The phylogenetic relationship of Western Carpathians Erebia spp. (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) based on mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I sequence analysis

The Holarctic butterflies of the genus Erebia (Lepidoptera) in the Western Carpathians is represented by around 10 mainly mountain species. In this study, phylogenetic relationships among Erebia euryale, E. medusa, E. manto, E. epiphron, E. pharte, E. gorge, E. aethiops, E. pronoe, E. pandrose, and E. ligea from different Western Carpathians localities were compared with other Erebia species on the basis of cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI ) mitochondrial gene sequence. The Western Carpathians Erebia species are placed in different clades of the phylogenetic tree, pointing out their different origin, as these species migrated during the last glacial era and the existence of the refugium in this area is supposed. The results obtained improve our knowledge of Erebia species distribution and current status within the Western Carpathians.