| Abstract: | The generic composition of the Polyommatus Section of the Polyommatini, originally proposed by Eliot mostly from studies of male genitalia and including 33 valid generic names, is revised.
Recent revisionary works, including study of morphological (and other) characters in both sexes indicates the following genera must be excluded: Cyclargus Nabokov, 1945; Echinargus Nabokov, 1945; Hemiargus Hubner, [1819]; Itylos Draudt, 1921 (= Parachilades Nabokov, 1945); Nabokovia Hemming, 1960 and Pseudochrysops Nabokov, 1945.
Characters are reviewed for the nine genera remaining in Polyommatus Section: Agriades Hubner, [1819]; Albulina Turr, 1909 (= Farsia Zhdanko, 1992, syn. nov.; Pamiria Zhdanko, 1994, syn. nov.; Patricius Balint, 1991, syn. nov. and Plebejidea Koqak, 1993, syn. nov.); Aricia [Reichenbach], 1819 (= Umpria Zhdanko, 1994, syn. nov.);
Chilades Moore, [1881] (= Lachides Nekrutenko, 1984, syn. nov.); Madeleinea Balint, 1993; Paralycaeides Nabokov, 1945; Plebejus Kluk, 1802 (= Alpherakya Zhdanko 1994, syn. nov.); Polyommatus Latreille, 1804 (= Elviria Zhdanko, 1994, syn. nov.) and Pseudolucia Nabokov, 1945.
A list of genera and species is given. Three replacement names are proposed:
Plebejus ardis Balint & Johnson, nom. nov. (replaces Lycaena eversmanni Staudinger, 1894), Plebejus beani Balint & Johnson, nom. nov. (replaces Lycaena indica Evans, 1925) and Plebejus pilgram Balint & Johnson, nom. nov. (replaces Lycaena serica Grum-Grshimailo, 1902).
From examination of type material, the following new species level synonymies are established: Aricia monarchus Higgins, 1981 (junior synonym of Papilio semiargus Rottemburg, 1775), Lycaena idas tshimgana Forster, 1936 (junior synonym of Lycaena argus f. naruena Courvoisier, 1913), Plebejus balinti D’Abrera, 1993 (junior synonym of Lycaena buddhista Alpheraky, 1881), Polyommatus tibetanus Forster, 1940 (junior synonym of Polyommatus annulatus Elwes, 1906) and Vacciniina lornex Higgins, 1981 (junior synonym of Plebejus lucifera selengensis Forster, 1940).
A hypothetical branching diagram of the Polyommatus Section is presented and discussed, with notes concerning historical context (especially regarding the Plebejinae system of Nabokov). The phenomenon of wing discoloration in certain Polyommatini is discussed in light of new data concerning geographic distribution and apparent endemism in various of these taxa. Also examined are historical and current methods of studying the Polyommatini and various views of the tribes’s overall diversity.
In an Appendix, six polyommatine lycaenids are described: Agriades kurtjohnsoni BAum. spec. nov. from Nepal, Albulina gaborronkayi Balint, spec. nov. also from Nepal, Polyommatus frauvartianae spec. nov. from Afghanistan, Polyommatus fabiani spec. nov. from Mongolia, Polyommatus delessei spec. nov. from Iran and Madeleinea gradoslamasi spec. nov. from Peru.
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