Polyommatus (Agrodiaetus) asadii Charmeux, 2016 stat. nov., recognized as a distinct species (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae)

Abstract

Based on new evidence from morphology, ecology, and DNA barcodes, the taxon originally described as Polyommatus (Agrodiaetus) valiabadi asadii Charmeux, 2016, is raised to a specific rank, Polyommatus (Agrodiaetus) asadii bona species. It is endemic to Northern Iran and confined to the Dalasm valley in the Alborz mountains. Its preferred larval host is the annual Onobrychis mazanderanica Reich. f., while the larvae of its sister species P. valiabadi feed on O. talagonica Reich. f. (Fabaceae). It can be diagnosed from P. valiabadi and other closely-related species by differences in wing pattern and male genitalia. Our time-calibrated phylogenetic hypothesis estimates that the common ancestor of P. asadii and P. valiabadi split around 750,000 years ago.

Keywords

• butterflies
• dna barcoding
• iran
• gossamer-winged
• species rank
• taxonomy