Calisto disjunctus hersheyi Álvarez & Núñez, 2021

Álvarez, Yosiel & Núñez, Rayner, 2021, A new subspecies of Calisto disjunctus Núñez & Barro (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae Satyrinae) from Western Cuba, with a key to the Cuban members of the genus, Zootaxa 4915 (1), pp. 107-118 : 110-113

Calisto disjunctus hersheyi Álvarez & Núñez , ssp. n.

Figures 1 A-D, 2, 3, 7D

http://zoobank.org/ urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:12697C34-0B65-46A3-BB10-5F4AB6259F32

Type material. Holotype ( Fig. 1 A-B)—♁, CUBA, Mayabeque, Santa Cruz del Norte, Jardines de Hershey, 23º 08’ N, 81º 55’ W, 80m, 23/VIII/2019, Col. Y. Álvarez. Deposited in Yosiel Álvarez Collection ( YAC) . Paratypes ( Fig. 1 C-D)—six ♁, three ♀. Of these, three ♁ with same data as for holotype, DNA vouchers YCH012 and YCH014; one ♀ with same data as for holotype except 11/XIII/2019; one ♀ with same data as for holotype except 20/I/2020 . One ♁, CUBA, Artemisa, Sierra del Rosario , El Taburete, 22 o 83’ N, 82 o 92’ W, 80m, 9/X/2011 , Col. R. Núñez, DNA voucher PM07-06 . One ♁: CUBA, Mayabeque, Santa Cruz del Norte , Lomas de Galindo , 23 o 03’ N, 81 o 42’ W, 75m, 28/ VI /2019, Col. Y. Álvarez, DNA voucher RN18-022; one ♀ with the same data as for previous exemplar except 29/ VI /2019. One ♁: CUBA, Matanzas, VII/1993 . Paratypes deposited in the Museo Felipe Poey ( MFP), the Institute of Ecology and Systematics collection ( CZACC), both in Havana, Cuba , and at the McGuire Center for Lepidoptera and Biodiversity ( MGCL), Gainesville , United States .

Etymology. The subspecies is named after Jardines de Hershey, the locality in which most individuals of the type series were collected.

Diagnosis. Calisto disjunctus hersheyi requires comparison with several of its congeners. From typical C. d. disjunctus , it differs by its paler, less contrasting UN with a less cover of pale yellow scales; on the UNHW the white dot between M 2 -M 3 veins is larger and the M 3 - Cu 1 one is smaller and more displaced to the outer margin; sometimes it is greatly reduced or even absent. The male genitalia differ in the greater width of the valvae and a shorter saccus in C. d. hersheyi. From sympatric C. herophile , C. disjunctus hersheyi differs in its larger average size, darker UP, paler UN, on the UNHW lacking the Rs-M 1 white dot and the M 3 -Cu 1 dot smaller and displaced to the outer margin. From C. bradleyi , possibly a sympatric species at Guaniguanico, it differs in its smaller average size and lighter colour on the UN, a smaller area covered by red scales in the UNFW cell and the absence of the bluish scales present in front of the black spot on the tornal lobe of UNHW in C. bradleyi . Moreover, the base of the uncus is wider in male C. d. hersheyi and the ductus bursae is shorter and wider than in females of C. bradleyi . From C. torrei Núñez , it differs in its smaller average size, paler UN, a reduced area covered by red scales in the UNFW cell, HW less round and on the UNHW the white dot M 3 -Cu 1 smaller and displaced to the outer margin. Also, the base of the valvae is more curved in male C. d. hersheyi. COI diagnostic positions for C. d. disjunctus and C. d. hersheyi are at 307 A/G, 370 G/A and 523 T/C, respectively.

Description. FW length ♁ 16.6–18.2 mm (n = 6), ♀ 18.4–19.5 mm (n = 3). Females with broader wings and paler colour. UP dark brown, distal half of FW paler; androconial patch darker and well defined in males, not entering the discal cell. UNFW brown, the red patch occupying the central third of the discal cell, often with a straight outer edge but sometimes with a pointed outer edge. External edge of the postdiscal lines of both wings faintly scaled with pale yellow, mostly near ocelli; sometimes yellow scales slightly marked or almost absent. Basal area of UNHW poorly suffused with pale yellow scales. Three white dots from M 1 -M 2 to M 3 -Cu 1 UNHW cells, the one at M 2 -M 3 distinctly larger and the one between M 3 -Cu 1 very small and displaced to the outer margin and absent in some specimens. Area enclosing the white dots with a suffusion of pale lilac scales on fresh individuals. A wellmarked black spot at the tornal lobe of the UNHW, also perceptible from the UP. Male genitalia slightly sclerotized, tegumen about two-thirds the length of the uncus, slightly convex with a shallow, broad notch at the upper middle; uncus tapering gradually from base to apex, not distinctly pointed; base rounded protuberant; valvae with digitiform projection slightly wide, ventral margin slightly concave; saccus relatively short ( Fig. 3A ). Female genitalia with dorsal crown tall; corpus bursae wide, as long as the ductus bursae, the latter notably wide ( Fig. 3C ).

Distribution. Known only from El Taburete, Sierra del Rosario, Artemisa, in the Guaniguanico mountain range, and from Jardines de Hershey and Lomas de Galindo, Santa Cruz del Norte, Mayabeque, in the Habana-Matanzas Hills. A paratype proceeded from an unknown locality within Matanzas province. There are also visual reports from Escaleras de Jaruco, Jaruco, Mayabeque, 15 km southwest from Hershey ( Fig. 4 ). Probably C. disjunctus hersheyi is more widespread at the Guaniguanico and Habana-Matanzas mountain ranges. Sympatric with C. herophile throughout its range, and with C. gundlachi Núñez & Barro in Lomas de Galindo. Probably sympatric with C. bradleyi in the Guaniguanico mountain range.

Habitat. Semideciduous forest, gallery forest and secondary forest ( Fig. 5 ). If the species is indeed found in Escaleras de Jaruco, it is probable that it also inhabits the “mogote” vegetation complex.

Biology. In Jardines de Hershey, the subspecies seems to be more abundant in the late months of summer ( Álvarez & Corso 2020), but it has been also reported from January to March. In Lomas de Galindo it has been seen flying from June to March. Adults fly low and slowly between bushes, but more actively than C. herophile , in forest clearings. They typically congregate around flowering bushes but isolated individuals are also likely to be found. In Galindo, stray individuals can occasionally be spotted in disturbed open areas. Adults have been seen visiting flowers of Bidens pilosus L. and Melanthera nivea (L.) Smill.

Immature stages. Unknown.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Type specimens of Calisto disjunctus. A: ♁ Calisto disjunctus hersheyi ssp. n holotype, dorsal view. B: ♁ Calisto disjunctus hersheyi ssp. n holotype, ventral view. C: ♀ Calisto disjunctus hersheyi ssp. n paratype, dorsal view. D: ♀ Calisto disjunctus hersheyi ssp. n paratype, ventral view. E: ♁ Calisto d. disjunctus Núñez & Barro holotype, dorsal view. F: ♁ Calisto d. disjunctus Núñez & Barro holotype, ventral view.

FIGURE 3. Genitalia of Calisto disjunctus hersheyi ssp. n. A: Male genitalia. B: Aedeagus. C: Female genitalia.

FIGURE 4. Distribution of Calisto disjunctus. 1: Estero de las Piedras, Isla de la Juventud (type locality of Calisto d. disjunctus). For Calisto disjunctus hersheyi ssp. n. 2: El Taburete, Sierra del Rosario, Artemisa. 3: Escaleras de Jaruco, Jaruco, Mayabeque (visual record). 4: Jardines de Hershey, Santa Cruz del Norte, Mayabeque. 5: Lomas de Galindo, Santa Cruz del Norte, Mayabeque.

FIGURE 5. Habitat of Calisto disjunctus hersheyi ssp. n. A: Secondary forest clearing in Jardines de Hershey, Santa Cruz del Norte, Mayabeque. B: Gallery forest clearing within serpentine scrub-woodland in Lomas de Galindo, Santa Cruz del Norte, Mayabeque.