Designation of a neotype for the nominal taxon Papilio phoebe [Denis & Schiffermuller], 1775 (Lepidoptera, Nymphalidae)

摘要

Following recent recognition that a previously unrecognised Melitaea species M. telona Fruhstorfer, 1908 is present in Europe, adults of which can at present be distinguished only with difficulty from Melitaea phoebe ([Denis & Schiffermuller], 1775), a question of formal recognition of the nominal taxon Papilio phoebe [Denis & Schiffermuller], 1775, is addressed. The collection of Ignaz Schiffermuller was deposited in the collections of the then Kaiserliches Naturalienkabinet (now Naturhistorisches Museum), Vienna, where it was completely destroyed by fire in 1848. No known syntypic material of Papilio phoebe is extant; in order to maintain stability, and to avoid potential future confusion of A4elitaea phoebe with M. telona, a neotype is designated for Papilla phoebe [Denis 8z Schiffermallerb 1775. The type locality of M. phoebe is environs ofVienna, Austria, where the species has been uncommon and sporadic in appearance. The neotype was reared from a gravid female collected in Vienna and is illustrated together with the larva and pupa of this specimen. Also illustrated are water-colours of M. phoebe larva and pupa that were prepared, but not published, by Schiffermaller and now in the Natural History Museum (BMNH), London.