Philaethria browni Constantino & Salazar

Constantino, Luis Miguel & Salazar, Julian A., 2010, A review of the Philaethria dido species complex (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae: Heliconiinae) and description of three new sibling species from Colombia and Venezuela, Zootaxa 2720, pp. 1-27 : 23

Philaethria browni Constantino & Salazar , n. sp.

(Fig. 26,27)

Diagnosis. P. browni is recognized by the brown HW inner postdiscal band which is very wide (in P. o s t a r a the band is narrow), HW medial postdiscal band beige in color (white in P. neildi ), the medial postdiscal band is very narrow (in P. o s t a r a the band is wider), VHW postcellular spots 6, 5 and 4 between veins 1A-Cu1, Cu1-Cu2, Cu2-M3 very large and elongated (small in P. diatonica ), FW postmedial green area large, VFW anal cell bar brown, VHW marginal cellular spots brown (black in P. diatonica and P. dido ).

Description. Forewing length 54–56 in males and 57–58 in females. Dorsal side of thorax and abdomen black, ventral side of abdomen and thorax white. Dorsal forewing ground color black with green-lemon bands like in P. dido . Ventral surface of hindwings with submarginal band light brown, VHW inner postdiscal band dark brown (black in P. dido and terra cotte in P. neildi ) and wide (narrow in P. ro m e ro i), HW medial postdiscal band beige and narrow, HW postcellular spots 4,5,6 between veins 1A-Cu2, Cu2-Cu1, Cu1-M3 large and elongated (smaller in P. diatonica and P. dido ), FW medial cell bar light brown scattered with white scales, VHW marginal cellular spots light brown (black in P. diatonica , P. dido and P. o s t a r a), sexes similar but female larger.

Haploid chromosome number: n=67 (voucher specimen fig.26) from Venezuela (Barinas)

Male genitalia ( Fig. 40 ): As illustrated. Saccus short and thin, vinculum stout, slightly curved and swollen, tegumen rounded distally with seta at the base of the uncus and the medial area; uncus short and straight, tapering gradually to pointed tip; gnathos long and curved distally; valvae with a long basal hook, reaching the medial area of the uncus; aedeagus long and slightly curved at both ends.

Type material. Holotype male: VENEZUELA: Barinas, Barinitas, 700 m, October 1988, F. Romero leg. Deposited in MIZA. Allotype female: VENEZUELA: Barinas, Barinitas, 800 m, February 1987, F. Romero leg. ( MIZA). Paratypes: VENEZUELA: 1 male, Barinas, ca Socopo, 1300 m, 20 December 1992, C. Garcia leg. (CFC), 1 male, Barinas, Pozo Negro, 1450 m, 19 December 1992, C. Garcia leg. (CFC).

Etymology: This species is named for Keith S. Brown (Universidade Estadual de Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil), who made important contributions about the genetic variation within the populations of Philaethria butterflies in South America and suggested the existing of good sibling species in the P. dido species complex.

Distribution and habitat. P. browni occurs along the Cordillera de Merida (east slope) in the state of Barinas, between 600–1200 m in premontane forest habitats. P. browni flies sympatrically with P. ostara meridensis and P. neildi .

Hostplant and immature stages. unknown.

Figures

FIGURES 32 – 41. Male genitalia, with aedeagus removed in lateral view. 32. P. diatonica. 33. P. dido 34. P. constantinoi. 35. P. wernickei. 36. P. pygmalion. 37. P. neildi. 38. P. andrei. 39. P. o s t a r a. 40. P. browni. 41. P. romeroi. Scale line 1 mm.