Caeruleuptychia aemulatio Nakahara & Willmott, 2023

Nakahara, Shinichi, Kleckner, Kaylin, Barbosa, Eduardo P., Lourenco, Giselle M., Casagrande, Mirna M., Willmott, Keith R. & Freitas, Andre V. L., 2023, Reassessment of the type locality of Euptychia stigmatica Godman, 1905, with the description of two new sibling species from Amazonia (Lepidoptera, Nymphalidae, Satyrinae, Satyrini), ZooKeys 1167, pp. 57-88 : 57

Caeruleuptychia aemulatio Nakahara & Willmott sp. nov.

Figs 1 , 3G, H , 4G, H , 5

Caeruleuptychia cyanites : Nakahara et al. 2018b: fig. 1.; Nakahara et al. 2022: fig. 1.; Espeland et al. 2023: fig. 10.

Systematic placement and diagnosis.

Caeruleuptychia aemulatio sp. nov. is recovered as sister to C. glauca with a moderate support based on the COI data presented herein (Fig. 1A ). This clade ( C. aemulatio sp. nov. + C. glauca ) is found as sister to ( C. coelestis + ( C. harrisi sp. nov. + C. cyanites ) with a strong support (Fig. 1A ). Caeruleuptychia aemulatio sp. nov. is readily distinguishable from C. harrisi sp. nov. by its larger dorsal forewing scent patch (see corresponding section of C. cyanites , as well as Table 1 for further details), in addition to lacking pale modified scales on the ventral forewing cell Cu2. The ventral bands overall are narrower in C. aemulatio sp. nov., and the rings of the ventral hindwing ocelli in cells M1 and Cu1 are broader in C. aemulatio sp. nov. compared to the immediately preceding species.

Description.

Largely in accordance with the immediately preceding species with differences documented above. COI barcode: Molecular vouchers: MGCL-LOAN-452 (GenBank voucher: MF192713); MGCL-LOAN-447 (GenBank voucher: MF192712).

Variation.

The smudge-like ocelli lacking a black central area in the ventral hindwing of cells M2 and M3 are clearly visible in the holotype specimen from Cuzco department, Peru (housed at USNM), whereas they are rather insignificant in the specimen from Rio “Pachytera” [= Pachitea], [ Huánuco], Peru (housed at FLMNH).

Etymology.

This new species-group name is a feminine Latin noun meaning “emulation” or "desire to equal or excel others", in reference to the resemblance and relatedness of this new species to two other Caeruleuptychia species discussed herein.

Types.

Holotype: male with the following labels written verbatim separated by double forward slashes: PERU, MD, Reserva Comunal Amarakaeri, Río Azul 507 m 1249/7106 11.x.2010 M. Vílchez // MUSM-LEP 100094// MUSM Loan KW-15-086// Photographed By K. Willmott June 2015// (MUSM). Paratypes: eleven males, with the following labels written verbatim separated by double forward slashes: //Foz do Rio Tejo, Estrada para o Rio Arara, Res. E. A. J., AC BR 16.IX.1997 Brown Junior, K. S., Freitas, A. V. L. MGCL 447// MGCL-LOAN-447 [molecular voucher]// (ZUEC); //Foz do RioBreu, Res. Extravitista do Alto Juruá, AC, BR 12.IX.1999 Brown Junior, K. S., Freitas, A. V. L. MGCL 452// MGCL-LOAN-452 [molecular voucher]// (ZUEC); //PERU: Cuzco, 540 m Pilcopata, Villa Carmen Cosñipata Valley 6923 31-1-2020 Kinyon// Genitalic vial SN-MCZ-003//(USNM); //Est Pérou [East Peru] Rio Pachytera [Pachitea] Coll. Le Moult// Slide No. M-2985 ♂ genitalia Lee D. Miller// FLMNH MGCL 1138899//(FLMNH); //Tambopata - Candamo Reserve, Peru 1/81 ♂// Genitalic vial SN-17-34 S. Nakahara// J. Brenner coll. MGCL Accession #2015-33// FLMNH-MGCL Specimen 279343// (FLMNH); 28-30- I - 2009 RESERVA HUMAITA, PORTO ACRE ACRE, MIELKE & CASAGRANDE LEG 09°73'S, 67°68'W // DZ 57.995// (DZUP); //8-10-IX 2004 RESERVA HUMAITA, PORTO ACRE ACRE, 200 m, O. MIELKE & CASAGRANDE LEG// BC-DZ Willmott 19 [molecular voucher]// DZ 57.994// (DZUP); //PERU, MD, Boca Rio La Torre 300 m 19.x.85 G. Lamas// MUSM-LEP 100090// (MUSM); PERU: Madre de Dios Manu, Pakitza, 340 m 11°55'48"S, 71°15'18"W 12 May 1991 leg. D. J. Harvey// MUSM-LEP 100092// Genitalic vial SN-17-86 S. Nakahara// (MUSM); // PERU: Madre de Dios Parque Manu, Pakitza 11°53'S, 70°58'W, 400 m 6 Oct 1990 leg. R. Robbins// MUSM-LEP 100093// PERU, MD, Albergue Amazonia 1252/7123 500 m 28.x.2010 G. Lamas// MUSM-LEP 100095// MUSM Loan KW-15-089// (MUSM).

Distribution.

Caeruleuptychia aemulatio sp. nov. is known to date from the state of Acre, Brazil, as well as Huánuco, Cuzco, and Madre de Dios departments in Peru.

Biology.

Unknown.

Figures

Figure 1. A maximum likelihood tree (LnL = - 2678.083) showing the phylogenetic relationships among Caeruleuptychia taxa selected for this study. Numbers beside branches are UFBoot / SH-aLRT values; colored tips represent taxonomic hypotheses proposed in the present study B the differentiation of three Caeruleuptychia species (C. cyanites, C. harrisi sp. nov., C. aemulatio sp. nov.) by forewing length (mm) and scent patch percentage. Each species is denoted by a unique color and shape with a single point representing a single specimen. The holotype (HT) of each name and the lectotype (LT) of C. cyanites are denoted by a black border and the corresponding letters.

Figure 3. Adults of Caeruleuptychia: C. cyanites A male in dorsal view B male in ventral view (BLU 778) C female in dorsal view D female in ventral view (BC-DZ- 007). Holotype male of Caeruleuptychia harrisi sp. nov. E dorsal view F ventral view (USNM ENT 01844280). Holotype male of Caeruleuptychia aemulatio sp. nov. G dorsal view H ventral view (MUSM-LEP 100094).

Figure 4. Genitalia of C. cyanites A male genitalia in lateral view, without phallus B phallus in lateral view (genitalic dissection: SN- 19 - 13) C female genitalia in dorsal view, with image of signa to the left D lamella antevaginalis in ventral view (genitalic dissection: SN- 19 - 14). Caeruleuptychia harrisi sp. nov. E male genitalia in lateral view, without phallus F phallus in lateral view (genitalic dissection: SN- 17 - 36); Caeruleuptychia aemulatio sp. nov. G male genitalia in lateral view, without phallus H phallus in lateral view (genitalic dissection: SN- 17 - 34). Scale bars: 1 mm.

Figure 5. Distribution map for three Caeruleuptychia species discussed herein. Key: * denotes location of Tres Rios, Rio de Janeiro (= hypothesized type locality of E. stigmatica in the present study);? denotes dubious records from Araras, Sao Paulo.