the 90s of the last century to the present time; 3 - the vicinity of Mus-Khaya Mountain, Suntar-Khayata Range, Yakutia. Single observation of the species in a large series by Slovak lepidopterists in the 90s of the last century; 4 - Nezhdaninskoe village area, Suntar-Khayata Range, Yakutia; Several observations of the species in small series by Yuri Bakhaev in 2010−2018; 5 - uppers of Khulurin river, Momsky Range, Yakutia. Observation of the species in 2019 by Yuri Bakhaev in a small series, subspecies arbugaevi; 6 - uppers of Tuora-Bygyttakh River, Arga-Tas Range, Yakutia. Observation of the species in 2022 by Yuri Bakhaev in a large series − the subspecies shavlovi, describing here;? - Yablonevyi Pass, Magadan region. Observation of one adult by local entomologist in the 90s of the last century. The fact is in question.

Figure 26. Detailed distributional map of P. arcticus arbugaevi and P. arcticus shavlovi.

Figures 9−12. Wing pattern of males of Parnassius arcticus shavlovi, Russia, North-Eastern Yakutia, Verkhnekolymsky District, Arga-Tas Range, uppers of Tuora-Bygyttakh river, H 1100−1300 m, 20−28.vi.2022, leg. Yu. Bakhaev: 9. Holotype, 10−12. Paratypes.

Figures 13−16. Wing pattern of females of Parnassius arcticus shavlovi, Russia, North-Eastern Yakutia, Verkhnekolymsky District, Arga-Tas Range, uppers of Tuora-Bygyttakh river, H 1100−1300 m, 20−28.vi.2022, leg. Yu. Bakhaev: 13−16. Paratypes.

Figure 18. P. arcticus shavlovi in nature, male (photo by Yu. Bakhaev).

Figure 19. P. arcticus shavlovi in nature, female (photo by Yu. Bakhaev).

Figures 20−21. Landscapes on the Arga-Tas Range (photo by Y. Bakhaev).