A review of the Philaethria dido species complex (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae: Heliconiinae) and description of three new sibling species from Colombia and Venezuela
Author
Constantino, Luis Miguel
Author
Salazar, Julian A.
text
Zootaxa
2010
2720
1
27
journal article
10.5281/zenodo.199882
efb4281f-a3cb-44f7-857e-75432dce8562
1175-5326
199882
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.