Summary
Enzyme electrophoretic data show a remarkably high degree of genetic similarity within the European group ofnapi s.l. whereas genetic differences exist at several loci between the European and the North American taxa ofnapi s.l. It is concluded that the European taxa did not differentiate to the species level and form a phylogenetically young group. The North American taxa included in this study are specifically distinct from Europeannapi and separated much earlier. Within these North American taxamarginalis, oleracea andvirginiensis did undergo speciation. The data show a splitting of the genusPieris into three species groups, each genetically differentiated to the same level. The splitting ofPieris into two genera, as suggested by earlier investigators, is not supported here.
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Acknowledgments. We are indebted to the following persons who sent living material: Dr K. Aagard, D. Benyamini, F. Catzeflis, U. Eitschberger, J. Forsberg, Prof. R. Hauser, T. Hayasaka, P. Jaksic, Dr F. Kasy, Dr H. Katakura, Dr D. Murphy, Dr T. Racheli, J. Reichel, Prof. A. M. Shapiro, Dr G. Thomson, Prof. P. Vogel and O. Yoshiaki and others which are named in earlier publications. Comments and suggestions of Prof. A. M. Shapiro and D. C. Webb considerably helped to improve the manuscript. This study has been supported by grants from the Swiss National Science Foundation (No. 3.640.80), Hochschulstiftung der Universität Bern and Dr Karl Bretscher-Stiftung Bern. We acknowledge the technical assistance of Mrs L. Frauchiger and V. Siegfried. Prof. R. Hauser continuously encouraged these studies.
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The origin of the North AmericanPieris samples may be critical. We give here a list of the localities for these taxa. A complete list with the sampling sites for all taxa is available from the authors upon request:P. marginalis: Cascade Head, Lincoln Co, Oregon; Clearwater Valley, Idaho; Revelstoke, B. C.,P. marginalis mcdunnoughi: Gallatine Mtn, Montana; Goodrich Creak, Adams Co, Idaho.P. castoria: Gates Canyon, Solano Co; Lang Crossing, Nevada Co; American River Canyon, Placer Co, all California.P. oleracea: Vivian Forest, York Co, Ontario,P. virginiensis: Creekside, Indiana Co, Pennsylvania (2); Halton Co. Forest, Ontario.
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Geiger, H.J., Scholl, A. Systematics and evolution of holarctic Pierinae (Lepidoptera). An enzyme electrophoretic approach. Experientia 41, 24–29 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02005856
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02005856