TY - JOUR AU - Russell, P. J. C. AU - Bartolozzi, L. AU - Hawkins, R. L. AU - Tennent, W. J. AU - Léger, T. PY - 2020/09/30 Y2 - 2024/03/28 TI - Designation of lectotypes for some Spanish and other western European Melitaea taxa, some with mixed syntypic series of M. phoebe ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775) and M. ornata Christoph, 1893 (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) JF - SHILAP Revista de lepidopterología JA - SHILAP Revta. lepid. VL - 48 IS - 191 SE - ISSUE DO - 10.57065/shilap.369 UR - https://shilap.org/revista/article/view/369 SP - 449-472 AB - <p>Morphological characters of value in distinguishing <em>Melitaea phoebe</em> from <em>M. ornata</em> are exemplified from photographs of specimens from sympatric and partially synchronic populations in North Macedonia and Italy. Subspecies described as belonging to <em>M. phoebe</em> by several authors from specimens taken in Spain and other Western European countries are examined and their identities reviewed. Those which are shown to be subspecies of <em>M. ornata</em> are figured together with identification labels attached to the specimens. Where syntypes have been identified, lectotypes and paralectotypes are designated where appropriate. Some subspecies which are genuinely <em>M. phoebe</em> are commented upon. Eleven syntypes of M. phoebe occitanica are examined and found to comprise both <em>M. phoebe</em> and <em>M. ornata</em>; a phoebe lectotype is designated and its Type Locality is restricted to Barcelona, Spain. Lectotypes are also designated for the names <em>bethunebakeri</em>, <em>ornatiformis</em>, <em>emipunica</em> and<em> punicata</em>. Original identifications predate the separation of these two species and exemplify difficulties previous researchers had in separating them. <em>M. ornata pseudornata</em> is sunk in synomymy with <em>M. ornata bethunebakeri</em>. It is noted that some historic and often worn specimens are extremely difficult to identify with certainty.</p> ER -