Rhamma comstocki Johnson, 1992

Prieto, Carlos & Vargas, Maria A., 2016, Elfin butterflies of the genus Rhamma Johnson (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae: Theclinae): A review of the Colombian species, Zootaxa 4093 (3), pp. 323-342 : 330-331

Rhamma comstocki Johnson, 1992

( Figures 13, 14, 15, 16 , 35 , 47 , 56 , 68 )

Rhamma comstocki Johnson, 1992: 137 , figs. 52, 147. Image of holotype examined.

Rhamma lecromi Johnson & Lugo 1997: 1 , photoplate V figure A, B. Paratypes examined in ICN, topotypic material examined.

Type material. Holotype male, Colombia, Bogotá, La Calera, subparamo, 3100 m, leg. L. Richter, December 1945, deposited AMNH.

Taxonomic history and remarks. This species was described from the eastern range in Colombia near Bogotá. Rhamma lecromi Johnson & Lugo, 1997 was described by the same author several years later from a different location near Bogotá. We compared recently collected topotypical material and the type material of both species and we were unable to find any diagnostic features to separate them. Females of this species are variable even among individuals from the same locality.

Distribution and variability. This species is endemic to the eastern cordillera. Males exhibit little variation along its range from Cundinamarca and Boyacá to de northern tip of the eastern cordillera in the Serranía del Perijá. In contrast, females are quite variable in ventral wing pattern and color, even those from the same locality ( Figs. 14, 16 ).

Diagnosis. The recognition of R. comstocki as a distinct species was detailed in the account for R. oxida .

Material examined (30♂, 6 ♀). CUNDINAMARCA: 12♂, CP, Subachoque, El Tablazo, 3000 m, 12/10/ 2014, 05/01/2014, C. Prieto; 4 ♀, CP, Subachoque, El Tablazo, 3000 m, 12/10/2014, C. Prieto; 3♂, CP, Choachi, 3200 m, C. Prieto.; 3♂, JFLC, Subachoque, El Tablazo, 3400 m, 06/11/1994, 27/01/1996. Le Crom.; 3♂, JFLC, Bogotá, 3300 m, 12/10/1998, 13/02/1994; 2♂, JFLC; Villa Pinzón, 3450 m, 13/11/1994, 14/01/1995, Le Crom. BOYACA: 2♂, 2 ♀, CP, Güican, 3680 m, 18/01/2009, 13/01/2009, C. Prieto; 1♂, CP, Tibasosa, 3200 m, C. Prieto; 2♂, JFLC, Tibasosa, 2800 m, 18/03/2001, Le Crom. CESAR: 4♂, CP, Manaure, Sabana Rubia, 3000 m, 01/05/ 2015, C. Prieto.

Figures

FIGURES 11 – 19. Adults depicted in dorsal (left) and ventral (right) aspect: 11. Rhamma oxida male (Cauca); 12. Rhamma oxida female (Cauca); 13. Rhamma comstocki male (Cundinamarca); 14. Rhamma comstocki female (Cundinamarca); 15. Rhamma comstocki male (Cesar); 16. Rhamma comstocki female (Cundinamarca); 17. Rhamma shapiroi male (SNSM, Magdalena); 18. Rhamma shapiroi female (SNSM, Magdalena); 19. Rhamma mishma male (SNSM, Magdalena).

FIGURES 30 – 35. Male genitalia armatures in lateral (left) and ventral (right) views: 30. Rhamma hybla; 31. Rhamma adunca; 32. Rhamma arria; 33. Rhamma livida (arrows point a., vinculum strut strongly developed and b., vinculum forming a 90 degree angle); 34. Rhamma oxida; 35. Rhamma comstocki.

FIGURES 42 – 50. Female genitalia (ductus bursae and bursa copulatrix): 42. Rhamma hybla (arrows point a., strongly developed lamella postvaginalis, terminating in serrate configurations b., ductus bursae lightly sclerotized in the middle so that it appears to be transparent and c., dendritic, fan shaped signa) 43. Rhamma adunca; 44. Rhamma arria; 45. Rhamma livida; 46. Rhamma oxida; 47. Rhamma comstocki; 48. Rhamma shapiroi; 49. Rhamma bilix; 50. Rhamma anosma.

FIGURES 51 – 62. Androconial brands (arrows point the scent pad): 51. Rhamma hybla; 52. Rhamma adunca; 53. Rhamma arria; 54. Rhamma livida; 55. Rhamma oxida; 56. Rhamma comstocki; 57. Rhamma shapiroi; 58. Rhamma mishma; 59. Rhamma bilix; 60. Rhamma anosma; 61. Rhamma familiaris; 62. Rhamma commodus.

FIGURES 67 – 70. Distributional maps of Colombian Rhamma. 67. Rhamma commodus, Rhamma familiaris; 68. Rhamma comstocki; 69. Rhamma hybla; 70. Rhamma livida.