Alucita helena Ustjuzhanin, 1993

Ustjuzhanin, Petr, Kovtunovich, Vasiliy & Yakovlev, Roman, 2016, Alucitidae (Lepidoptera), a new family for the Mongolian fauna, Nota Lepidopterologica 39 (1), pp. 61-66 : 62-63

Taxon classification Animalia Lepidoptera Alucitidae

Alucita helena Ustjuzhanin, 1993 Figs 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Alucita helena Ustjuzhanin, 1993: 83. Type locality: Russia, Altai Republic, Ongudai District, village of Inya.

Material examined.

112 ex. from Western Mongolia, Khovd Aimak, Dzun-Dzhargalant-Khairkhan, Ar-Shatyn-Gol River, N47°44' / E92°27', 2100 m, 26.vi.2015., leg. R. Yakovlev.

Notes.

In addition to the type locality, specimens of Alucita helena were examined from the Republic of Altai (Ongudai District, near B. Yaloman village; Kosh-Agach District, 15 km up from Beltir village, Chagan River; Kosh-Agach District, 15 km E Kokorya; Ust-Kan District, Shiverta River Valley, 5 km SW of Beshozek village; Ulagan District, 10 km NW of Aktash village, Chuya road) (Fig. 4). Probably larvae of this species are associated with Lonicera ( Caprifoliaceae ) ( Zagulajev 1986). There are two generations with adults of the first flying in June and those of the second in August. The adults of the second generation are larger and darker than those of the first.

Specimens were collected in Mongolia at Khar Us Nuur National Park, Dzhargalant-Khairkhan Ridge (Fig. 5). The 850 000 ha park is located 45 km southeast of the center of Khovd Aimak. In the central portion of the park there are lakes Khar Us, Khar, and Durgun. The park includes the Chono Kharaih River and the eastern spurs of Dzhargalant-Khairkhan.

According to the new botanical-geographical zonation scheme for Mongolia ( Kamelin 2010), the Dzhargalant-Khairkhan Ridge is located in the boreal region, steppe subregion of the Tuva-Mongolian Province, Khovd District. The eastern macroslope of the ridge borders the Lacustrine-Basin District and in the South the Shargyn Gobi exclave of the Gobi Subregion. The predominant type of the ridge vegetation is steppe with dry and desert areas reaching 3000 m.a.s.l. The extent of desert plant species in this steppe is not great, in contrast to the Shargyn Gobi exclave steppe where they predominate. In the foothills and middle mountains of Dzhargalant-Khairkhan, the desert steppe is widespread. Steppe plants occupy plains and slopes of the mountains at the altitudes of 1700 (2100)−2250 (2300) m.a.s.l. ( Karamysheva et al. 1984). A petrophyte vegetation has developed on the steep slopes of the ridge while a vegetation of rocky substrates occurs on the ravine bottoms and in valleys ( Pyak 2006). Poplar forests of Populus laurifolia Ledeb. ( Salicaceae ) and the shrub Lonicera microphylla Willd. Ex. Schult. ( Caprifoliaceae ) grow on rocky substrates along the river valleys. Salix ledebouriana Trautv. ( Salicaceae ) and Rhodiola krylovii A.V. Polozii & N.V. Revyakina ( Crassulaceae ) occur in narrow gorges. The highland ridge belt is occupied by the kobresia and kobresia-sedge alpine heathlands and the cryophilic meadow-steppe where Papaver pseudotenellum Grubov ( Papaveraceae ), Pulsatilla bungeana C. A. Mey ex. Ledeb. ( Ranunculaceae ) and Pedicularis achilleifolia Stephan ex. Willd. ( Orobanchaceae ) occur. During the field work in the National Park over 100 Lepidoptera species were collected. The material is being studied and results will be published later.