Castnia invaria penelope Schaufuss, 1870

Ríos, Sergio D. & González, Jorge M., 2011, A synopsis of the Castniidae (Lepidoptera) of Paraguay, Zootaxa 3055, pp. 43-61 : 49-50

Castnia invaria penelope Schaufuss, 1870

( Figs. 5 – 6 )

Castnia penelope Schaufuss, 1870

Castnia endelechia H. Druce, 1893

Castnia juturna f. paraguayensis Strand, 1913, n.syn.

Castnia icaroides Houlbert, 1917

Castnia jordani Houlbert, 1917

Castnia (Elina) icarus penelope ab. endelechiodes Rothschild, 1919

Castnia minerva R. Krüger, 1926

Castnia icarus dividuus Röber, 1928

Castnia (Elvina [sic]) icarus f. hoehni Jörgensen, 1930

Castnia icarus patquiensis Breyer, 1943

Castnia endelechoides J. Y. Miller, 1995 , missp.

Castnia icarioides J. Y.Miller, 1995 , missp.

Taxonomic history. Jörgensen (1930) lists three subspecies under “ Castnia icarus ” which were later synonymized under Castnia invaria penelope by Lamas (1995). One of those is endelechia Druce , mentioned as abundant in Northern Argentina and in several locations in Paraguay ( Jörgensen 1930). Breyer (1940) corroborates that endelechia is common in Paraguay. Krüger (1926) described specimens from Puerto San Lorenzo (Itapúa Department) as Castnia minerva . Krüger’s new species was later synonymized under C. invaria penelope ( Lamas 1995) . Jörgensen (1930) also described the form hoehni (= C. invaria penelope ) from Nueva Germania ( San Pedro Department) where Höhn, in whose honor was named, “found it abundantly”. Jörgensen (1930) also lists invaria Walker , as a rare find, collected in November and December in open fields in San Bernardino (Cordillera), Sapucay (Paraguarí) and Mbuvevo (Guairá). Castnia invaria invaria was originally described from, and appears to be restricted to Rio de Janeiro, in Southeast Brazil ( Walker 1854; Houlbert 1918, Miller 1986, 1995, Lamas 1995). It also appears that the taxa described as endelechia Druce , endelechoides Rothschild , patquiensis Breyer, and paraguayensis Strand, might be phenotypes related to areas where the microclimates and potential hostplants are strikingly different from the areas where the “reddish” phenotypes of C. invaria penelope are found. Castnia jordani Houlbert , could be an intermediate phenotype between those found in both regions. Castnia minerva Krüger appears to represent a “connection” to Castnia lecerfi Dalla Torre , (fig. 17) so the latter might be considered as a synonym of C. invaria penelope as well. It is quite clear that a large series of specimens of the different phenotypes from the entire recorded geographic distribution is required in order to assess the validity of the proposed names of most species/subspecies.

Distribution. This subspecies is widely distributed in Brazil, south of the Amazon River, and reaches Argentina, Bolivia and Paraguay ( González & Stünning 2007).

Biology and behavior. It is a highly variable subspecies and several “color” morphs are known to occur together ( Jordan 1906; González & Stünning 2007). Jörgensen (1930) collected several specimens in various locations in Paraguay including San Bernardino, Sapucay, Villarrica and Mbovevo which are in Cordillera, Paraguarí and Guairá Departments. He also mentions that this castniid could be found from November to January in any site where “caraguatás” ( Bromeliaceae ) were abundant.

We were able to collect one specimen of this subspecies from Cerro Corá, Amambay Department, in late October; there the first author saw groups of at least 10 different individuals flying fast, from 11:00 to 14:00 hs., over open spaces in an area covered with Bromelia balansae Mez. Ulf Drechsel (pers. comm.) reports the same behavior in Costa Esmeralda, Presidente Hayes Department, where he saw “numerous females, all of the white morph, flying over dense stockings of Bromelia serra , B. hieronymi and Aechmea distichantha in the Chaco thornbush, but laying eggs only on the base of B. hieronymi ”.

Rothschild (1919) mentions that the Tring Museum (now at NHM) had 8 33, 2 Ƥ from Sapucay nr. Villa Rica, Paraguay, collected between November and December during the years 1902 to 1904 by W. Foster, as well as 2 33?, 13, from Paraguay but no further details are given.

It has been found in Paraguay attacking Bromelia balansae Mez and Ananas macrodontes E. Morren ( Jörgensen,1930) . The species is also known as a minor pest of pineapples [ Ananas comosus (L.) Merr.] in several regions of South America ( González & Stünning 2007; Miller 1986) including Paraguay. Pastrana (2004) mentions Aechmea sp., as host for “ Castnia elina ”, and Bromelia serra Griseb , as host for Castnia endelechia (and citing Jörgensen 1930), in Argentina.

Material examined. GUAIRÁ: 333, “ Paraguay, Independencia” A. Breyer Collection ( MLP). PARAGUARÍ: 13, Sapucay, Paraguay, 25.12.[19]04, (genitalia vial no. M-3750, Jacqueline Y. Miller) ( MGCL); 13, Sapucay, Paraguay, Ex. Coll. Herbert Druce, 1913, (Slide No. M-3033, Jacqueline Y. Miller) ( MGCL); 13, Sapucay, 16.12.0 4 ( MGCL); 13, Sapucay, n. Villa Rica, Nov. 0 2 (Foster), R304/23, (Slide No. M-7103, Jacqueline Y. Miller) ( MGCL); 13, [Type of Castnia endelechia jordani Houlbert, 1918 ], Sapucay, Paraguay, 20.XI. [19]03, W. Foster, “Nov. Zool. 1906. Pl. 10, Fig. 3 ”, “ endelechia f. jordani Houlbert ” (NHM, from a photograph provided by Dr. G. Lamas). CENTRAL: 13, Ypacarai, 18.XI.1968 (FCA/ DE); 13, [Asunción], Jardín Botánico, 28.XI.1955 ( MFS); ÑEEMBUCÚ: 433, Distrito Tacuaras, Arroyo Las Hermanas. 26.XI.2009. Coll A. Contreras (IBISUNP). CANINDEYÚ: 13, Reserva de Mbaracayú, Puesto Lagunita. 9.XI.1991. Coll. A. Fleitas (MNHNPY) [Collected in a forest near the building of Puesto Lagunita]. ALTO PARAGUAY: 1Ƥ, Parque Nacional Defensores del Chaco: Madrejón, 15–16.XII.1982. Coll. J. Kochalka (MNHNPY), the specimen was collected sleeping under a Bromelia sp. leaf.

Figures

FIGURES 2 – 9. Adults of Castniidae. 2. Imara satrapes Kollar, 3, Itapúa, Paraguay (MNHNPY); 3. Synpalamides phalaris (Fabricius), 3, Asunción, Paraguay (FCA / DE); 4. Synpalamides rubrophalaris (Houlbert), 3, Alto Paraná, Paraguay (MNHNPY); 5. Castnia invaria penelope Schaufuss (White morph), 3, Sapucay, Paraguay (MGCL); 6. Castnia invaria penelope Schaufuss (red morph), 3, Ypacaraí, Paraguay (FCA / DE); 7. Castnia juturna Hopffer, 3, Argentina (MACN); 8. Telchin licus laura (H. Druce), 3, Canindeyú, Paraguay (MNHNPY); 9. Riechia acraeoides (Guérin-Méneville), 3, Asunción, Paraguay (MNHNPY).