Synargis, OCHROPHLEGMA (STICHEL, 1911)

Dolibaina, Diego Rodrigo, Dias, Fernando Maia Silva, Mielke, Olaf Hermann Hendrik & Casagrande, Mirna Martins, 2013, Taxonomy of the ‘ Synargis axenus complex’ belonging to the ‘ Synargis regulus’ species group, with a phylogenetic reassessment of the genus Synargis Hübner, 1819 (Lepidoptera: Riodinidae: Nymphidiini), Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 168 (3), pp. 427-451 : 434-438

SYNARGIS OCHROPHLEGMA ( STICHEL, 1911) STAT. NOV. ( FIGS 17–20 , 46–48 , 64, 65 , 76, 77 , 83 )

Lemonias (?) axenus ; Godman 1903, Transactions of the Entomological Society of London 1903, p. 545 (female), pl. XXIII, fig. 5 (female dorsal and ventral); misidentification.

Ematurgina axenus ochrophlegma Stichel, 1911 . Genera Insectorum 112B, p. 283 (female syntype), pl. 27, fig. 73 (female dorsal and ventral).

Ematurgina bifasciata ochrophlegma ; Stichel, 1930. Lepidopterorum Catalogus 41, p. 582.

Ematurgina bifasciata ochrophlegma ab. leucomelaina Breyer, 1930. Revista de la Sociedad Entomológica Argentina 3, p. 171, pl. VII, fig. 5 (female dorsal); infrasubspecific.

Ematurgina axenus ab. ochrophlegma ; Seitz, 1932. Entomologische Rundschau 49, p. 242–243; except the specimen from Cuiabá, Mato Grosso, figured in p. 240, fig. 5g and cited in p. 243.

Ematurgina bifasciata ; Canals, 2000. Mariposas Bonaerenses, p. 220–221; misidentification.

Synargis axenus ochrophlegma ; Hall & Harvey, 2002. Cladistics 18, p. 565, syn: dissimilis Hayward, 1949, syn: distincta Hayward, 1949, syn: leucomelaina Breyer, 1930; Callaghan & Lamas, 2004, in: Lamas, G. (ed.). Checklist: Part 4A. Hesperioidea – Papilionoidea. in: Heppner, J. B. Atlas of Neotropical Lepidoptera 5A, p. 165, syn: f. dissimilis Hayward, 1949, syn: f. distincta Hayward, 1949, syn: ab. leucomelaina Breyer, 1930.

Diagnosis

Head black, with yellow scales in the posterior margin of the eye. Labial palpus ( Figs 76, 77 ) and antenna similar to S. rasqueada sp. nov. and S. fandanga sp. nov. Female with second segment of the labial palpus long, the size of the second and third segments of the males combined ( Figs 76–77 ). Thorax dorsally black, ventrally and laterally yellow. Forewing upperside marginal band with six spots in spaces R 4+5 –M 1, M 1 –M 2, M 2 –M 3, M 3 –CuA 1, CuA 1 –CuA 2, and CuA 2 –2A; spots in M 2 –M 3 and CuA 2 –2A more developed than the others ( Fig. 17 ); postmedial band as in S. fandanga sp. nov.; medial band continuous and similar to S. rasqueada sp. nov. and S. fandanga sp. nov., but uniform ( Fig. 17 ). Forewing underside similar to the upperside, with slightly larger and paler bands, and an additional basal band ( Fig. 18 ); black fringe with white spots in M 3 –CuA 1 and CuA 2 –2A along the outer margin ( Fig. 18 ). Hindwing upperside marginal band with five spots in Rs–M 1, M 1 –M 2, M 2 –M 3, M 3 –CuA 1, and CuA 2 –2A, third and fifth more developed than the others ( Fig. 18 ); postmedial and medial spots continuous and uniform; hindwing underside pattern and colour similar to the upperside, with larger and paler bands ( Fig. 18 ). Female colour and pattern as in male, but with longer spots in the marginal band ( Figs 19, 20 ). Male specimens were dissected before the colour pattern of the abdomen could be observed. Female with abdomen dorsally black ( Fig. 19 ), laterally and ventrally light yellow with black scales surrounding the spiracles ( Fig. 20 ). Male genitalia and eighth sternite roughly similar to S. fandanga sp. nov.; however, the eighth sternite is smaller ( Fig. 48 ); uncus dorsal and lateral projections similar in size, with a deeper angle laterally ( Figs 46, 47 ); gnathos rather pointed, dorsal and ventral projections further apart than in S. fandanga sp. nov.; distal projection of the valva slender ( Fig. 46 ). Female genitalia with sterigma oval-shaped; bursa copulatrix and two signa, thin and long.

Distribution

Most records of S. ochrophlegma stat. nov. are from grasslands and the pampas of Brazil (Rio Grande do Sul), Uruguay, and Argentina, but there are also some records from the Chaco, in Paraguay and Argentina ( Fig. 83 ).

Taxonomic comments

Synargis ochrophlegma stat. nov. was originally described as a subspecies of S. axenus , based on two specimens collected in northern Argentina ( Stichel, 1911). However, only the female specimen of the type series of E. axenus ochrophlegma Stichel, 1911 belongs to S. ochrophlegma stat. nov.: the male syntype actually belongs to S. bifasciata . To avoid further confusion, the female specimen from the type series of Stichel (1911) is here designated as the lectotype ( ICZN, 1999: Art. 74.7). Synargis ochrophlegma stat. nov. was formerly regarded as a subspecies of S. axenus , but is restricted to southern South American grasslands, wheras S. axenus is restricted to the Cerrado. Synargis ochrophlegma stat. nov. is sympatric with its closest relative, S. bifasciata , but morphological study has revealed important differences that support the recognition of these species as distinct taxa. The specimen described as ab. leucomelaina by Breyer (1930) is an unavailable name, given that it denotes an infrasubspecific entity ( ICZN, 1999: Art. 45.6.2.).

Type material

The female lectotype of Ematurgina axenus ochrophlegma , here designated, has the following labels: / LECTOTYPUS /N. Argentinien e.c. H. Stichel/ 2688/ Typus/ ochrophlegma Stich. / LECTOTYPE Ematurgina axenus ochrophlegma Stichel, 1911 Dolibaina, Dias, Mielke & Casagrande det. 2013/ ( BMNH). The characteristic lectotype label will be sent to the curator of the collection.

Ematurgina bifasciata ochrophlegma ab. leucomelaina has no formal type because it is a infrasubspecific entity. However, the specimen described by Breyer (1930) is a female and has the following labels:/2896/ BREYER ARGENTINA PROV CORDOBA / TIPUS / Ematurgina o. ochrophlegma ab ♀ leucomelaina Breyer holotipo Det. KÖHLER / E. 40./ Jacanto Col. BREYER Rep. Argentina/ ( MLP) .

Examined material

BRAZIL – Rio Grande do Sul: Coronel Bicaco, 6.xii.1992, A. Moser leg., 1 ♀ (MO 346); Porto Alegre , 17.iii.1991, A. Moser leg. 1 ♀ (MO 346) . PARAGUAY – Paraguari: Sapucay, no data, Foster leg., 2 ♂ and 2 ♀ ( USNM) . ARGENTINA – Corrientes: Santo Tomé, 2 ♀, no data (DZUP 21.286, DZUP 19.830) . Catamarca: Copayán , i.1941, B. Schaefer leg., 2 ♂ (DZUP 21.165, MZUSP) and 1 ♀ (DZUP 21.328) . Rio Negro: Sierra Grande , 12.i.1997, no collector, 1 ♂ (OM 67.493) .

SYNARGIS BIFASCIATA ( MENGEL, 1902)

( FIGS 21–24 , 49–51 , 66, 67 , 78, 79 , 83 )

Baeotis bifasciata Mengel, 1902 . Entomological News 13, p. 177, pl. VIII; Sapucay, Paraguay.

Ematurgina mabildei Röber, 1903 . Stettiner Entomologische Zeitung 64, p. 347–348; Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil; Mengel, 1905. A catalogue of the Erycinidae . A family of butterflies. With the synonymy brought down to July 1, 1904. p. 114; Thieme, 1907 Berliner Entomologische Zeitschrift 52, p. 15 (female).

Ematurgina axenus ochrophlegma Stichel, 1911 . Genera Insectorum 112B, p 283 (male syntype).

Ematurgina bifasciata bifasciata ; Stichel, 1930. Lepidopterorum Catalogus 41, p.582.

Emartugina bifasciata ; Seitz, 1932. Entomologische Rundschau 49, p. 241, fig. 6b (male dorsal).

Ematurgina ochrophlegma f. dissimilis Hayward, 1949. Acta zoologica Lilloana 8, p. 199. syn. nov.

Ematurgina mabillei ; Hemmig, 1967. Bulletin of the British Museum of Natural History (Entomology) suppl. 9, p. 159; misspelling.

Ematurgina bifasciata ; Canals, 2000. Mariposas Bonaerenses, p. 220–221.

Synargis bifasciata ; Hall & Harvey 2002. Cladistics 18, p. 534, fig. 1L (male dorsal and ventral), p. 565, syn: mabildei Röber, 1903 ; Callaghan & Lamas, 2004, in: Lamas, G. (ed.). Checklist: Part 4A. Hesperioidea – Papilionoidea, in: Heppner, J. B. Atlas of Neotropical Lepidoptera 5A, p. 165, syn: mabildei Röber, 1903 .

Diagnosis

Forewing upperside background colour black, marginal band with six spots as in Synargis ochroplegma stat. nov. ( Fig. 21 ); spots between M 2 –M 3 and CuA 2 –2A larger ( Fig. 21 ); postmedial band divided in two bands, as in S. ochroplegma stat. nov. ( Fig. 21 ); medial band narrow, similar to S. ochroplegma stat. nov.; however, the part of the band beyond the discal cell completely separated (N = 1) or absent (N = 1) ( Fig. 21 ); fringes black, whitish at cells R 4+5 –M 1, M 3 –CuA 1, and CuA 2 –2A ( Fig. 21 ); underside similar to the upperside, but with more developed bands ( Fig. 22 ); basal band anteriorly connected to the medial band ( Fig. 22 ). Hindwings similar to S. ochrophlegma stat. nov. on both sides; however, bands are narrower ( Fig. 21 ). Female similar to male, with slightly larger bands ( Figs 23, 24 ). Male abdomen with tergites I–IV black, tergites V–VII yellow ( Fig. 21 ); ventral and lateral areas light yellow, with black scales around the spiracles ( Fig. 22 ). Female abdomen entirely black dorsally ( Fig. 21 ). Male genitalia with eighth sternite wider than long ( Fig. 51 ); tegume with a small lateral indentation close to the gnathos ( Fig. 50 ). Uncus distal projections close to each other, not widely open ( Fig. 49 ). Gnathos more widely open than any other species in the ‘ S. axenus complex’, with a small dorsal spiky projection ( Fig. 49 ). Valva distally pointed, similar to the valva of S. fandanga sp. nov ( Fig. 49 ). Female genitalia with anterior portion of the sterigma rectangular, proximally folded ( Fig. 66 ); fold not reaching midpoint of the sterigma, ostium bursae in the centre of this fold ( Fig. 66 ). Bursa copulatrix proximally slender; two triangular signa ( Fig. 67 ).

Distribution

Similar to the distribution of S. ochrophlegma stat. nov., S. bifasciata is known only from open environments. Most records are from the Chaco of Argentina and Paraguay, but there are also records from Brazilian (Rio Grande do Sul) and Argentinean pampas ( Fig. 83 ).

Taxonomic comments

The male syntype of E. axenus ochrophlegma Stichel, 1911 , belongs to this species and E. ochrophlegma f. dissimilis Hayward, 1949 is a new synonym, by comparison with the type figures.

Type material

The male holotype of Baeotis bifasciata has the following labels: / HOLOTYPE 28 BAEOTIS BIFAS- CIATA Mengel/ L. W. Mengel collection 836/ Sapucay. Paraguay./ ORIGINAL TYPE ENT. NEWS XIII. 177 T.8 1902/ (RPM).

The male holotype of Ematurgina ochrophlegma f. dissimilis Hayward, 1949 has the following labels:/Type/ HOLOTIPO/ Holotipo ♂ Ematurgina ochrophlegma dissimilis Hayw. K. J. HAYWARD DET./ 3329/ Argenitne Republic: Villa Ana. F.C.S.F. March 1924. K. J. Hayward./ (IML).

Examined material

BRAZIL – Rio Grande do Sul: São Leopoldo , 5.xii.1998, A. Moser leg., 4 ♂ and 2 ♀ (MO 54) ; Encruzilhada do Sul, 450 m, A. Moser leg., 4 ♂ (MO 54) . ARGENTINA – Córdoba: no locality, no data, no collector, 2 ♂ (DZUP 20.036, DZUP 21.172) ; Capilla del Monte , ii.1945, no collector, 1 ♀ (DZUP 20.594) ; Entre Rios: no locality, 1948, no collector, 1 ♂ (DZUP 21.370) ; Misiones: Loreto , no data, B. Pohl leg., 1 ♂ ( MZUSP) . PARAGUAY – Paraguari: Sapucay , no data, Forster leg., 11 ♂ and 2 ♀ ( USNM) ; no data, Vannucci leg., 1 ♂ ( USNM) ; unreadable data, Garbe leg., 2 ♂ ( MZUSP) .

SYNARGIS PERRUPTA ( SEITZ, 1932) STAT. REV.

( FIGS 25–30 , 52–54 , 68, 69 , 80, 81 , 83 )

Ematurgina perrupta Seitz, 1932 . Entomologische Rundschau 49, p. 240, 241, 243, figs 5a (male dorsal), 5b (female dorsal), 5c (female ventral); Vianópolis, Goiás, Brazil.

Ematurgina perrupta ab. roeberi Seitz, 1932. Entomologische Rundschau 49, p. 240, 243, fig. 5d (male dorsal and ventral, female ventral); Vianópolis, Goiás, Brazil; infrasubspecific.

Ematurgina perrupta ab. röberi [sic] Seitz, 1932. Entomologische Rundschau 49, p. 241–242; Vianópolis, Goiás, Brazil; misspelling, infrasubspecific.

Synargis axenus axenus ; Hall & Harvey, 2002. Cladistics 18, p. 565, syn.: perrupta Seitz, 1932 , syn: roeberi Seitz, 1932; Callaghan & Lamas, 2004, in: Lamas, G. (ed.). Checklist: Part 4A. Hesperioidea – Papilionoidea. in: Heppner, J. B. Atlas of Neotropical Lepidoptera 5A, p. 165, syn.: f. perrupta Seitz, 1932 , syn: f. perrupta ab. roeberi Seitz, 1932.

Diagnosis

Synargis perrupta stat. rev. can be easily distinguished from the other species of the ‘ S. axenus complex’ by the shape of the wings, distinctly rounded in both sexes ( Figs 25–30 ); and the labial palpus, very short and hardly noticeable in dorsal view ( Figs 80, 81 ).

Redescription

Male: Head: mostly grey; labial palpus ( Figs 80, 81 ) short and greyish; first segment rounded; second segment twice the size of the first; third segment slender, half the size of the first, reaching the anterior tentorial pit. Antenna mostly black, two thirds of the size of the costal margin; lighter at the base and orange at the tips.

Thorax: uniformly black.

Forewings, upperside ( Fig. 25 ): average length: 12.8 mm (11.8–13.6 mm, N = 7); colour and pattern similar to S. rasqueada sp. nov., with six similar spots in the marginal band; except for the spot in M 3 –CuA 1, slightly larger, and the spot in CuA 2 –2A, rectangular and twice the size of other spots. Postmedial band with three spots, irregular shaped in R 3 –M 3, and rounded in CuA 1 –CuA 2 and CuA 2 –2A. Medial band with three spots: at the end of the discal cell between M 1 and M 2, in the middle of the discal cell, and through CuA 1 –2A.

Forewing, underside ( Fig. 26 ): similar to the upperside; however, with the spot of the marginal band in M 3 –CuA 1 noticeably larger; medial band continuous; and with a basal band between the costal margin, the radius, and part of the discal cell.

Hindwing, upperside ( Fig. 25 ): marginal band with five spots, small and rounded in spaces Rs–M 1, M 1 –M 2, and M 3 –CuA 1, large and rectangular in M 2 –M 3 and CuA 1 –CuA 2. Postmedial band with four spots, large in Rs–M 1, small at the end of the discal cell between M 1 –M 2 and in CuA 1 –CuA 2, long and irregular from the vein CuA 2 to the middle of space between 2A and the inner margin. Medial band runs from the costal margin to the inner margin.

Hindwing, underside ( Fig. 26 ): similar to the upperside, except for the following: postmedial band spots between veins CuA 2 –2A and 2A and the inner margin reaching the inner margin; basal band present at the costal margin.

Abdomen: mostly black ( Fig. 25 ); pleura with rounded black spots surrounded by orange scales; last three sternites occasionally with orange scales at the posterior margins ( Fig. 26 ).

Genitalia ( Figs 52–54 ): Tegumen similar to S. fandanga sp. nov., ventral projection of the tegumen broad. Anterior projection of the saccus developed and rectangular. Uncus with dorsal and lateral projections, the former angled, and the latter rounded and shorter than the former in dorsal view, apart from each other, and pointed in lateral view. Gnathos short and thick, distally pointed and internally angled as in S. fandanga sp. nov. Valva short, dorsally short and broad, proximally irregular. Aedeagus one and a half times larger than the valva, curved and pointed distally, without cornuti. Eighth sternite uniformly sclerotized, the same size as the valva, and distally bifid; lateroposterior projections slightly thin and without spines.

Female: Head, thorax, and abdomen colour and pattern as in male ( Figs 27, 28 ); average length of the forewing, 13.4 mm (12.8–14 mm) (N = 2).

Genitalia ( Figs 68, 69 ): Sterigma sclerotized and folded, distally rectangular and proximally short and semicircular. Bursa copulatrix membranous, about seven times the length of the sterigma. Ductus bursae thin; corpus bursae round and half the size of the ductus, with two proximal and lateral semicircular signa.

Distribution

Synargis perrupta stat. rev. is restricted to the Cerrado area around Goiás Velho and Vianópolis, Goiás, central Brazil. These localities are close to the largest enclaves of a unique type of vegetation in the Cerrado, the seasonally tropical dry forest (sensu Werneck, 2011) ( Fig. 83 ) .

Taxonomic comments

Synargis perrupta stat. rev. was described by Seitz (1932), who also described E. perrupta ab. roeberi Seitz, 1932. Seitz (1932) himself was unsure if this taxon was a species or a subspecies of S. axenus and, in his usual fashion for describing new taxa, described the taxon as a ‘ form. nov. ’ ( Seitz, 1932: 241). The taxon is cited as a full species on pages 240 and 243. The aberration roeberi is simply the melanistic form of E. perrupta Seitz, 1932 ( Seitz, 1932) ( Figs 29, 30 ). Both are currently considered synonyms of S. axenus axenus (Lamas, 2004) ; however, the name E. perrupta ab. roeberi is unavailable, as the name was expressly proposed to denote an infrasubspecific entity ( ICZN, 1999: Art. 45.6.2.). Synargis perrupta stat. rev. is sympatric with S. axenus ; nevertheless, Seitz (1932) pointed out several differences in size and shape of the labial palpi of both E. perrupta Seitz, 1932 and the aberration roeberi when compared to the nominotypical S. axenus and other Synargis species. Additionally, there are consistent morphological characters in the genitalia and wing shape supporting the specific status of S. perrupta stat. rev. The species is illustrated and redescribed based on the most common phenotype, although two melanic specimens are known to us ( Figs 29, 30 ). The lectotype of E. perrupta is here designated to avoid future uncertainty that might occur as a result of the unclear nature of Seitz’s (1932) intentions ( ICZN, 1999: Art. 74.7).

Type material

The male lectotype of E. perrupta , here designated, has the following labels: LECTOTYPUS / Viannopolis (Goyaz [, Brazil]) März 1930 A. Seitz leg./ LECTO- TYPE ♂ Ematurgina axenus f. perrupta Seitz By G. Lamas 2000 [unpublished]/ LECTOTYPE Ematurgina perrupta Seitz, 1932 Dolibaina, Dias, Mielke & Casagrande det. 2013/ ( SMF). The characteristic lectotype label will be sent to the curator of the collection.

Ematurgina perrupta ab. roeberi has no formal type because it is an infrasubspecific entity. However, the specimen cited by Seitz (1932) is a male and has the following labels: /46895/ Viannop./ Ematurgina sp. n. aberratio Viannopolis (Goyaz [, Brazil]) III.1930 / SYNTYPUS / Ematurgina axenus f. perrupta ab. roeberi Seitz, 1932 G. Lamas det. 2004 [unpublished]/ (MZUSP).

Examined material

BRAZIL – Goiás: Goiás Velho, 24–26.iii.1978, Gifford leg., 7 ♂ (DZUP 5.143, DZUP 21.496, DZUP 21.615, DZUP 19.899, DZUP 21.446, DZUP 21.557, DZUP 21.601) and 2 ♀ (DZUP 21.188, DZUP 21.209), 8.v.1977, Gifford leg., 1 ♂ (DZUP 21.202); Leopoldo de Bulhões, xii.1937, R. Spitz leg., 1 ♀ ( MZUSP), iii.1938, R. Spitz leg., 2 ♂ and 5 ♀ ( MZUSP); Planaltina , 1000 m, 10.xi.1983, C.T.A. Braja leg., 1 ♀ (OM 64.336); Vianópolis, iii.1930, R. Spitz leg., 1 ♂ ( MZUSP). No data, no collector, 1 ♀ ( MZUSP) .

Figures

Figure 83. Distribution map of Synargis species belonging to the ‘Synargis axenus complex’, plotted over the major biomes. Asterisk indicates probable location.

Figures 17–36. Species belonging to the ‘Synargis axenus complex’ and Synargis regulus, dorsal and ventral views. 17–20, Synargis ochrophlegma stat. nov. 21–24, Synargis bifasciata. 25–28, Synargis perrupta stat. rev., typical phenotype. 29, 30, Synargis perrupta stat. rev., melanic phenotype. 31, 32, Synargis gorpa sp. nov., holotype. 33–36, Synargis regulus. Scale bar = 1 cm. Sex indicated in the figure.

Figures 46–57. Male genitalia of Synargis species belonging to the ‘Synargis axenus complex’. Lateral view; tegumen and uncus in dorsal view, and eighth sternite. 46–48, Synargis ochrophlegma stat. nov. 49–51, Synargis bifasciata. 52–54, Synargis perrupta stat. rev. 55–57, Synargis gorpa sp. nov., paratype. Scale bar = 0.25 mm.

Figures 58–69. Female genitalia of the ‘Synargis axenus complex’. Sterigma and bursa copulatrix in ventral view. 58, 59, Synargis fandanga sp. nov. 60, 61, Synargis rasqueada sp. nov. 62, 63, Synargis axenus. 64, 65, Synargis ochrophlegma stat. nov. 66, 67, Synargis bifasciata. 68, 69, Synargis perrupta stat. rev. Scale bars: Figures 58, 60, 62, 64, 66, 68 = 0.25 mm; Figures 59, 61, 63, 65, 67, 69 = 0.5 mm.

Figures 70–82. Heads of the ‘Synargis axenus complex’ in lateral view showing labial palpi. 70, 71, Synargis fandanga sp. nov., paratypes. 72, 73, Synargis rasqueada sp. nov., paratype and allotype. 74, 75, Synargis axenus. 76, 77, Synargis ochrophlegma stat. nov. 78, 79, Synargis bifasciata. 80, 81, Synargis perrupta stat. rev. 82, Synargis gorpa sp. nov., paratype. Sex indicated in the figure.