Athamanthia balucha athamantides (Eckweiler & ten Hagen, 2001), comb. nov.

(Plate 1, figs. 9–10; plate 2, fig. 4)

Lycaena (Phoenicurusia) phoenicurus athamantides —Eckweiler & ten Hagen 2001: 49.

Athamanthia phoenicura athamantides (Eckweiler & ten Hagen, 2001) — Bozano & Weidenhoffer 2001: 40. Lycaena phoenicurus athamantides Eckweiler & ten Hagen, 2001 — Nazari 2003: 122; col. pl. 22 – 23, figs. 4, 5. Lycaena phoenicurus athamantides Eckweiler & ten Hagen, 2001 — Tshikolovets et al. 2014: 134; col. pl. XXII, figs. 15, 16.

Type locality. Central Iran, Yazd Province, Shir Kuh Mts.

Material examined. 1 ♂, South Eastern Iran, Kerman Province, 20 km SE Makhan, 2450 m, 19.VI.2014, I.G. Pljushtch leg., gen. prep. AK0068 (AKM).

Diagnosis and discussion. The taxon was originally described as a subspecies of A. phoenicura based solely on the wings colouration (Eckweiler & ten Hagen 2001). According to the original description, the main diagnostic character of the subspecies is extended orange field on the forewing upperside of a female compared with A. phoenicura. In 2014, a new population of athamantides was discovered in Kerman Province (20 km SE Makhan) by the two junior authors and O. Pak. Our examination of the appearance and the male genitalia compared with A. balucha has revealed minor differences in the shape of valva and uncus (Plate 2, Fig. 4). Based on these differences and wide geographic discontinuity between Afghan and Iranian populations, we tentatively treat known Iranian populations as a subspecies of A. balucha — A. b. athamantides (Eckweiler & ten Hagen, 2001), comb. nov.

A potential A. b. athamantides population from Kerman Province (vic. of Sar-e Siab) was mentioned by Tshikolovets et al. (2014: 133) as “ Lycaena phoenicurus monalisa Eckweiler, 2004 ”. The taxon was described from Razavi Khorasan Province (mountains near Tabas) (Eckweiler 2004). Its status needs clarification; it may also belong to A. balucha.

General distribution and biology. As it is known so far, the range of A. balucha is strongly disjunct (plate 3). The nominate subspecies is known from the type locality and two localities in the Sulaiman Mts. in Pakistani Balochistan mentioned in the original description (Howarth & Povolny 1976: 150). A specimen treated as “ Lycaena phoenicurus ssp.” from Sistan and Balochistan Province in Iran (Kuh-e Taftan Mt.) was mentioned and pictured in Tshikolovets et al. (2014: 134; plate XXII, fig. 17). It shares all external diagnostic characters of A. balucha and probably belongs to the species in question, while its subspecific affinity is open to discussion. A. b. povolny inhabits western foothills of the Hindu Kush Mts.: vicinity of Kabul (type locality) and recently discovered localities in province Bamyan in Afghanistan. Subspecies athamantides is known from Iranian provinces Yazd (Shir Kuh Mts.) and Kerman (Kerman Mts.). Thus A. balucha can be treated as an endemic of the Iranian plateau. Imagoes prefer dry slopes of mountains at altitudes up to 3000 m. Flight period is from the end of April to the beginning of July, depending on a locality and an elevation.

All known Athamanthia are monophagous species feeding on the genus Atraphaxis (Polygonaceae) (Zhdanko 2000). The most probable hostplant of A. balucha is Atraphaxis spinosa, which is known as the hostplant of A. phoenicura (Zhdanko 2000). According to Rechinger & Schiman-Czeika (1968), it has a wide range in the Iranian Plateau from NE Iran to Pakistani Balochistan across Afghanistan.

PLATE 3. Distribution of A. balucha. Squares indicate on the type localities of the taxa in question.