Note: the analysis by Wiemers et al. (2009)
suggests that the genera Plebejidea (absent from Germany), Agriades,
Albulina, Kretania (absent from Germany), Plebejus and Lycaeides are all
monophyletic, but are all very closely related and form a larger
monophyletic group. Thus, a case could be made to synonymize all these
genera under the oldest available name (Plebejus). However, I argue here
for retaining the genera: the genetic differentiation between them may
be low, even lower than between the species in huge genera like
Polyommatus or Agrodiaetus, but the morphological differentiation
between them is very clear and most species can easily be assigned to
the genera by the color and other wing markings. Thus, I consider the
distinct genera (as long as they are all monophyletic, which they seem
to be) to be of substantial value especially in terms of species
identification and identification keys. The only exception I make is
that I lump together the genera Plebejus and Lycaeides, because they are
extremely similar and they form a monophyletic group in the analysis of Wiemers et al. (2009). Thus, I regard Lycaeides as a synonym of Plebejus.
|
