Taxonomic comments on the treatment of the Zygaenidae (Lepidoptera) in volume 3 of Moths of Europe, Zygaenids, Pyralids 1 and Brachodids (2012)
Author
Efetov, Konstantin A.
Author
Hofmann, Axel
Author
Tarmann, Gerhard M.
Author
Tremewan, Walter Gerald
text
Nota Lepidopterologica
2014
37
2
123
133
http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/nl.37.7940
journal article
http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/nl.37.7940
2367-5365-2
384F4C62-0E0E-4B66-B720-3177920ABA23
Taxon classification Animalia Lepidoptera Zygaenidae
Zygaena (Agrumenia) hilaris chrysophaea Le Charles, [1934]
Zygaena hilaris chrysophaea
Le Charles, [1934], in Lhomme, Catalogue des
Lepidopteres
de France et de Belgique 1: 683 (
Zygaena
). Type-locality. France: Alpes-de-Haute-Provence (Basses-Alpes), Digne, Fontgaillard, 1,000 m.
Zygaena hilaris nigriventris
Leraut, 2012, Moths of Europe 3: 115, pl. 32, figs 20, 21, pl. 33, fig. 1. Type-locality. France: Hautes-Alpes, La
Bessee-sur-Durance
. Syn. n.
Distribution and taxonomic notes.
In the original description of
Zygaena hilaris nigriventris
it is stated, 'This subspecies can be distinguished from subsp.
apocrypha
Le Charles from the area around Nice essentially by the abdomen with its black ventral side and absence of whitish rings. Also wingspan is greater on average.' This taxon differs greatly from the nominal taxon
apocrypha
, as this was described as a subspecies of and is conspecific with
Zygaena fausta
from the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence; currently it is placed as a synonym of
Zygaena fausta fausta
(Linnaeus, 1767) (
Hofmann and Tremewan 1996
: 103).
Leraut (2012)
most likely confused the names
apocrypha
and
chrysophaea
, the latter taxon being a subspecies of
Zygaena hilaris
.
Zygaena hilaris chrysophaea
has a wide distribution in France, ranging from Vaucluse, Alpes-de-Haute-Provence,
Drome
and Hautes-Alpes to
Isere
. To describe a subspecific taxon from within that distributional range cannot be justified; therefore,
Zygaena hilaris nigriventris
is here formally placed as a synonym (syn. n.) of
Zygaena hilaris chrysophaea
.