The lesser-known Kumaon Meadow Blue Polyommatus dux Riley, 1926 (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae: Polyommatinae: Polyommatini) from Uttarakhand, Western Himalaya

Abstract

In spite of that Western Himalaya (Garhwal and Kumaon) geographically seems to be Oriental, the fauna of this high mountainous area has strong affinities with the Palaearctic region. The inner valleys of Kumaon Himalaya are close to Tibet, what is characterised by Sino-Himalayan xero-mountain elements, including the genus Polyommatus Latreille, 1804, one of the most diverse lycaenid genera in the Palaearctic region. In the Himalayas Polyommatus is represented by the diverse stoliczkanus species group. Here we report on Polyommatus dux Riley, 1926 from Kumaon Himalaya (type locality), what is an unusual member of the group displaying a hindwing ventral wingsurface with extensive structural colouration. Since the description the species has not been recorded. Therefore our finding is the second record since its discovery. On the basis of new material, the external habitus of the male is diagnosed and genitalia structures are described. Field observations are briefly recorded, imagines in nature are documented and the phenomena related to the butterfly wing surfaces are briefly discussed. The species is vulnerable to climate change driven range restriction and extinction threats, and thus considered as a candidate for flagship species for ecological studies in nature conservation investigations in the high-altitude region of the Kumaon Himalaya, India

Keywords

• lycaenidae
• polyommatus
• high altitude distribution
• kumaon himalaya
• wing surfaces