DNA Barcoding of the Palaearctic Elfin Butterflies (Lepidoptera, Lycaenidae) with a Description of Four New Species from Vietnam †

Abstract

Phylogenetic analysis is provided for the first time for 12 species of Palaearctic elfin butterflies, members of the previously recognized genera Ahlbergia Bryk, 1947, Cissatsuma Johnson, 1992, and Novosatsuma Johnson, 1992, based on the barcoding region of the mitochondrial cytochrome C oxidase subunit I gene (COI). Comparison of the COI barcodes revealed very low levels of genetic divergence between the species of the Palaearctic elfin butterflies and Callophrys Billberg, 1820 sensu stricto. COI-based phylogeny revealed that Palaearctic Callophrys and the Palaearctic elfin butterflies, except Cissatsuma, are polyphyletic. Four new sympatric species, namely, Callophrys (Ahlbergia) hmong sp. n., C. (A.) tay sp. n., Callophrys (Cissatsuma) devyatkini sp. n. and C. (A.) dao sp. n. are described from Ha Giang Province, North Vietnam, based on wing colouration, the morphologies of the male and female genitalia, and differences in COI sequences. Discovery of the new species expands the distribution range of the group towards the southeast, beyond the Palaearctic region.