Galina N. Shapoval

Based on a dataset of 585 samples originating from across the Palearctic region and four genes (COI, CAD, Ca-ATPase, and 28S) for a subset of these samples, we studied the phylogenetic relationships within and between the Old World Swallowtail ( Papilio machaon Linnaeus, 1758) and its closest relatives in the Palearctic region. We used Machine Learning (ML) to investigate the concordance of morphological characteristics with the molecular data. Our phylogenetic analyses showed that the Palearctic taxa everesti , archias and hippocrates formed strongly supported sister-group relationships with P. machaon . Within the Palearctic machaon a few distinct mitochondrial linages were observed, including one from the Himalayas and Central Asia, and another one that included all of the north African samples (taxa mauretanica , saharae and neosaharae ) without any distinction. ML clustering was supportive of the haplotype and geographic analyses and a positive correlation was measured between average genetic phylogenetic and machine learnt specimen-image distances. Screening for Wolbachia revealed infection only in females of P. archias. We present a biogeographic scenario for the evolution of the P. machaon species group in the Palearctic region.

The genus Morpheis Hübner, [1820] (Lepidoptera: Cossidae) represents a taxonomically challenging group within Zeuzerinae, characterised by uniform, simply structured genitalia and significant intraspecific variability in external morphology, specifically in wing pattern, body colouration, and size. The taxonomic status and phylogenetic placement of many Morpheis taxa remain uncertain. Our study provides the first comprehensive taxonomic revision of Morpheis, based on detailed morphological analysis, examination of type specimens, assessment of distribution records, and molecular data. As a result, here we provide the first complete taxonomic list with updated diagnoses and distribution maps, based on 1247 specimen records and 191 publicly available observations. We describe the female genitalia of Morpheis for the first time and provide illustrations of imagoes for all currently recognised species, as well as of available type specimens. Additionally, we describe the immature stages and summarise the trophic associations of known Morpheis species. Based on morphological and molecular data, we recognise 11 valid Morpheis species. We applied molecular-based species delimitation methods, which uncovered far more candidate species within the genus than are recognised by traditional taxonomy, suggesting overlooked cryptic diversity that morphology alone cannot detect. We conclude that the integrative approach used here provides a powerful tool, especially valuable for understudied Zeuzerinae groups with high intraspecific variability in traditional characters.

The article provides descriptions of Georgepopovia Yakovlev, Müller, Prozorov & Pavlova gen. n. (with the type species Georgepopovia shahib Yakovlev, Müller, Prozorov & Pavlova sp. n. from the type locality in Arabia, [Asir Province] Suda [Al Soudah 18°16′N 42°22′E]. The holotype and genitalia of the new species are illustrated.

The article provides descriptions of Philbyarbela Yakovlev, Müller, Prozorov & Pavlova gen. n. (with the type species Metarbela taifensis Wiltshire, 1988) and Philbyarbela matsyurai Yakovlev, Müller, Prozorov & Pavlova sp. n. (from the type locality in Arabia, [Jazan Province], Ta’ashar [Ta’ashshar, 16°25’ N 42°43’ E]); Philbyarbela taifensis (Wiltshire, 1988) comb. n. is also established. Holotype specimens and genitalia from all species of the genus are illustrated.

The article is dedicated to the anniversary of Professor, Dr. Sci. Valentina G. Kuznetsova, Editor-in-Chief and co-founder of the journal “Comparative Cytogenetics”. V. Kuznetsova is the principal researcher at the Zoological Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Head of the Department of Karyosystematics. Under her leadership, many Russian and foreign cytogeneticists have successfully defended their dissertations. Today, Valentina Kuznetsova is one of the world’s leading experts in the field of comparative cytogenetics and karyosystematics of insects. The list of her publications includes 200 scientific articles, chapters in books and collective monographs.

The psyllid genus Cacopsylla comprises mainly bisexually reproducing species; however, some members of this genus exhibit a unisexual mode of reproduction. Using an integrative approach that combines molecular and cytogenetic methods, as well as Wolbachia screening, we conducted a comprehensive study of the Palaearctic species C. ledi. We show that this species uses various reproductive strategies (bisexual and parthenogenetic) across its distribution range. Our findings indicate that the bisexual mode of reproduction has emerged at least twice in the evolutionary history of C. ledi. Bisexual populations in southern Fennoscandia are of ancestral origin, whereas the bisexual mode of reproduction observed in northern Fennoscandia represents a recent secondary transition from parthenogenesis. We report that in the first case, parthenogenetic and bisexual lineages can be easily distinguished not only cytogenetically but also by DNA barcoding, while in the second case, “bisexual” individuals share DNA barcodes with parthenogenetic ones. A comprehensive Wolbachia screening (1140 specimens across the entire distribution range) revealed Wolbachia infection in every specimen of C. ledi, indicating a significant role of the endosymbiont in the biology and evolution of this species.

A new species, Polycaena eckweileri sp. n., is described from Gansu Province, China. Based on the analysis of the barcode region of the mitochondrial COI gene, the new species belongs to the P. lama Leech, 1893 species group. The new species differs from all the known species of the genus in peculiar characters of the male genitalia. Polycaena eckweileri sp. n. is known to date only from the type locality in Têwo County. The phylogenetic reconstruction of the main lineages of the genus Polycaena based on analysis of a 658 bp region of the COI mitochondrial gene is provided for the first time. Lectotype of Polycaena lua Grum-Grshimailo, 1891 is designated from a series of syntypes deposited in the collection of the Zoological Institute, Russian Academy of Science, St. Petersburg, Russia.

The genus Colias Fabricius, 1807 includes numerous taxa and forms with uncertain status and taxonomic position. Among such taxa are Colias mongola Alphéraky, 1897 and Colias tamerlana Staudinger, 1897, interpreted in the literature either as conspecific forms, as subspecies of different but morphologically somewhat similar Colias species or as distinct species-level taxa. Based on mitochondrial and nuclear DNA markers, we reconstructed a phylogeographic pattern of the taxa in question. We recover and include in our analysis DNA barcodes of the century-old type specimens, the lectotype of C. tamerlana deposited in the Natural History Museum (Museum für Naturkunde), Berlin, Germany (ZMHU) and the paralectotype of C. tamerlana and the lectotype of C. mongola deposited in the Zoological Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg, Russia (ZISP). Our analysis grouped all specimens within four (HP_I–HP_IV) deeply divergent but geographically poorly structured clades which did not support nonconspecifity of C. mongola–C. tamerlana. We also show that all studied females of the widely distributed haplogroup HP_II were infected with a single Wolbachia strain belonging to the supergroup B, while the males of this haplogroup, as well as all other investigated specimens of both sexes, were not infected. Our data highlight the relevance of large-scale sampling dataset analysis and the need for testing for Wolbachia infection to avoid erroneous phylogenetic reconstructions and species misidentification.

The article gives a revision of the Semagystia tsimgana (Zukowsky, 1936) species group (Lepidoptera, Cossidae, Cossinae). The group comprises seven valid species. Detailed data on the distribution of all the species are provided. Lectotype of Dyspessa cossoides tsimgana Zukowsky, 1936 is designated. Two new species are described: S. muratovi Yakovlev & Shapoval, sp. n. (Type locality: Tajikistan, Surkhandariya Reg., Babatag Mt. Range, near Zarkomar vill.) and S. temreshevi Yakovlev & Shapoval, sp. n. (Type locality: South Kazakhstan, Boraldaitau Mt. Range, Koshkarata river Valley). The article is illustrated with imagoes of specimens from different localities and male genitalia of all new species.

Two new species Dyspessa milkoi sp. n. (Type locality: Kyrgyzstan, Tash-Kumyr) and Dyspessa skrylniki sp. n. (Type locality: Tajikistan, Gissar Mts., Anzob Pass) are described. The article is illustrated with imagoes of type specimens and genitalia of both new species.