Callophrys rubi (Linnaeus, 1758) and C. chalybeitincta Sovynski, 1905 (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae): a comparative analysis of mitochondrial and nuclear DNA sequences

Abstract

A study of a genetic marker, namely the nuclear internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2), demonstrated significant distinctions between specimens of Callophrys chalybeitincta Sovynski, 1905 and Callophrys rubi (Linnaeus, 1758). On this ground and taking into consideration morphological and genital differences between C. rubi and C. chalybeitincta it is necessary to reinstate the taxonomic status to the following taxa: - Callophrys chalybeitincta Sovynski, 1905 stat. rev. - Callophrys chalybeitincta nigra Stradomsky, 2005 stat. rev

Keywords

• : Callophrys rubi
• chalybeitincta
• nigra
• СOI and ITS2 DNA sequences