Dynamic Checklist of the Western Palearctic butterflies
(Lepidoptera, Papilionoidea) Hyperlinked to Systematics, Genetics and Distribution Papilionoidea Rationale
Recent studies on molecular phylogeny have shown that populations of Parnassius mnemosyne from southwestern Europe, including the Pyrenees, southwestern Alps, and Italy, are genetically distinct from other European populations. Some authors (Bolotov et al. 2021; Lukhtanov & Zakharov 2023) have even suggested that these populations should be considered a distinct species. However, the process of formally naming this taxon has been complicated by issues of taxonomic priority as, in the past, numerous names have been assigned to populations in the region. Several authors have described taxa from this area, leading to ambiguity as to which name should take precedence. Below is a summary of potentially relevant taxa and a chronological overview of the authors' statements that may clarify the correct nomenclature.
Chronology of publications
1907
- Verity in: Rhop. Pal.: 97, pl. 23, fig. 5-6 [Kudrna (1983) considers that this page and plate was published on May 31, 1907] describes: (a) “Parnassius mnemosyne ab. pyraenaica” from Pyrenées orientales, infrasubspecific taxon (not available) and homonym of Parnassius apollo pyraenaica Harcourt-Bath, 1896. - Turati in: Nat. Sicil. 20(1-3): 15-16 [No specific date on this publication. However, since the last seven issues of volume 19 were published in 1907, it can be assumed that the first three issues of volume 20 were published after May 31, 1907 and are more recent than Verity's publication) describes: (b) “Parnassius mnemosyne ab. nebrodensis” from Monti Nebrodi (Sicily), infrasubspecific (not available) (c) “Parnassius mnemosyne ab. pyraenaica” from Hautes-Pyrénées, infrasubspecific (not available) and homonym of Parnassius apollo pyraenaica Harcourt-Bath, 1896.
1908
Fruhstorfer published two articles in two different journals (Int. entomol. Z. 2(3) and Entomol. Z. 22(3)) on the same date of April 18th 1908. However, since the article in the first journal revises the taxa already assigned, we consider that it has priority over the second article. - Fruhstorfer in: Int. entomol. Z. 2(3): 17-18 [dated April 18th, 1908] describes: (d) “Parnassius mnemosyne ssp. dinianus” from Digne (available taxon). (e) “Parnassius mnemosyne ssp. vernetanus” replacement name for Parnassius mnemosyne ab. pyraenaica Verity, 1907. (f) “Parnassius mnemosyne ssp. turatii” replacement name for Parnassius mnemosyne ab. pyraenaica Turati, 1907. (g) “Parnassius mnemosyne ssp. nebrodensis” with the following mention: “The subspecies mnemosyne nebrodensis Turati is, however, in complete safety, because Count Turati explicitly states in Nat. Sicil. 1908 p. 15: "e sembra sia la razza che rappresenti la specie in Sicilia," so that Turati's formula "ab. nova" reflects a purely individual and cautious interpretation, in place of which Staudinger's contemporaries would have put "var.". - Fruhstorfer in: Entomol. Z. 22(3): 12 [dated April 18th, 1908] describes: (h) “ Parnassius mnemosyne ssp. parmenides ” from Alpes-Maritimes (available taxon). ….
2018
- In: Condamine et al. (Syst. Biol. 67(6): 940-964): "The ancestor of Parnassius dispersed from Central Asia to the Himalaya-Tibet Plateau around the mid-Miocene (13.4 Ma, 10.5–16.6 Ma), followed by vicariance between the subgenus Parnassius and the ancestor of the other subgenera. Dispersal events to adjacent geographic regions and subsequent allopatric speciation are reconstructed within each subgenus, especially in Driopa.
2021
- Bolotov et al. (Ecologica Montenegrina 40: 140-163): "Recent multi-locus phylogenetic studies revealed that P. mnemosyne sensu lato represents a complex of cryptic species that contains P. mnemosynes. str. and two additional species-level taxa, P. mnemosyne sp.2 from the Middle East and P. mnemosyne sp.3 from Southern Europe (Condamine 2018; Condamine et al. 2018)." The mnemosyne-complex is redefined as follows: In 2021, Cotton et al. (Ecologica Montenegrina 43: 56-58): " Under the First Reviser Principle we hereby assign priority to turatii Fruhstorfer, 1908 over the other names listed above in order to honour Conte Emilio Turati. Priority under the First Reviser Principle is applied to all the above names in order to avoid any possible future nomenclatural issues if one or more of the last four listed names are subsequently found to be conspecific with Parnassius turatii." - "Bolotov et al. (2021) effectively synonymised all populations of the new species under Parnassius nebrodensis without any subspecies as per their Table 5. It is beyond the scope of this publication to determine the validity of the various populations at subspecies level, other than the necessity of reinstating the Sicilian subspecies, nebrodensis Rothschild, 1918, above. We leave the subspecific status of all other taxa listed in Table 5 of Bolotov et al. (2021) applicable to the species Parnassius turatii Fruhstorfer, 1908 to subsequent authors."
2023
- Lukhtanov & Zakharov (Insects 2023, 14, 942): - " The butterfly genus Parnassius attracts the attention of numerous researchers. However, species and populations from Central and Western Asia remain understudied compared to taxa from Western Europe and East Asia. In our study, using the analysis of DNA barcodes and morphology (wing colour, male genitalia, and sphragis shape in females), we substantiate the species status for P. nubilosus stat. nov. from Turkmenistan and NE Iran. We demonstrate that the P. mnemosyne group includes three morphologically similar species, P. mnemosyne (Western Eurasia), P. turatii (southwestern Europe), and P. nubilosus, as well as P. ariadne (Altai)."
Conclusion
Clearly, the first reviser, within the meaning of article 24.2 of the Code, of the taxa already in use was Fruhstorfer, 1908. Int. entomol. Z. 2(3): 17-18. Following his interpretation, see [g] above, the taxa described by Verity and Turati in 1907 should be treated as varieties. The first valid name is therefore 'nebrodensis' because 'pyrenaica' is a junior homonym of Parnassius apollo pyrenaica Harcourt-Bath, 1896. The decision by Bolotov et al. (2021) is therefore the most appropriate, whereas the approach taken by Cotton et al., 2021 is taxonomically not justified. If this interpretation were to be rejected, then the following considerations would apply: - the principle of priority would take effect, making 'dinianus' the earliest available name. - 'vernetanus' could also be considered, as it is the replacement name for the first-described taxon 'Parnassius mnemosyne ab. pyraenaica Verity, 1907' - ‘turatii’ should be excluded, as it was published later than all aforementioned names.
References
Bolotov I., Gofarov M., Gorbach V., Kolosova Y., Zheludkova A., Kondarov A. & Spitsyn V.. 2021. Parnassius nebrodensis : A threatened but neglected Apollo Butterfly species from Southern Europe (Lepidoptera, Papilionidae). — Ecologica Montenegrina 40: 140-163. doi.org/10.37828/em.2021.40.13
Condamine F., Rolland J., Höhna S., Sperling F. & Sanmartín I. 2018. Testing the Role of the Red Queen and Court Jester as Drivers of the Macroevolution of Apollo Butterflies. — Systematic Biology 67(6) : 940-964, fig. doi.org/10.1093/sysbio/syy009
Cotton A., Bolotov I., Gofarov M., Gorbach V., Kolosova Y., Zheludkova A., Kondarov A. & Spitsyn V.. 2021. The correct name for the South Western European species recently separated from Parnassius mnemosyne (Linnaeus, 1758) (Lepidoptera: Papilionidae). — Ecologica Montenegrina 43: 56-58. doi.org/10.37828/em.2021.43.8
Fruhstorfer H. 1908. Neue Parnassius-Rassen. — Entomologische Zeitschrift 22(3): 12. (url)
Fruhstorfer H. 1908. Neue Parnassier aus der mnemosyne-Gruppe. — Internationale entomologische Zeitschrift 2(3): 17-18. (url)
Lukhtanov V. & Zakharov E. 2023. Taxonomic Structure and Wing Pattern Evolution in the Parnassius mnemosyne Species Complex (Lepidoptera, Papilionidae). — Insects 14(12), 942: 1-24. doi.org/10.3390/insects14120942
Turati E. 1907. Nuove forme di Lepidotteri. — Il Naturalista siciliano, giornale di scienze naturali 20(1-3): 1-48. (url)
Verity R. 1905-1911. Rhopalocera Palearctica, iconograhie et description des papillons diurnes de la région Paléarctique (Papilionidae et Pieridae).. — Florence [Italy]: R. Verity. [Vol. 1 - texte]: i-lxxxvi, 1-368, [Vol. 2 - planches]: i-xii, pl. 1-86. (note on publication dates: Kudrna, 1983 (url): 1905: 1-36, pl. 1-7 ; 1906: 37-68, pl. 8-9, 11-13, 15, 21 ; 1907: 69-124, pl. 10, 14, 16-20, 22-23, 26, 41, 43-44 ; 1908: 125-220, pl. 27-34, 40, 42, 45-49 ; 1909: 221-284, pl. 24, 35-39, 48 ; 1911: i-lxxxvi, 285-368, pl. 25, 50-72). (url not available)
Archives of Western Palearctic Lepidoptera Editors-in-Chief: Michel Taymans & Sylvain Cuvelier
