Castnia juturna Hopffer, 1856

Ríos, Sergio D. & González, Jorge M., 2011, A synopsis of the Castniidae (Lepidoptera) of Paraguay, Zootaxa 3055, pp. 43-61 : 50-51

Castnia juturna Hopffer, 1856

( Fig. 7 )

Taxonomic history. The species was originally described from Brazil by Hopffer (1856). Preiss (1899) mentions the species (erroneously as Castnia inturna in the text, but correctly in the included plate) from Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Burmeister (1879) confirms the presence of the species in Paraguay, but says that it is smaller than the Argentinian specimens and that the black marginal band of the hindwings is interrupted by two rows of white rededged spots which are parallel to the margin. This “Paraguayan form” was later named paraguayensis by Strand (1913). After carefully studying the available literature and information on this and similar species, as well as discussions with experts on the group, we now consider that paraguayensis should be regarded as a new synonym of Castnia invaria penelope , and not of Castnia juturna . Krüger (1928) described the variety vesta from Cerro Pelado in the Guairá Department, Paraguay. Jörgensen (1930) mentions that he never saw a specimen from Paraguay but he observed them in at least one site in Argentina. He also thought that he confused form vesta with paraguayensis (“… esta forma [ vesta ] que he tomado por paraguayensis …”) around Cerro Pelado, Guairá Department, in the Cordillera of Villarrica ( Jörgensen 1930).

Distribution. Known from Northern Argentina, South East Brazil and Eastern Paraguay ( Miller 1986).

Biology and behavior. Specimens were seen flying around Dyckia floribunda Griseb. (Bromeliaceae) in the Colonia Bompland region of Misiones, Argentina, and around Dyckia distachya fa. induta Hassl. (mentioned as Dyckia microcalyx ) in the Villarrica region of Paraguay ( Jörgensen 1930).

Material examined. 13, Paraguai, 3.XII.1927, Ex-col. Gagarin.( DZUP). GUAIRÁ: 13, “Cerro Pelado”, A. Breyer Collection ( MLP).

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).