Zygaena (Zygaena) rhadamanthus (Esper, [1789])

Efetov, Konstantin A., Hofmann, Axel, Tarmann, Gerhard M. & Tremewan, Walter Gerald, 2014, Taxonomic comments on the treatment of the Zygaenidae (Lepidoptera) in volume 3 of Moths of Europe, Zygaenids, Pyralids 1 and Brachodids (2012), Nota Lepidopterologica 37 (2), pp. 123-133 : 126

Zygaena (Zygaena) rhadamanthus (Esper, [1789])

Sphinx rhadamanthus Esper, [1789], Die Schmetterlinge in Abbildungen nach der Natur mit Beschreibungen 2 (Supplement): pl. 40, figs 1, 2; 1794, ibidem 2: 13. Type-locality. France: Gard (Languedoc), Nîmes.

Remarks.

In stark contrast to the splitting and naming of geographical populations of other Zygaena species, Leraut (2012: 98) lumps together a number of subspecific taxa of Zygaena rhadamanthus (Esper, [1789]), all but one of which were considered valid by Hofmann and Tremewan (1996: 130-131). The latter authors accept that less variation is exhibited in the populations occurring in France (east of the Pyrenees) compared to those in the Iberian Peninsula where they exhibit a mosaic of extreme geographical variation, with phenotypes ranging from ‘normal’ and melanistic to individuals with the forewing ground colour powdered with white scales (griseoid) and reminiscent of Zygaena rhadamanthus grisea . The subspecific nominal taxa relevant to their treatment by Leraut (2012: 98) are discussed in detail below.