taxonID	type	description	language	source
8D37878E411B3A6CFF31FE85FDB9175D.taxon	description	Figs 3 - 7	en	Karbalaye, Ahmad, Lukhtanov, Vladimir A. (2024): Three new species of the genus Polyommatus Latreille, 1804 (subgenus Agrodiaetus Hübner, [1822]) from the Central Zagros Mountains, Iran (Lepidoptera, Lycaenidae, Polyommatinae). Ecologica Montenegrina 78: 119-133, DOI: 10.37828/em.2024.78.13, URL: https://doi.org/10.37828/em.2024.78.13
8D37878E411B3A6CFF31FE85FDB9175D.taxon	materials_examined	Holotype: male, Iran, Khuzestan Province (east part), Mount Qaroon (= Kūh- e Qārūn), 3000 to 3200 m, 17 July 2020, leg. A. Karbalaye, deposited in the Plant, Pests and Diseases Research Institute in Tehran, Iran. Paratypes: 20 males, 1 female, same data, in coll. A. Karbalaye, Iran. 1 male, same data, in ZISP. 1 male, same data, in coll. W. ten Hagen, Germany. 1 male, same data, in coll. G. C. Bozano, Italy.	en	Karbalaye, Ahmad, Lukhtanov, Vladimir A. (2024): Three new species of the genus Polyommatus Latreille, 1804 (subgenus Agrodiaetus Hübner, [1822]) from the Central Zagros Mountains, Iran (Lepidoptera, Lycaenidae, Polyommatinae). Ecologica Montenegrina 78: 119-133, DOI: 10.37828/em.2024.78.13, URL: https://doi.org/10.37828/em.2024.78.13
8D37878E411B3A6CFF31FE85FDB9175D.taxon	description	Description The length of the fore wings in the holotype is 12.5 mm, in male paratypes 12.5 - 13 mm, in female paratype 13 mm. Antennae, palpi, ocelli, head, thorax and abdomen (including genitalia) do not appear to have taxonomically valuable characters for separating species. Males Upperside. The ground color of the wings is dark brown, even darker than in P. valiabadi Rose & Schurian, 1977, which is known for its very dark coloration. This coloration is so dark that the butterflies appear black in flight. The costal margin of the fore wings is light brown. Discoidal, submarginal and antemarginal marking is absent on both fore- and hindwings. Forewings have well-developed androconial scales. These scales are evident along the entire extension of the costal margin of the forewing. Fringe is brown. Underside. Ground color is dark greyish brown with a dark golden sheen. Greenish blue metallic basal suffusion on the hindwings is well developed. Basal spots are absent on the fore wings and present on the hindwings, circled with white. Discoidal black spots are present on both fore- and hindwings, circled with white. Postdiscal black spots are medium-sized on hindwings and large on forewings, circled with white on both fore- and hindwings. Submarginal and antemarginal markings are well pronounced on both fore- and hindwings. Orange lunules are absent. The white stripe is absent on the hindwings. Fringe is brown. Female Upperside. The ground color of the wings is brown, with numerous lighter markings and well developed discal spots. Submarginal and antemarginal marking is present and represented by light lunules. Fringe is light brown. Underside. Ground color is light brown. Greenish blue metallic basal suffusion on the hindwings is well developed. Basal spots are absent on the fore wings and present on the hindwings, circled with white. Discoidal black spots are present on both fore- and hindwings, circled with white. Postdiscal black spots are medium-sized on hindwings and large on forewings, circled with white on both fore- and hindwings. Submarginal and antemarginal markings are well pronounced on both fore- and hindwings. Orange lunules are absent. The white stripe is absent on the hindwings. Fringe is light brown. Phenotypically, P. hejazii differs from the most closely related allopatric species P. ardschira (Figs 8 - 11), P. luna (Figs 12 - 15) and P. ghasemii, sp. nov. described below (Figs 18 - 21) by the darker coloration of the upper- and undersides of the wings and the stricture of the costal margin of the wings in males, which in the new species is completely covered with very long protruding androconial scales (Fig. 7). In the other three species, these scales are shorter. In addition, the species is distinguished by the complete absence of a white stripe on the underside of the hind wings. This stripe is usually found in P. ardschira (Figs 9 and 11) and is often found in P. luna (Figs 13 and 15). As for the genetic differences, the most similar DNA barcodes are found in P. pfeifferi, P. ardschira, P. eckweileri, P. luna and P. ghasemii sp. nov. However, the studied paratype of P. hejazii differs from all these species by a significant number of nucleotide substitutions. These differences are: Pdistance (hejazii / ardschira) = 1.37 % (9 substitutions), Pdistance (hejazii / luna) = 1.37 % (9 substitutions), Pdistance (hejazii / ghasemii) = 1.975 % (13 substitutions), Pdistance (hejazii / pfeifferi) = 1.06 % (7 substitutions), and Pdistance (hejazii / eckweileri) = 1.37 % (9 substitutions). These differences are higher than the level of intraspecific variation found in the subclade P. pfeifferi (0 - 4 substitutions). These differences are higher than the distinction between the sympartic and morphologically contrasting species P. ardschira (males with brown wings) and P. pfeifferi (males with blue wings) (Pdistance (pfeifferi / ardschira) = 0.46 %, 3 substitutions). Bionomy. Polyommatus hejazii inhabits rocky tragacanth biotopes at an altitude of 3000 to 3200 m above sea level (Fig. 16).	en	Karbalaye, Ahmad, Lukhtanov, Vladimir A. (2024): Three new species of the genus Polyommatus Latreille, 1804 (subgenus Agrodiaetus Hübner, [1822]) from the Central Zagros Mountains, Iran (Lepidoptera, Lycaenidae, Polyommatinae). Ecologica Montenegrina 78: 119-133, DOI: 10.37828/em.2024.78.13, URL: https://doi.org/10.37828/em.2024.78.13
8D37878E411B3A6CFF31FE85FDB9175D.taxon	distribution	Distribution. Known only from the type locality (Fig. 17).	en	Karbalaye, Ahmad, Lukhtanov, Vladimir A. (2024): Three new species of the genus Polyommatus Latreille, 1804 (subgenus Agrodiaetus Hübner, [1822]) from the Central Zagros Mountains, Iran (Lepidoptera, Lycaenidae, Polyommatinae). Ecologica Montenegrina 78: 119-133, DOI: 10.37828/em.2024.78.13, URL: https://doi.org/10.37828/em.2024.78.13
8D37878E411B3A6CFF31FE85FDB9175D.taxon	etymology	Etymology. The species is named in honor of the legendary Iranian goalkeeper Nasser Hejazi (1949 - 2011). Nasser Hejazi was an Iranian football player and coach who played for the Iranian national team and the Esteghlal Club (Taj). He is also the best goalkeeper in the history of Iran and the secondbest goalkeeper of the 20 th century on the Asian continent from the perspective of the international federation and football statistics.	en	Karbalaye, Ahmad, Lukhtanov, Vladimir A. (2024): Three new species of the genus Polyommatus Latreille, 1804 (subgenus Agrodiaetus Hübner, [1822]) from the Central Zagros Mountains, Iran (Lepidoptera, Lycaenidae, Polyommatinae). Ecologica Montenegrina 78: 119-133, DOI: 10.37828/em.2024.78.13, URL: https://doi.org/10.37828/em.2024.78.13
8D37878E41173A6DFF31FE25FEDC1527.taxon	description	Figs 18 - 21	en	Karbalaye, Ahmad, Lukhtanov, Vladimir A. (2024): Three new species of the genus Polyommatus Latreille, 1804 (subgenus Agrodiaetus Hübner, [1822]) from the Central Zagros Mountains, Iran (Lepidoptera, Lycaenidae, Polyommatinae). Ecologica Montenegrina 78: 119-133, DOI: 10.37828/em.2024.78.13, URL: https://doi.org/10.37828/em.2024.78.13
8D37878E41173A6DFF31FE25FEDC1527.taxon	materials_examined	Holotype: male, Iran, Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province (south part), Lordegan district, Koh-e-Rig Mountains, 3100 to 3200 m, 15 July 2023, leg. A. Karbalaye, deposited in the Plant, Pests and Diseases Research Institute in Tehran, Iran. Paratypes: 9 males, 3 females, same data, in coll. A. Karbalaye, Iran. 11 males, 4 females, same locality, 13 July 2024, leg. and coll. A. Karbalaye. 1 male, same data, in ZISP.	en	Karbalaye, Ahmad, Lukhtanov, Vladimir A. (2024): Three new species of the genus Polyommatus Latreille, 1804 (subgenus Agrodiaetus Hübner, [1822]) from the Central Zagros Mountains, Iran (Lepidoptera, Lycaenidae, Polyommatinae). Ecologica Montenegrina 78: 119-133, DOI: 10.37828/em.2024.78.13, URL: https://doi.org/10.37828/em.2024.78.13
8D37878E41173A6DFF31FE25FEDC1527.taxon	description	Description The length of the fore wings in the holotype is 14.0 mm, in male paratypes 13.5 - 14.0 mm, in female paratypes 13.0 - 14.0 mm. Antennae, palpi, ocelli, head, thorax and abdomen (including genitalia) do not appear to have taxonomically valuable characters for separating species. Males Upperside. The ground color of the wings is dark brown, but lighter than in P. hejazii. The costal margin of the fore wings is slightly lighter. Discoidal, submarginal and antemarginal marking is absent on both fore- and hindwings. Forewings with well-developed androconial scales. These scales are evident along the basal half of the costal margin of the forewing. Fringe is brown. Underside. Ground color is greyish brown. Greenish blue metallic basal suffusion on the hindwings is well developed. Basal spots are absent on the fore wings and present on the hindwings, circled with white. Discoidal black spots are present on both fore- and hindwings, circled with white. Postdiscal black spots are medium-sized on hindwings and large on forewings, circled with white on both fore- and hindwings. On the forewings, the submarginal dark spots are large and circled with whitish color, but this whitish edge is paler than the edge of the postdiscal spots. Antemarginal markings are well pronounced. Orange lunules are absent. The white stripe is absent or slightly visible on the hindwings. Fringe is brown. Females Upperside. The ground color of the wings is brown, with well-developed discal spots. Submarginal and antemarginal marking is present and is represented by faintly visible light lunules. Fringe is light brown. Underside. Ground color is greyish brown. Greenish blue basal suffusion on the hindwings is well developed. Basal spots are absent on the fore wings and present on the hindwings, circled with white. Discoidal black spots are present on both fore- and hindwings, circled with white. Postdiscal black spots are medium-sized on hindwings and large on forewings, circled with white on both fore- and hindwings. On the forewings, the submarginal dark spots are large and circled with white. Antemarginal markings are well pronounced on both fore- and hindwings. Orange lunules are absent. The white stripe is absent on the hindwings. Fringe is light brown.	en	Karbalaye, Ahmad, Lukhtanov, Vladimir A. (2024): Three new species of the genus Polyommatus Latreille, 1804 (subgenus Agrodiaetus Hübner, [1822]) from the Central Zagros Mountains, Iran (Lepidoptera, Lycaenidae, Polyommatinae). Ecologica Montenegrina 78: 119-133, DOI: 10.37828/em.2024.78.13, URL: https://doi.org/10.37828/em.2024.78.13
8D37878E41173A6DFF31FE25FEDC1527.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis. This butterfly belongs to the species group P. ardschira – P. luna – P. hejazii. Phenotypically, it is not as strongly differentiated as P. hejazii. It differs from P. hejazii in the structure of the costal margin of the forewing in males, where the protruding scales are not as prominent. In this respect, the species is closer to P. ardschira and P. luna. It differs from P. luna in the more strongly developed basal blue-green pollination on the underside of the hindwing at its base, which is more extended distally than in P. luna and reaches the discal spot and three lower spots of the postdiscal row. It differs from P. ardschira in the more intense bluish color of this pollination. A special feature of P. ghasemii is the strongly developed spots of the submarginal row on the underside of the forewings. These spots are surrounded by white and thus resemble the spots of the postdiscal row. As for the genetic differences, the most similar DNA barcodes are found in P. luna, P. pfeifferi, P. ardschira, P. hejazii sp. nov., and P. eckweileri. However, the studied paratype of P. ghasemii differs from all these species by a significant number of nucleotide substitutions. These differences are: Pdistance (ghasemii / luna) = 1.37 % (9 substitutions) Pdistane (ghasemii / pfeifferi) = 1.37 % (9 substitutions) Pdistance (ghasemii / ardschira) = 1.975 % (13 substitutions) Pdistance (hejazii / ghasemii) = 1.975 % (13 substitutions) Pdistance (ghasemii / eckweileri) = 1.975 % (13 substitutions) These differences are higher than the level of intraspecific variation found in the subclade P. pfeifferi (0 - 4 substitutions). These differences are higher than the distinction between the sympartic and morphologically contrasting species P. ardschira (males with brown wings) and P. pfeifferi (males with blue wings) (Pdistance (pfeifferi / ardschira) = 0.46 %, 3 substitutions). Bionomy. Polyommatus ghasemii inhabits tragacanth biotopes at an altitude of 3100 to 3200 m above sea level (Fig. 26).	en	Karbalaye, Ahmad, Lukhtanov, Vladimir A. (2024): Three new species of the genus Polyommatus Latreille, 1804 (subgenus Agrodiaetus Hübner, [1822]) from the Central Zagros Mountains, Iran (Lepidoptera, Lycaenidae, Polyommatinae). Ecologica Montenegrina 78: 119-133, DOI: 10.37828/em.2024.78.13, URL: https://doi.org/10.37828/em.2024.78.13
8D37878E41173A6DFF31FE25FEDC1527.taxon	distribution	Distribution. Known only from the type locality (Fig. 17).	en	Karbalaye, Ahmad, Lukhtanov, Vladimir A. (2024): Three new species of the genus Polyommatus Latreille, 1804 (subgenus Agrodiaetus Hübner, [1822]) from the Central Zagros Mountains, Iran (Lepidoptera, Lycaenidae, Polyommatinae). Ecologica Montenegrina 78: 119-133, DOI: 10.37828/em.2024.78.13, URL: https://doi.org/10.37828/em.2024.78.13
8D37878E41173A6DFF31FE25FEDC1527.taxon	etymology	Etymology. The species is named after Dr. Saeid Ghasemi, Iranian expert in environmental sciences, who helped in field sampling, especially finding female specimens, as well as in preparation of this paper.	en	Karbalaye, Ahmad, Lukhtanov, Vladimir A. (2024): Three new species of the genus Polyommatus Latreille, 1804 (subgenus Agrodiaetus Hübner, [1822]) from the Central Zagros Mountains, Iran (Lepidoptera, Lycaenidae, Polyommatinae). Ecologica Montenegrina 78: 119-133, DOI: 10.37828/em.2024.78.13, URL: https://doi.org/10.37828/em.2024.78.13
8D37878E41153A68FF31FF50FC1010BC.taxon	description	Figs 22 - 25	en	Karbalaye, Ahmad, Lukhtanov, Vladimir A. (2024): Three new species of the genus Polyommatus Latreille, 1804 (subgenus Agrodiaetus Hübner, [1822]) from the Central Zagros Mountains, Iran (Lepidoptera, Lycaenidae, Polyommatinae). Ecologica Montenegrina 78: 119-133, DOI: 10.37828/em.2024.78.13, URL: https://doi.org/10.37828/em.2024.78.13
8D37878E41153A68FF31FF50FC1010BC.taxon	materials_examined	Holotype: male, Iran, Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Province (south part), Lordegan District, Koh-e-Rig Mountains, 3100 to 3200 m, 13 July 2024, leg. A. Karbalaye, deposited in the Plant, Pests and Diseases Research Institute in Tehran, Iran. Paratypes: 18 males, same data, in coll. A. Karbalaye, Iran. 1 male, same data, in ZISP. 15 males, 2 females, same locality, 15 July 2023, leg. and coll. A. Karbalaye.	en	Karbalaye, Ahmad, Lukhtanov, Vladimir A. (2024): Three new species of the genus Polyommatus Latreille, 1804 (subgenus Agrodiaetus Hübner, [1822]) from the Central Zagros Mountains, Iran (Lepidoptera, Lycaenidae, Polyommatinae). Ecologica Montenegrina 78: 119-133, DOI: 10.37828/em.2024.78.13, URL: https://doi.org/10.37828/em.2024.78.13
8D37878E41153A68FF31FF50FC1010BC.taxon	description	Description The length of the fore wings in the holotype is 14.0 mm, in male paratypes 13.0 – 14.0 mm, in female paratypes 12.0 – 14.0 mm. Antennae, palpi, ocelli, head, thorax and abdomen (including genitalia) do not appear to have taxonomically valuable characters for separating species. Males Upperside. The ground color of the wings is deep glossy blue. The costal margin of the forewings is lighter, with whitish pubescence. The very distal ends of the veins are darkened. The costal and anal parts of the hindwings are dark brown. There are no spots or bands on the wings. The inner part of the fringe is light gray, the outer part of the fringe is whitish. Underside. Ground color is light greyish. Basal spots are absent on the fore wings and present on the hindwings, circled with whitish color. Discoidal black spots are present on both fore- and hindwings, circled with white. Postdiscal black spots are medium-sized on hindwings and large on forewings, circled with white on both fore- and hindwings. Submarginal and antemarginal markings are well pronounced on both fore- and hindwings. Orange lunules are absent. The white stripe is present on the hindwings, but not contrasting, it stands out faintly against the background of the wings. The inner part of the fringe is light gray, the outer part of the fringe is whitish. Females Upperside. The ground color of the wings is brown, with small discal spots on the forewings. Antemarginal marking is present and is represented by faintly visible light lunules on the hindwings. The inner part of the fringe is light brown, the outer part of the fringe is whitish. Underside. Ground color is light brown. Basal spots are absent on the fore wings and present on the hindwings, circled with whitish color. Discoidal black spots are present on both fore- and hindwings, circled with white. Postdiscal black spots are medium-sized on hindwings and large on forewings, circled with white on both fore- and hindwings. Submarginal and antemarginal markings are well pronounced on both fore- and hindwings. Orange lunules are absent. The clear white stripe is present on the hindwings. The inner part of the fringe is light brown, the outer part of the fringe is whitish.	en	Karbalaye, Ahmad, Lukhtanov, Vladimir A. (2024): Three new species of the genus Polyommatus Latreille, 1804 (subgenus Agrodiaetus Hübner, [1822]) from the Central Zagros Mountains, Iran (Lepidoptera, Lycaenidae, Polyommatinae). Ecologica Montenegrina 78: 119-133, DOI: 10.37828/em.2024.78.13, URL: https://doi.org/10.37828/em.2024.78.13
8D37878E41153A68FF31FF50FC1010BC.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis. The new species is clearly distinguished from the genetically closest species P. achaemenes and P. shahrami by the absence of darkening of the veins on the upper side of the wings in males (in males of P. achaemenes and P. shahrami, veins are lined with black along the distal fourth or even third of the wings), as well as by the absence of black dots along the edge of the hindwings. The new species is clearly distinguished from P. shahrami and P. faramarzii by the color of the upperside of the wings in males. In the new species this color is pure blue, while in P. shahrami it is milky blue (similar to P. phyllides Staudinger, 1886), and in P. faramarzii it is violet. In terms of morphology, the new species is cryptic to P. pfeifferi, but according to DNA barcodes it is very distant from P. pfeifferi and belongs to a different group of species, in fact being a morphologically differentiated vicariant of P. shahrami and P. achaemenes. The studied paratype of P. persisinus differs from all related species by a significant number of nucleotide substitutions. These differences are: Pdistance (persisinus / achaemenes) = 1.22 % (10 substitutions) Pdistance (persisinus / shahrami) = 1.22 % (10 substitutions) Pdistance (persisinus / faramarzii) = 1.43 % (6 substitutions in 421 bp fragment) Pdistance (persisinus / pfeifferi) = 2.89 % (19 substitutions) These differences are much higher than the level of intraspecific differences found in the subclade (0 - 4 substitutions). These differences are at the level of differences between the sympatric and morphologically contrasting species P. shahrami (males with milky blue wings) and P. faramarzii (males with violet wings) (Pdistance (shahrami / faramarzii) = 1.19 %, 5 substitutions in 421 bp fragment). Bionomy. Polyommatus persisinus inhabits tragacanth biotopes at an altitude of 3100 to 3200 m above sea level (Fig. 26). Distribution. Known only from the type locality (Fig. 17). Etymology. The species name is derived from two Latin words, persicus (Persian) and sinus (gulf). The species name indicates that the distribution area of P. persisinus is in the part of the Zagros that belongs to the Persian Gulf basin.	en	Karbalaye, Ahmad, Lukhtanov, Vladimir A. (2024): Three new species of the genus Polyommatus Latreille, 1804 (subgenus Agrodiaetus Hübner, [1822]) from the Central Zagros Mountains, Iran (Lepidoptera, Lycaenidae, Polyommatinae). Ecologica Montenegrina 78: 119-133, DOI: 10.37828/em.2024.78.13, URL: https://doi.org/10.37828/em.2024.78.13
8D37878E41153A68FF31FF50FC1010BC.taxon	discussion	Discussion Molecular analysis of the genus Polyommatus has previously shown that many Iranian endemics belong to a distinct monophyletic P. erschoffii species complex (Kandul et al. 2007), whose range is almost limited to Iran (Eckweiler & Bozano 2016). Species of this complex are genetically highly differentiated from each other (Kandul et al. 2007, Lukhtanov et al. 2023) and can be classified as paleoendemics, i. e. evolutionary lineages that have limited distribution areas despite millions of years of unique evolutionary history (Cai et al. 2023). A monophyletic group comprising species P. shahrami, P. faramarzii, P. achaemenes and P. frauvartianae (Fig. 2, highlighted by red) is part of this complex. Until recently, this group was considered endemic to the Mount Zardkuh and the adjacent Kuh-i-Haft Chehmeh massif in the central Zagros. However, it has recently been shown that the range of this group also includes the territory of Afghanistan (Lukhtanov et al. 2023). The previously described species P. pfeifferi, P. eckweileri, P. ardschira and P. luna together form another monophyletic group within the P. erschoffii species complex (Fig. 2, highlighted by violet). The species of this group are endemic to Iran (Eckweiler & Bozano 2016). All three new species described in this paper belong to the P. erschoffii complex. One of them (P. persisinus) belongs to the P. frauvartianae group, and two of them (P. hejazii and P. ghasemii) belong to the P. ardschira group. All three species appear to be locally endemic to the Central Zagros. These findings once again emphasize the potential of the P. erschoffii clade to form multiple evolutionary lineages. They also confirm that the Central Zagros is one of the exceptional centers of speciation and species diversity of Lepidoptera. In addition to morphology, all three new species differ from each other and from previously described species by 9 - 13 nucleotide substitutions in standard DNA barcodes, which corresponds to the usual level of differentiation between species of the subgenus Polyommatus (Agrodiaetus) or even exceeds it (Wiemers & Fiedler 2007). In the subgenus Polyommatus (Agrodiaetus), species with such a level of genetic differentiation are usually also well differentiated by karyotypes; for example, P. ardschira has the haploid number of chromosomes (n) n = 113, and P. luna has n = 73 - 74 (Kandul et al. 2007). In our case, it was not possible to study karyotypes, since there was no appropriate fixation of the material. Therefore, cytogenetic studies of these three species are highly desirable in future for understanding the patterns of karyotype evolution in the genus Polyommatus, which is currently the subject of intensive research (Vershinina & Lukhtanov 2017).	en	Karbalaye, Ahmad, Lukhtanov, Vladimir A. (2024): Three new species of the genus Polyommatus Latreille, 1804 (subgenus Agrodiaetus Hübner, [1822]) from the Central Zagros Mountains, Iran (Lepidoptera, Lycaenidae, Polyommatinae). Ecologica Montenegrina 78: 119-133, DOI: 10.37828/em.2024.78.13, URL: https://doi.org/10.37828/em.2024.78.13
