Abstract
The subgenus Tharsalea of the genus Lycaena is restricted to Polyommatus arota (Boisduval) 1852 and its subspecies. These subspecies are: arota arota (Bdv. ), arota virginiensis (Edw. ), arota nubila J. A. Comst. and arota schellbachi Tilden, n. subsp., herein described.