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

A widespread and exceptionally variable (externally, to the mountain local peaks at 2100+ m (1800-2050 m in
genitalic & DNA) species complex. Along its continuous their study). Their partial, local - selective results are most
~10000 kms of distribution from the Atlantic W coast disturbing because of the overlooked (or ignored?) data of © Adam Warecki © Adam Wercki
of the Iberian Peninsula across Europe and Asia to the E Eckweiler & Bozano (2011) that reported about upper and
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coast of Russia at the N Pacific Ocean no less than “about lower preference (= distribution) of lycaon and lycaonoides
50 taxa (sspp./syns.) of lycaon are described” (Eckweiler in Hakkari E Turkey (see above) as opposite their finding in
pers. comm. to DB). Eckweiler & Bozano (2011) who Mt Hermon! This last contradiction brings us back to the
admitted that “…the individual variation is more evident basic question about the real identity of H. lycaonoides.
than the geographical one” (p. 41), accepted 17 sspp. of © Adam Wercki
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the “most evident sspp. …as valid”. They also accepted the Both species are fairly common on grassy slopes but also DGXOW
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weakly defined Hyponephele lycaonoides Weiss (D.), 1978 overlap in arboreal habitats (and beyond) of the coline belt, lar v a
pupa
as a valid name and added a taxonomic note as follows: where flight is weak. A variable species complex, resembling
“Male genitalia are variable both in H. lycaon and in H. H. lupinus, but differing by its lighter colours (H. lycaonoides,
lycaonoides and intermediate forms are frequently found. H. lycaon is slightly darker) on the average smaller in size and
Therefore the genitalia morphology cannot be used as single reduced androconial patch interrupted by veins (Eckweiler &
criterion for species separation. The authors have found Bozano, 2011: 38-42: Tuzov et al., 1997(1): 217-219).
“true” lycaonoides only in the Zagros mountain range up to
Hakkari in Turkey. In the later locality the two species occur * - Nekrutenko (1990) rejected it as not available giving priority to © Eddie John © Dubi Benyamini
sympatric without hybridization, but H. lycaon prefers higher (Rottemburg, [1775]). Mt. Hermon, 2050 m, 20 7.2020
altitude than H. lycaonoides”. They actually agreed that “A ** - Department of Karyosystematics, Zoological Institute of the 1750 m, 7.1973 1600 m, 6.1976
deeper study to ascertain their status would be necessary”. Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg, Russia.
(H. lycaon taxonomic note). %LRORJ\
During 2012-2015 a new dimension was added to the study
of the lycaon complex in the east Mediterranean – a world )OLJKW SHULRG end of May at 1400 m to September at 1400
leading DNA expert Dr Vladimir Lukhtanov** collected - 2050 m or higher.
lycaons on the south-western slopes of Mt Hermon,
South Anti-Lebanon range in Israel. In his paper with Asya /LIH KLVWRU\ seems similar to both “species”: univoltine,
Novikova (2015) they presented the results of their study the aestivating females oviposit at the end of the summer © Shalev Weisman
of “two sympatric groups of individuals distinct both in on and around the dry hostplants. The yellow eggs are laid 1600 m.6.1976 1750 m, 8.7.1971
mitochondrial (COI) DNA-barcodes (uncorrected p-distance = singly (Chinery, 1989: 134) 1 mm in height and 1 mm diam., Mt. Hermon,1800 m, 13 7.2018
3.5%)”. However, while such generic distance is high enough barrel-shaped with 20 vertical ribs. Larvae hatch after 12-
to indicate two distinct taxa, the authors also speculate 15 days and enter diapause. The larva is light brown with
that this situation may be a result of “…a strong positive a brown head and an abdomen narrower than its thorax.
selection acting at intraspecific level and resulting in two Colour changes to green after the second moult, and after
intraspecific clusters adapted to low and high elevations”. the fourth moult the larva has a raised area on each side of
In their summary (“Discussion”) they admitted that they the head, which becomes heart-shaped. The mature larva is © Moshe Laodun
“cannot exclude that the name lycaonoides is a synonym 30 mm long, green with white stripes and yellow or red side
of one of the previously described taxa” and that a more stripes. The suspended pupa is green-grey with black stripes 1600 m, 8.7.71 1800 m, 6.2020
profound future study and analysis of the “true generic and yellow side stripes, 11-12 mm long and with a ‘belly’,
and taxonomic structure” of the lycaon complex will reveal adults hatch after two-three weeks. “Female emerges late” © Shalev Weisman
a “much more complex than a simple combination of two (Higgins & Riley, 1970: 206). Female carries the male in cop Mt. Hermon, 1980 m, 20 7.2020
sympatric (and synchronous) clusters as discovered in Iran, (Lafranchis et al. 2015:608), Males are territorials (Vila et
Turkey and Israel” (p. 31). These last sentences achieved al. 2018: 186).
the goal of this “case study” and established the base for © Moshe Laudon
a future desired research that will cover the whole complex 5HFRUGHG KRVWSODQWV Poaceae (Gramineae) - Aira
starting with study of the numerous type-specimens of the elegantissima, Bromus, Festuca, Poa and Stipa spp. Mt. Hermon, 1980 m, 20 7.2020
sspp. and variations of H. lycaon (incld. lycaonoides). (Tolman, 1997: 239; Tuzov et al., 1997(1): 217) 1750 m, 7.1978 2000 m, 7.1975
DB summary and conclusions: Two closely related mountain
“species”? in the Levant (but also in Hakkari, E Turkey and the 'LVWULEXWLRQ
Zagros range, Iran) that fly sympatrically and synchronously
present a rare case of nowadays on-going process of fusion, TL: “Deutschland, Brandenburg” (Berlin, Germany). Ranges
where the warming – up greenhouse effect “pushes” one from SW Europe to temperate Asia, Mongolia, S. Siberia, © Shalev Weisman © Shalev Weisman
species upwards into the other. These two “groups of Russia and China, Caucasia, Turkey, Syria, Lebanon and
individuals” were preliminary & selectively documented at Israel (Hermon). Absent from Cyprus, Jordan and Sinai. ssp. collina ssp. collina
their upper and lower distribution limits (the intermediate 7ZR lycaon VXEVSHFLHV IO\ LQ WKH /HYDQW
hybrids? DNA results were not presented) in the SW slopes - Hyponephele lycaon collina (Röber, 1897); TL: Gulek 2000 m, 7.1975 2000 m, 7.1977
of Mt Hermon at their southern limit (ecotone) of the Anti- (Turkey) – Adana, S Turkey. H. l. libanotica Staudinger, 1901
Lebanon mountain range (Lukhtanov and Novikova, 2015). - H. l. libanotica Staudinger, 1901; TL: Lebanon – Syria,
While H. lycaon (“Haplogroup I - forest”) tends to fly in the Lebanon and Israel (Hermon).
coline open forest belt from 1400 to 1900 m (1440-1600 m
in their study), H. lycaonoides (“Haplogroup II – subalpine”) 1RWH Nominotypical H. lyaconoides Weiss, 1978; TL: Marg-e-
Malek, Zagros Mt, Lorestan, W Iran – Lebanon?, Syria? and Israel?
is at home in the subalpine tragacantic spiny cushion (Anti-Lebanon) in a dis-linked population from SE Turkey (Hakkari),
vegetational belt (Shmida PhD Thesis, 1977) from 1900 m Armenia, Azerbaijan & W. Iran (Zagros range). © Dubi Benyamini © Ali Atahan © Ali Atahan
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2Butterflies of the Levant danaidae satyridae.indd 56 12/30/2021 4:22:33 PM 2Butterflies of the Levant danaidae satyridae.indd 57 12/30/2021 4:22:44 PM