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Hyponephele lycaon (Kühn, 1774*) Dusky Meadow Brown 4

A widespread and exceptionally variable (externally, genitalic their study). Their partial, local - selective results are most
& DNA) species complex. Along its continuous ~10000 disturbing because of the overlooked (or ignored?) data of
kms of distribution from the Atlantic W coast of the Iberian Eckweiler & Bozano (2011) that reported about upper and © Adam Warecki © Adam Wercki
Peninsula across Europe and Asia to the E coast of Russia lower preference (= distribution) of lycaon and lycaonoides
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at the N Pacific Ocean no less than “about 50 taxa (sspp./ in Hakkari E Turkey (see above) as opposite their finding in
syns.) of lycaon are described” (Eckweiler pers. comm. to Mt Hermon! This last contradiction brings us back to the
DB). Eckweiler & Bozano (2011) who admitted that “…the basic question about the real identity of H. lycaonoides.
individual variation is more evident than the geographical
one” (p. 41), accepted 17 sspp. of the “most evident sspp. … Both species are fairly common on grassy slopes but also © Adam Wercki
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as valid”. They also accepted the weakly defined Hyponephele overlap in arboreal habitats (and beyond) of the coline belt, DGXOW
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lycaonoides Weiss (D.), 1978 as a valid name and added a where flight is weak. A variable species complex, resembling lar v a
pupa
taxonomic note as follows: “Male genitalia are variable both H. lupinus, but differing by its lighter colours (H. lycaonoides,
in H. lycaon and in H. lycaonoides and intermediate forms H. lycaon is slightly darker) on the average smaller in
are frequently found. Therefore the genitalia morphology size and reduced androconial patch interrupted by veins
cannot be used as single criterion for species separation. (Eckweiler & Bozano, 2011: 38-42: Tuzov et al., 1997(1):
The authors have found “true” lycaonoides only in the Zagros 217-219). *--Nekrutenko (1990) rejected it as not available
mountain range up to Hakkari in Turkey. In the later locality giving priority to (Rottemburg, [1775]).**-Department
the two species occur sympatric without hybridization, but of Karyosystematics, Zoological Institute of the Russian © Eddie John © Dubi Benyamini
H. lycaon prefers higher altitude than H. lycaonoides”. They Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg, Russia. 2050 m, 20 7.2020
actually agreed that “A deeper study to ascertain their status 1600 m, 6.1976
would be necessary”. (H. lycaon taxonomic note). 1750 m, 7.1973
During 2012-2015 a new dimension was added to the study %LRORJ\
of the lycaon complex in the east Mediterranean – a world
leading DNA expert Dr Vladimir Lukhtanov** collected )OLJKW SHULRG end of May at 1400 m to September at 1400
lycaons on the south-western slopes of Mt Hermon, - 2050 m or higher.
South Anti-Lebanon range in Israel. In his paper with Asya
Novikova (2015) they presented the results of their study /LIH KLVWRU\ seems similar to both “species”: univoltine,
of “two sympatric groups of individuals distinct both in the aestivating females oviposit at the end of the summer © Shalev Weisman
mitochondrial (COI) DNA-barcodes (uncorrected p-distance = on and around the dry hostplants. The yellow eggs are laid 1750 m, 8.7.1971
19
19
6
1600 m.6.19766
0 m
16
3.5%)”. However, while such generic distance is high enough singly (Chinery, 1989: 134) 1 mm in height and 1 mm diam., 1 16 0 0 0 m .6. 19 7 1800 m, 13 7.2018
to indicate two distinct taxa, the authors also speculate barrel-shaped with 20 vertical ribs. Larvae hatch after 12-
that this situation may be a result of “…a strong positive 15 days and enter diapause. The larva is light brown with
selection acting at intraspecific level and resulting in two a brown head and an abdomen narrower than its thorax.
intraspecific clusters adapted to low and high elevations”. Colour changes to green after the second moult, and after
In their summary (“Discussion”) they admitted that they the fourth moult the larva has a raised area on each side
“cannot exclude that the name lycaonoides is a synonym of the head, which becomes heart-shaped. The mature © Moshe Laodun
of one of the previously described taxa” and that a more larva is 30 mm long, green with white stripes and yellow
profound future study and analysis of the “true generic or red side stripes. The suspended pupa is green-grey with 1600 m, 8.7.71 1800 m, 6.2020
and taxonomic structure” of the lycaon complex will reveal black stripes and yellow side stripes, 11-12 mm long and
a “much more complex than a simple combination of two with a ‘belly’, adults hatch after two-three weeks. “Female © Shalev Weisman
sympatric (and synchronous) clusters as discovered in Iran, emerges late” (Higgins & Riley, 1970: 206). Female carries 1980 m, 20 7.2020
Turkey and Israel” (p. 31). These last sentences achieved the male in cop (Lafranchis et al. 2015:608), Males are
the goal of this “case study” and established the base for territorials (Vila et al. 2018: 186).
a future desired research that will cover the whole complex © Moshe Laudon
starting with study of the numerous type-specimens of the 5HFRUGHG KRVWSODQWV Poaceae (Gramineae) - Aira
sspp. and variations of H. lycaon (incld. lycaonoides). elegantissima, Bromus, Festuca, Poa and Stipa spp. 1980 m, 20 7.2020
DB summary and conclusions: Two closely related mountain (Tolman, 1997: 239; Tuzov et al., 1997(1): 217) 1750 m, 7.1978 2000 m, 7.1975
“species”? in the Levant (but also in Hakkari, E Turkey and the
Zagros range, Iran) that fly sympatrically and synchronously 'LVWULEXWLRQ
present a rare case of nowadays on-going process of fusion,
where the warming – up greenhouse effect “pushes” one TL: “Deutschland, Brandenburg” (Berlin, Germany). Ranges
species upwards into the other. These two “groups of from SW Europe to temperate Asia, Mongolia, S. Siberia, © Shalev Weisman © Ali Atahan
individuals” were preliminary & selectively documented at Russia and China, Caucasia, Turkey, Syria, Lebanon and
their upper and lower distribution limits (the intermediate Israel (Hermon). Absent from Cyprus, Jordan and Sinai.
hybrids? DNA results were not presented) in the SW slopes 7ZR lycaon VXEVSHFLHV IO\ LQ WKH /HYDQW
of Mt Hermon at their southern limit (ecotone) of the Anti- - Hyponephele lycaon collina (Röber, 1897); TL: Gulek 2000 m, 7.1975 2000 m, 7.1977
Lebanon mountain range (Lukhtanov and Novikova, 2015). (Turkey) – Adana, S Turkey. H. l. libanotica Staudinger, 1901
While H. lycaon (“Haplogroup I - forest”) tends to fly in the - H. l. libanotica Staudinger, 1901; TL: Lebanon – Syria,
coline open forest belt from 1400 to 1900 m (1440-1600 m Lebanon and Israel (Hermon).
in their study), H. lycaonoides (“Haplogroup II – subalpine”) Note: Nominotypical H. lyaconoides Weiss, 1978; TL: Marg-e-
is at home in the subalpine tragacantic spiny cushion Malek, Zagros Mt, Lorestan, W Iran – Lebanon?, Syria? and Israel?
vegetational belt (Shmida PhD Thesis, 1977) from 1900 m (Anti-Lebanon) in a dis-linked population from SE Turkey (Hakkari),
to the mountain local peaks at 2100+ m (1800-2050 m in Armenia, Azerbaijan & W. Iran.(Zagros range). © Dubi Benyamini © Ali Atahan © Ali Atahan
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