ИСТИНА

Palaearctic Сallophrys (Lepidoptera, Lycaenidae) is taxonomically complicated genus. External similarity, some aspects of biology and localization in out-of-the-way regions which are the pecularities of the most species had obstructed investigation of this group. Complex analysis of COI-gene, morphology and some data on biology illuminates problems in systematics and lets to investigate phylogeny and main evolution trends of the group. Morphological analysis shown that the Palaearctic region is inhabited by 15 species of Callophrys, 3 of them were described as new by us. The center of biodiversity of the group is situated in Armenian Highland and Iranian Plateau. Morphological analysis let divide the genus into five main groups: C. avis, C. rubi, C. paulae, C. suaveola and C. mystaphia – species groups. Members of these groups have unique combination of external morphological characters and characters of genital structures. This division also correlates with host plant preferendum of each group. Molecular analysis based on COI-gene supports such division but usage of this gene as a barcode marker is impossible due to absence of gap between intra- and interspecific genetic differences in C. rubi – group. Probably it’s a consequence of relatively late divergention of the group. Phylogenetic scheme lets us suppose that С. avis – group (which includes one species, morphologically close to Nearctic Callophrys) is the basal, and С. suaveola – group is the most advanced. Thus we can define apomorphies and plesiomorphies in morphological characters and in modes of ecological strategies which are as follows: developed lateral lobes of antrum in female genitalia, developed anal lobe of hindwing, developed postdiscal row of spots and usage of Fabaceae as host plants (plesiomorphies); reduced lateral lobes of antrum, rounded hindwing, reduced postdiscal row of spots and usage of Umbelliferae and some Polygonaceae (Rheum spp.) as host plants (apomorphies).