Polyommatus sagratrox

Polyommatus sagratrox
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
Family:	Lycaenidae
Genus:	Polyommatus
Subgenus:	Plebicula
Species:	P. sagratrox
Binomial name
Polyommatus (Plebicula) sagratrox (Aistleitner, 1986)

The Sierra de la Sagra Blue or Polyommatus (Plebicula) sagratrox (Aistleitner, 1986) is a species of butterfly in the Lycaenidae family. It is found (endemic) in the south-east of the Iberian Peninsula (Spain).

Adults are on wing from July (normally) to August. The hostplant (larvae) is Anthyllis vulneraria microcephala, an endemic plant from NE. Andalusia Region, SE. Spain.

A valid combination is Plebicula sagratrox Aistleitner, 1986.

Synonyms

• Polyommatus golgus sagratrox (Aistleitner, 1986).
• Plebicula golgus sagratrox (Aistleitner, 1986).

Ecology and Distribution

• Type locality: Sierra de la Sagra, NE. Granada province, SE. Iberian peninsula (Spain).
• Distribution [see Gil-T., F. (2013)]: only in 4 separated and small colonies: Sierra de la Sagra, Sierra de Guillimona and Sierra Seca in the NE. Granada province; and Sierra de la Cabrilla in the NE. Jaen province.
• Its distribution is the most reduced of all Papilionoidea endemic species of Spain: the total occupied area by the four colonies is 0.82 km².
• Altitude of its biotopes: 1900–2300 m (Note: altitude very different from Polyommatus golgus: 2500–3200 m).
• Hostplant: Anthyllis vulneraria microcephala, an endemic plant from NE. Andalusia Region, in the SE. of the Iberian peninsula (Spain).

Taxonomy

• Tolman (1994) considers to Polyommatus sagratrox as a subspecies of Polyommatus golgus basing on some questionable and unjustified arguments [see discussion in Gil-T. & Ibáñez (2009)].
• P. golgus and P. sagratrox show an ecology (altitude of their biotopes, larval host plants, soil substrate...), morphology and ethology very differentiated [see Gil-T (2003, 2013) and Gil-T. & Ibáñez (2009)].

References

• Aistleitner, E. (1986): Plebicula sagratrox spec. n. neue Bläulingsart aus Südost-Spanien (Lep., Lycaenidae) (Lepidoptera, Lycaenidae). Atalanta 16: 397-404.
• Gil-T., F. (2003): Polyommatus (Plebicula) sagratrox : ecología, morfología comparada de sus estadios preimaginales con los de Polyommatus (Plebicula) golgus (Hübner, 1813), taxonomía y nuevos argumentos para su validez específica (Lepidoptera, Lycaenidae). Bol. Soc. Ent. Aragonesa 33: 219-227. Full article (in Spanish): .
• Gil-T., F. (2007): The correct hostplant of Polyommatus golgus (Hübner, 1813): Anthyllis vulneraria pseudoarundana H. Lindb. (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae). Atalanta 38 (1/2): 199-202, 311. Full article: .
• Gil-T., F. (2010): The correct hostplant of Polyommatus sagratrox (Aistleitner, 1986): Anthyllis vulneraria microcephala (Willk.) (Lepidoptera, Lycaenidae). Atalanta 41 (3/4): 321-322, 482. Full article: .
• Gil-T., F. (2013): Updating of the distribution of Polyommatus sagratrox (Aistleitner, 1986), with the first record for Jaen province (SE. Spain). Notes on morphology, ecology and taxonomy (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae). Bol. Soc. Andaluza Entomología 22: 94-103. Full article (in Spanish): .
• Gil-T., F. & S. Ibáñez (2009): New localities for Polyommatus sagratrox and Pseudochazara hippolyte (Esper, 1783) in Granada province (S. Spain), with considerations on the taxonomic status of the first taxon (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae; Satyrinae). Atalanta 40 (1/2): 185-190, 332. Full article: .
• Tolman, T. (1994): Concerning the pre-imaginal stadia and taxonomy of Polyommatus (Plebicula) sagratrox (Aistleitner, 1986) (Lepidoptera, Lycaenidae). Phegea 22 (1): 23-27.

External link

• Photos of larva and pupa of Polyommatus sagratrox.