Haplotypic diversity of <i>Leptidea morsei</i> (Fenton, 1882) (Lepidoptera, Pieridae) on the northwestern periphery of the area

The first data on haplotypic diversity in natural populations of the L. morsei in the north-east of the Russian plain and in the northern regions of the Urals have been obtained. Our interest is caused by the fact that the northwestern border of this species distribution passes here. Six haplotypes were identified, of which five were found only in the studied region. A comparative analysis of haplotypic diversity in different parts of the species range and the geographical distribution of haplotypes allowed us to draw a preliminary conclusion that the population groupings of L. morsei in the north-west of the range have greater genetic similarity with Asian populations than with isolated Central European ones. The settlement of this species to the north of the Russian Plain and the Urals in the post-Glacial epoch obviously took place along the south of the West Siberian Plain through the Southern Trans-Urals.