Mygona irmina (Doubleday)

Viloria, Angel L., Pyrcz, Tomasz W. & Orellana, Andrés, 2010, A survey of the Neotropical montane butterflies of the subtribe Pronophilina (Lepidoptera, Nymphalidae) in the Venezuelan Cordillera de la Costa, Zootaxa 2622, pp. 1-41 : 13

Mygona irmina (Doubleday)

( Figs. 33, 34 )

Pronophila irmina Doubleday, [1849] : pl. 60, fig. 2. Syntype (male) in BMNH [examined]. Oxeoschistus irmina (Doubleday) ; Butler, 1867: 268.

Mygona irmina (Doubleday) ; Thieme, 1907: 167.

Geographic range: Species (monotypic): CC, CM, SP, EC, Central and Western Cordilleras, north-western Ecuador, eastern slopes in Ecuador to Río Pastaza.

Altitudinal range: 1800–2700 m ( Adams, 1986); 2250–2450 m ( Pyrcz & Wojtusiak, 2002); 1800–2400 m.

Remarks: This is the only representative of the genus in the CC and, in fact, the entire northern Andes of Venezuela and Colombia. It is monotypic and easily recognized from any other species by the large HWD median light blue rounded patch. M. irmina is relatively common in the CC but never as abundant as L. zapatoza , which occurs in the same habitat. It has a particular, lazy, slow flapping flight. It usually stays in the subcanopy but occasionally comes to the ground to feed on decomposing organic matter.

Material examined: DISTRITO FEDERAL: 1 male: Serranía El Avila, Los Venados, 1500 m, 15.VII.1950, F. Fernández Y. leg. MIZA; 1 female: P.N. El Avila-Caracas, 1800 m, 12.VII.1979, D. Baiocchi leg. MIZA; ARAGUA: 1 male: Colonia Tovar, 1800 m, 04.XII.1950, F. Fernández Y. leg. MIZA; 1 male: Colonia Tovar, 1800 m, 05.II.1955, F. Rondón leg. MIZA; 1 male: Colonia Tovar, sector El Molino, 28.XI.1981, J. DeMarmels leg. MIZA; 1 female: carretera Maracay-Choroní, 05.IX.1970, J. Salcedo and J. A. Clavijo leg. MIZA; 1 female: Rancho Grande, 02.VII.1952, F. Fernández Y. leg. MIZA; 1 female: Colonia Tovar, vía Cuesta Pto. Maya, 2000 m, 25–26. III.1998, A. Chacón, Q. Arias and J. Chirinos leg., MIZA; 1 female: same locality, 2100 m, 14.V.1996, J. DeMarmels and A. Chacón leg. MIZA; 1 female: same locality, 2100 m, 21.XI.1996, J. DeMarmels and A. Chacón leg. MIZA; 3 males and 1 female: Colonia Tovar, Los Colonos, 2100–2150 m, 06.VIII.2003, T. Pyrcz leg., TWP; 1 male: carretera Maracay-Choroní, La Cumbre, 1550 m, V.1979, F. Romero leg., FRR; 1 male: same data but IX.1998, FRR; 1 female: same data but IX.1968, FRR; 1 female: same data but VIII.1970, FRR; 1 female: same data but 1250 m, I.1978, FRR; 1 female: same data but 1480 m, IV.1978, FRR; 1 female: same data but X.1986, FRR; 6 males and 2 females: Colonia Tovar, 2100 m, IV.1993, F. Romero leg., FRR; 1 female: same data but 2300 m, VII.1993, FRR; 1 female: Colonia Tovar, Los Colonos, 2200 m, 04.III.2010, T. Pyrcz leg., TWP.

Figures

FIGURES 29 – 36. Adult satyrine butterflies from the Cordillera de La Costa, Venezuela (left: dorsal, right: ventral); 29. Pronophila obscura Butler (male, Cerro San Isidro); 30. P. obscura Butler (female, vía Maracay-Choroní); 31. Pronophila thelebe Doubleday (male, vía Capachal); 32. P. thelebe Doubleday (female, vía Capachal); 33. Mygona irmina (Doubleday) (male, Los Colonos); 34. M. irmina (Doubleday) (female, Los Colonos); 35. Thiemeia phoronea phoronea (Doubleday) (male, vía Naranjal); 36. T. phoronea phoronea (Doubleday) (female, vía Naranjal).