Dianesia ramsdeni ( Skinner, 1912 )

Dianesia ramsdeni ( Skinner, 1912) View in CoL

Figs. 1F–J View FIGURE 1 , 3D–F View FIGURE 3 , 5A–B View FIGURE 5 , 6A–B View FIGURE 6 , 7A–C View FIGURE 7 , 8 View FIGURE 8 , 9A–D View FIGURE 9 , 10A View FIGURE 10

Mesosemia ramsdeni Skinner 1912: 126 View in CoL ; Seitz 1924: 727.

Apodemia carteri ramsdeni Bates 1935 ; 187, Riley 1975: 93, Alayo & Hernández 1987: 65.

Dianesia carteri ramsdeni Harvey & Clench 1980: 127 View in CoL , Smith et al. 1994: 106.

Dianesia ramsdeni Hernández et al. 2025: 225 View in CoL .

Diagnosis. Dianesia ramsdeni can be distinguished from its congeners by the following combination of characters: larger size (FW length ♂ 15,1–17,0 mm, n = 16, ♀ 14,4–16,8 mm, n = 11); uniform dark-brown upper surface background color with orange glow reduced to base; FW marginal postdiscal white band well developed dorsally with the first two spots more marked, much more developed and marked ventrally; male genitalia proportionally larger, broad valvae with long narrow tips; female genitalia with corpus bursae globose and long flat cylindrical signa with blunt tips. Barcode rDNC: 202(A), 334(T), 589(C).

Description. Eyes naked, green in life. Antennal socket orange; antennae slender, 36–38 alternate blackish and white antennomers, club blackish with white tip. Head, thorax and abdomen dark brown, the thorax with scattered dark orange pubescence and the abdomen with dark orange segment junctions. FW length: 15,1–17,0 mm ♂, 14,4–16,8 mm ♀. Male UPFW dark brown, darker from the postdiscal area towards outer margin, base dark orange with two dark brown concentric, discontinuous bands extending basally and discally, respectively, from the discal cell to 2A, the inner half of the basal band pointed towards the outer margin; a third incomplete band of the same color edging the discal cell, and a small spot of the same color on the bifurcation of Cu 1 and Cu 2. A thin dark brown postdiscal line extending sinuously from costa to Cu 1 and then straight to the inner margin, internally edged by a blurred blackish area and externally edged by a white band consisting of six spots, the two between R 2 –R 3 and R 3 –M 1 thinner and well-defined, the two between M 1 –M 2 and M 2 –M 3 shorter, broader and more diffuse, and the two between M 3 –Cu 1 and Cu 1 –Cu 2 larger, broader and more diffuse. A poorly developed submarginal curved broad orange band edged by diffuse blackish areas, interrupted by veins; an elliptical black ocellus on the anal angle, internally edged by the orange band. UPHW with similar pattern, but with basal dark orange color reduced, broader and more sinuous postdiscal brown line and submarginal orange band, the latter with more defined and broader black edging, no postdiscal white band, and a larger, square ocellus in the anal angle, internally edged by yellow and with an external metallic blue pupil. UNFW similar but paler with no orange color, basal half darker but whiter near inner angle and with the postdiscal white band much more defined and broader, extending towards inner angle; ocellus at anal angle larger and with an external superior pupil of blue scales, internally edged by pale yellow scales. UNHW similar but no orange color, basal half darker, basal and discal brown bands reduced, postdiscal brown band discontinuous, ocellus at anal angle with a greater cover of metallic blue scales. Genitalia with broad, square-shaped tegumen; uncus weakly lobed, each lobe with a ventrally prominent tooth-like protuberance; gnathi slender, smoothly curved upwards near tip; vinculum anteriorly concave, slender but broader near aedeagus; valvae broad, simple, slightly longer than tegumen, tip long and narrow, sclerotized but membranous near attachment to vinculum, dorsally attached to aedeagus by a weakly sclerotized peduncle; saccus short, lightly rounded; aedeagus elongate and thin, continued in a long, membranous duct ( Fig. 6A–B View FIGURE 6 ).

Female similar to male but with elongated, narrower wings with rounder outer margins; a lighter dark brown background color on the UP, the basal orange more developed, extending beyond the postdiscal black line in the HW; and a better developed marginal orange band, especially in the FW. Genitalia with ostium bursae compressed dorsoventrally, narrower towards the sclerotized antrum, lamella antevaginalis heavily sclerotized and spatulate, partially covering ostium bursae; lamella postvaginalis weakly sclerotized; ductus bursae narrow and membranous, punctate surface with several small, irregular folds; corpus bursae globose, flattened dorsoventrally, surface uniformly punctate, with numerous folds around junction with ductus bursae; two mid-lateral heavily sclerotized long flat cylindrical signa with smooth blunt tips ( Fig. 7A–C View FIGURE 7 ).

Type material. Holotype ♂ CUBA , Guantánamo, Baracoa, Meseta de Iberia (“ La Yberia ” in original label), 18/IX/1909, col. C. Ramsden, CME (red holotype label “ No. 7067”, CMNH-IZ 724648 ) . Paratype ♀ Same data as for holotype, CME ( CMNH-IZ 724686 ) .

Additional material. 30♂, 20♀. CUBA . Holguín: Piloto, Moa, VI/1951, col. J. Ferrás, CZACC (1♂: 7-503427); La Melba, Moa, 20º26’N, 74º48’W, 11/VII/1995, col. L.D. Miller, J.Y. Miller, M. Simon & L. R. Hernández, MGCL (1♂: 1138718); same locality, 2018, col. D. M. Fernández, DNA voucher DMF-080, DMFC (1♂, no collection ID voucher); Base del Pico “El Toldo”, Moa, VIII/2001, col. R. Núñez & A. Barro, DNA vouchers RNA-3-05, RNA- 3-06, CZACC (2♂, 1♀: 7-516655, 7-516656, 7-516657); same locality, 2018, col. A. Barro, DNA voucher T1 , MFP (1♀, no collection ID voucher); Cayo Guam , Moa , 20º35’N, 74º50’W, 13/V/2025, col. Y. Álvarez, YAC (1♀: YAC-0800). Guantánamo: Meseta de Iberia , Baracoa , 20º28’N, 74º43’W, 12/IX/1909, col. C. Ramsden, CZACC (1♂, 1♀: 7-503425, 7-503429); same locality, 18/IX/1909, col. C. Ramsden, MCR (2♂, 1♀: no collection ID voucher); same locality, 19/XII/1918, col. C. Ramsden, CZACC (1♂: 7-514598); same locality, 20/V/2007, col. R. Núñez , DNA vouchers RNA-1-025, RNA-1-026, CZACC (2♂: 7-518985, 7-518986); same locality, 2018, col. D. M. Fernández, DNA vouchers DMF-061, DMF-062, DMF-063, DMFC (2♂, 1♀, no collection ID voucher); same locality, 12/VII/2022, col. A. Serrano & Y. Álvarez, DNA vouchers Y051, Y052, Y054, Y055, Y056, Y057, Y058, Y059, YAC (3♂, 2♀: YAC-0085, YAC-0086, YAC-0087, YAC-0088, YAC-0089), CZACC (1♂, 2♀: 7-519242, 7- 519243, 7-519244); same locality, 10-12/V/2024, col. Y. Álvarez, DNA vouchers DC-56, DC-57, DC-58, DC-59, DC-60, DC-61, DC-62, ZUEC (4♂, 1♀: 14706, 14707, 14708, 14709, 14710), YAC (1♂, 1♀: YAC-0563, YAC-0565); Road from Monte Iberia to Tetas de Julia , Baracoa , 20º28’N, 74º43’W, 11/V/2024, col. Y. Álvarez, YAC (1♂: YAC-0571); Mina de Polvo (summit of La Bella Durmiente ), Baracoa , 20º26’N, 74º39’W, 7/V/2025, col. Y. Álvarez, YAC (3♂, 3♀: YAC-0783, YAC-0784, YAC-0785, YAC-0786, YAC-0787, YAC-0788); Mina Amores, Baracoa , 20º25’N, 74º37’W, 4/V/2024, col. Y. Álvarez, DNA voucher DC-71, DC-201 (one larvae preserved in ethanol), YAC (1♂: YAC-0590); 1 km SE of Mina Amores, Baracoa , 20 o 25’N, 74 o 37’W, 1/II/2025, col. Y. Álvarez, YAC (2♀: YAC-0735, YAC-0736); Yunque de Baracoa , Baracoa , 20º20’N, 74º34’W, 8/VIII/2022, col. A. Serrano, DNA vouchers Y061, Y062, Y063, YAC (1♂, 1♀: YAC-0090, YAC-0091), CZACC (1♂: 7-519241); same locality, 11/VIII/2023, col. A. Serrano, YAC (1♀: YAC-0443); same locality, 9/V/2025, col. Y. Álvarez, YAC (1♂, 1♀: YAC-0791, YAC-0792) GoogleMaps .

Distribution. Known only from four sections of the Nipe-Sagua-Baracoa (NSB) mountains, northeastern Cuba : Sierra de Nipe (Charrascal de La Cueva, Salto del Guayabo, Pinares de Mayarí), Sierra de Moa-Toa (Cayo Guam, La Breña, Mina Yarey , Monte Lejos, La Melba, El Toldo, Balcón de Iberia, Meseta de Iberia, Palenque de Yateras, Monte Líbano, Camarones, Mina Amores, Mina de Polvo (La Bella Durmiente) , Quibiján, Sierra Azul), Baracoa limestones (Yunque de Baracoa) and Baracoa serpentines (Alto de Yamagua).

Habitat. Serpentine sclerophyllous montane forest, serpentine sclerophyllous lowland forest, karstic sclerophyllous montane forest and montane evergreen serpentine scrub-woodland ( Fig. 9A–D View FIGURE 9 ).

Biology. This is by far the most common and ecologically widespread species of Dianesia in Cuba . Across the NSB mountains, this species can be found from relatively low altitudes of 100–200m (Camarones, Balcón de Iberia) up to peaks of more than 1000m (El Toldo). In the type locality it is the most abundant butterfly and is more common in clearings of the humid rainforest. Males are more abundant and can be seen flying actively, patrolling open forest patches and trails, and frequently chasing other males or passing insects, suggesting territorial behavior. Females are less frequent and tend to fly closer to patches of the host plants. We have seen adults visiting flowers of Euphorbia helenae Urb. ( Euphorbiaceae ), Scaevola wrightii (Griseb.) M. Gómez ( Goodeniaceae ), Spathelia wrightii Vict. ( Rutaceae ), Clusia sp. ( Clusiaceae ) and Cyrilla sp. ( Cyrillaceae ). Adults are on the wing year-round, although they are more common from May to August, and fly from the early morning until late afternoon; we have seen an activity peak between 16 and 17 h. Adults from the dry season (November–April) can show a reduction of the orange color on the UP ( Fig. 5A–B View FIGURE 5 ).

Immature stages. Final instar ( Fig. 10A View FIGURE 10 ): Head capsule orange, covered with numerous whitish setae. Prothoracic shied light orange, purplish towards head capsule, with a medial white band and two oblique spots on each side, the inner one blackish and the outer one purplish, covered by whitish setae and a pair of lateral black setae. Body dark olive green dorsally, yellow green laterally, these colors intergrading in the first five segments and delimited by a lateral diffuse white band from the sixth to the tenth segments, yellowish near anal plate; ninth and tenth segments with dorsal purplish areas restricted to the outer half or covering the whole dorsum, respectively; segment junctions whitish; white band running mid-dorsally along the body, broader and more marked in the final segments; two dorsolateral white bands, broader and more marked in the first three segments, externally accompanied by small whitish dots on the first three segments and by a white and a black longitudinal spots on the ninth segment; a lateral broad, round black spot edged with white on the fourth and fifth segments; each segment with a lateral white spiracle opening and a tuft of long whitish setae.Anal plate orange, with four longitudinal darker spots and two basal black curved spots; covered by numerous external long whitish setae.

Host plants. Buxus crassifolia (Britton) Urb. , B. nipensis Eg. Köhler & P. A. González , B. pilosula Urb. subsp. pilosula ( Esnard et al. 2023) , B. bissei Eg. Köhler , B. braimbrigdeorum Eg. Köhler , B. excisa Urb. subsp. excisa , B. ekmanii Urb. subsp. ekmanii , B. gonoclada subsp. toldoensis Eg. Köhler , B. olivacea Urb. , B. retusa (Griseb.) Müll. Arg. subsp. retusa , B. shaferi (Britton) Urb. and B. yunquensis Eg. Köhler ( Buxaceae ).

Remarks. The broad geographical and ecological distribution of this butterfly is probably related to its polyphagous habits, one of the two known cases within the genus Dianesia . The records on both serpentine growing and non-serpentine growing species of Buxus suggest that larvae have a facultative mechanism to metabolize heavy metals. The absence of records of this species from Sierra Cristal, the sole serpentine district of the Nipe-Sagua-Baracoa mountains in which it has not been found to date, its likely due to sampling bias as the butterfly fauna of the region has been poorly studied, and some of the recorded host plants, such as Buxus olivacea and B. shaferi , are found there ( Köhler 2014).

Hernández et al. (2025) listed two unlikely localities for Dianesia ramsdeni in their work, to the south of Sancti Spíritus and Camagüey provinces. These localities cannot be traced to collection specimens or the literature cited by these authors ( Alayo & Hernández 1987; Hernández et al. 1998; Núñez & Barro 2016; Núñez et al. 2020; Álvarez & Yong 2024, this last reference being improperly cited in their text). The only other reference provided is a GBIF occurrence dataset (https://doi.org/10.15468/dl.6a 5t 47) which, amongst some of the verified localities, contains one georeferenced locality identified as “ Cuba ” with no further specificity, and apparently the coordinates provided are for the geographical center of the island since there is no additional information. The geographical center of Cuba is near the south of Sancti Spíritus province, explaining the existence of a record of this species from that area in the GBIF dataset. The record from the southern half of Camagüey cannot be tracked to any existent data set or publication, neither is explicitly provided as new by the authors, and thus we also considered it dubious. No Buxus species has been recorded from neither of these areas ( Köhler 2014). The aforementioned authors, following the literature ( Hernández et al. 1998), also listed the rest of the Cuban populations as Dianesia carteri ramsdeni , including the record from northern Camagüey ( Núñez et al. 2020), and the records from the northern keys as D. c. carteri . These populations outside of the Nipe-Sagua-Baracoa mountains also differ from Dianesia carteri and Dianesia ramsdeni .