Rhamma bilix (Draudt, 1919)

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 : 335-336

Rhamma bilix (Draudt, 1919)

( Figures 20, 21, 22, 23 , 37, 38, 49, 59, 66) Thecla bilix Draudt, 1919: 759 , pl. 153g

Radissima esolana Johnson, 1992: 176 , figs. 95, 189.

Type material. Holotype female: " Typus "; " Th mishma / Hewitson"; " bilix "; "Rio Aguacatal / Colomb. W. Codr. [sic!] / 2000 m / Coll. Fassl." Deposited in SMF.

Taxonomic history and remarks. This species was described and illustrated by Draudt from Fassl collection material. The purported male type specimen was considered by many authors to have been destroyed in World War II, and a neotype was designed by Bálint et al. (2006). However, Lamas (2006) found the holotype at SMF (a female not a male as stated by Draudt) invalidating the neotype designation of Bálint (2006). The male of this species was described as Radissima esolana by Johnson (1992), a species subsequently synonymized by Robbins (2004).

Distribution and variability. This species is distributed in the western and central cordilleras of Colombia. In the western cordillera, male specimens collected at lower altitudes (<2600 m) are quite different in size, wing shape, and dorsal blue coloration ( Fig. 20 ) than specimens collected at higher altitudes ( Fig. 22 ). However, intermediate forms between the phenotypes depicted here are collected commonly, demonstrating that these are the opposite ends of a gradient of morphological variation in the same species and not two parapatric species.

Diagnosis. The deep blue color on dorsal fore and hind wings, and the deep blue patch of androconial scales on ventral fore wing base that reach the marginal line are traits that distinguishes R. bilix from all other Rhamma .

Material examined (40♂, 3♀). CAUCA: 6♂, CP: PNN Munchique, Veinte de Julio, 2800 m, 14 – 16/05/06, C.

Prieto; 1♀, CP: PNN Munchique, La Romelia, 2600 m, 19/08/07; 3♂, CP: Argelia, Naranjal, 2900 m, 21/07/06, C. Prieto. VA L L E: 7♂, CP: PNN Farallones, Pico de Loro, 2800 m, C. Prieto; 16♂,1♀, CP: Cali, k-18, cerro San Antonio, 2100 m, C. Prieto. ANTIOQUIA: 3♂, 1♀, CP: Belmira, Páramo de Belmira, 3200 m, 01/08/2015, C. Prieto; 5♂, CP: Yarumal, La Marconia, Antenas, 2700 m, 28/07/2015, C. Prieto.

Figures

FIGURES 20 – 29. Adults depicted in dorsal (left) and ventral (right) aspect: 20. Rhamma bilix male (Valle); 21. Rhamma bilix female (Belmira, Antioquia); 22. Rhamma bilix male (Valle); 23. Rhamma bilix male (Yarumal, Antioquia); 24. Rhamma anosma male (Boyacá); 25. Rhamma anosma female (Boyacá); 26. Rhamma andradei male (Cundinamarca); 27. Rhamma familiaris male (SNSM, Magdalena); 28. Rhamma commodus male (Antioquia); 29. Rhamma commodus female (Boyacá).