?Mitochondrial DNA-based phylogeography of the large ringlet Erebia euryale (Esper, 1805) suggests recurrent Alpine-Carpathian disjunctions during Pleistocene (Nymphalidae, Satyrinae)

Most species of the butterfly genus Erebia are high altitude specialists, in which territorial fragmentation is associated with distinct genetic patterns. This also true for large ringlet, euryale (Esper, 1805), a widespread across European mountain systems. Previous molecular studies revealed four lineages: two Alps, coinciding ssp. adyte and isarica , one Pyrenees Cantabria (ssp. pyraenaeicola), Carpathians Balkans syrmia). Two morphological subspecies inhabiting delimited ranges southern Alps pseudoadyte kunzi ) were not included these studies. To further our understanding relationships between populations, both Alpine extra ones, we sequenced 1,496 bp COI gene 16 Jurassian populations analysed them combination published Pyrenean Carpathian sequences. The resulting haplotype network shows five lineages, congruent morphologic delineation subspecies. Based on current distribution affinities, reconstructed pre-Würm phylogeographic scenario. suggests an initial split clade, probably origin. Within three subsequently differentiated, during several glacial cycles, generating adyte, . In parallel, clade underwent second Alpine–Carpathian disjunction differentiated into syrmia Carpathians, ocellaris eastern revealing heterogeneous origin E. Alps. relatively young divergence western part species’ range.