Overlooked cryptic diversity in Muschampia (Lepidoptera: Hesperiidae) adds two species to the European butterfly fauna Author Hinojosa, Joan C. Author Dapporto, Leonardo Author Brockmann, Ernst Author Dincă, Vlad Author Tikhonov, Valentin Author Grishin, Nick Author Lukhtanov, Vladimir A. Author Vila, Roger text Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 2021 2021-01-08 193 847 859 journal article 3731 10.1093/zoolinnean/zlaa171 b36ab825-a0bd-46b4-9563-3d99f727465a 0024-4082 5638991 MUSCHAMPIA ALTA (SCHWINGENSCHUSS, 1942) COMB. & STAT. NOV. Type locality: Taormina, Sicily , Italy . Original reference: Schwingenschuss L. 1942. Eine Falterausbeute aus Sizilien . I. Teil. Macrolepidoptera. Zeitschrift des Wiener Entomologen-vereines 27: 177–184. Original name: Hesperia proto alta . Monophyletic in the phylogenies based on nuclear and mitochondrial markers, which show that this taxon is sister to M. proteides . Minimum uncorrected p -distances are 2.55% (ITS2) and 3.79% ( COI ) with respect to M. proto and 2.87% (ITS2) and 2.08% ( COI ) with respect to M. proteides . It can be distinguished from M. proteides by the long gnathos. Morphometrics of the male genitalia highlights differences in the cucullus with respect to M. proto and M. proteides , in particular a smaller dorsal process of the cucullus. No diagnostic traits in the wings to distinguish it from M. proto and M. proteides were observed, although no morphometric analyses were performed. Distribution: Sicily , southern Italian Peninsula and Balkan Peninsula. It is probable that the species is also present in the western Aegean Islands.