Two allopatric lycaenid taxa, one always with glossy iridescent wings the other always not (but similar facies and same structural morphology). ML & BI molecular trees show these as conspecific (nested). Other examples of this occur in the genus. Can they be conspecific? Any examples of this paradox elsewhere?
Dear Alan
are they from the same locality (spot) ? Did you bred them ?
Never seen such intraspecific variation in other Aphnaeini despite it exist at (very) much lower level (Cigaritis sp, Chloroselas overlaeti, ...).
The first distinct character I used to separate males of C. dufranei from C. crustaria was the blue iridescent extension on the FW, but it was paired with other distinctive characters (as the pattern of the underside markings) and females quite different. ... and it was confirmed more recently by Barcode.
then why not in other groups ?
Thierry
With the help of a friend, we made photo UV of some Cigaritis. These pictures reveals the exact pattern of "iridescent" scales (not always easy to see) and in preliminary results these are different in different species. More needs to be done but it seems that can help. Tries have been made also on Teracolus and preliminary results are also positive.
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