Phengaris
Maculinea currently viewed as a subjective junior synonym
Andrew V. Z. Brower
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close boxIntroduction
This is the famous Eurasian ant-associated genus of blues, including the endangered "large blue," "Maculinea" arion. Late instar larvae descend into ant hills of the genera Myrmica and Aphaenogaster and consume the larvae and pupae. Much of the conservation-related literature for this genus will refer to it as "Maculinea."
Discussion of Phylogenetic Relationships
Phylogenetic relationships as inferred from combined molecular and morphological evidence by Fric et al. (2007). Note that the former genus Maculinea, which included the European species M. arion and M. rebeli (now viewed as a synonym/subspecies of P. alcon), represents both basal and derived members of Phengaris. The type species of Maculinea is P. alcon, so even if Maculinea were retained as a distinct genus, it would not contain the charismatic European species P. arion.
References
Fric, Z., Wahlberg, N., Pech, P. & Zrzavy, J. 2007 Phylogeny and classification of the Phengaris-Maculinea clade (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae): total evidence and phylogenetic species concepts. Systematic Entomology 32, 558-567.
Title Illustrations
| Scientific Name | Phengaris atroguttata formosana |
|---|---|
| Location | Taipingshan, Taiwan |
| Specimen Condition | Live Specimen |
| Source | 青雀斑灰蝶 Phengaris atroguttata formosana |
| Source Collection | Flickr |
| Image Use |
 This media file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs License - Version 2.0.
|
| Copyright | © 2007 Brian Chen |
| Scientific Name | Phengaris arion |
|---|---|
| Specimen Condition | Live Specimen |
| Source | Maculinea arion |
| Source Collection | Flickr |
| Image Use |
This media file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike License - Version 2.0.
|
| Copyright | © 2008 YannickC |
About This Page
Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, Tennessee, USA
Correspondence regarding this page should be directed to Andrew V. Z. Brower at
Page copyright © 2008
Page: Tree of Life
Phengaris . Maculinea currently viewed as a subjective junior synonym.
Authored by
Andrew V. Z. Brower.
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- First online 06 January 2008
- Content changed 06 January 2008
Citing this page:
Brower, Andrew V. Z. 2008. Phengaris . Maculinea currently viewed as a subjective junior synonym. Version 06 January 2008 (under construction). http://tolweb.org/Phengaris/112250/2008.01.06 in The Tree of Life Web Project, http://tolweb.org/
