Lithopsyche styx

Jong, Rienk De, 2017, Fossil butterflies, calibration points and the molecular clock (Lepidoptera: Papilionoidea), Zootaxa 4270 (1), pp. 1-63 : 40

styx . Lithopsyche styx Scudder, 1889

Nymphalidae .

USA, Colorado , Teller County, Florissant; Late Priabonian, Late Eocene.

Depository: MCZH (holotype).

Published figures: Emmel et al. (1992: Fig. 1 /2); Murata (1998: Figs 51, 52); Scudder (1889: Pl. LII Figs. 11 , 16, 17).

This specimen presents only an overlapping forewing and hindwing, the former without an apex. The forewing has a radial formula of radial formula 1, 2+(3+(4+5)) (forking of R4-R5 reconstructed, missing in fossil), R2 originating very close to upper corner of cell, cell closed. The hindwing cell is open. The wing pattern is obscure and irregular.

According to Scudder (1889) this fossil is closer to Jupiteria charon from the same excavation site than it is to any living species (see entry under that species). The open hindwing cell is an apomorphic character state in (part of) the Nymphalidae . The assignment also agrees with the radial vein arrangement. Any further statement about the relationship is unwarranted. Because of Scudder’s remark on its relationship to Jupiteria, Emmel et al. (1992) listed the fossil under Nymphalinae .

Lithopsyche Scudder, 1889 , is a junior homonym of Lithopsyche Butler, 1889 (type-species Lithopsyche antiqua Butler , see above). Cockerell (1909) replaced it with Lithodryas .

Figures

FIGURE 1. Localities of fossil butterflies plotted ion a modern map. See Table 1 for further, complementary information.

FIGURES 11 – 13. Ƒanessa pluto Heer, 1849. Figures copied from (1875), Plate II, figures 1, 17 and 7, respectively. (A), copied by Scudder from original description by Heer; (B) and (C), figures sent to Scudder by Mr. Brunner de Wattenwyl, made after the same object. Note differences in wing shape and other details. Figs 14 – 16. Thaites ruminiana Scudder, 1875. Figures copied from Scudder (1875), Plate III, figures 9, 1 and 3, respectively. (A), underside of fossil; (B), reconstruction of venation; (C), reconstruction of markings. In (A) two separate subcostal veins have been drawn in the forewing, an impossible configuration in Lepidoptera, and apparently a mistake, corrected in (B) and (C). Fig. 17. Cyllo sepulta Boisduval, 1841, wing venation after Scudder (1875). Fig. 18. Butterfly fossil recorded by Wangrin (1939), but shown to be a fraud by Ansorge (2015). Photo kindly provided by J. Ansorge, Horst, Germany (see text for explanation).