Zaretis falcis, DIAS, CASAGRANDE & MIELKE, 2012

ZARETIS FALCIS DIAS, CASAGRANDE & MIELKE, 2012

( FIGS 11A–D, 12, 15H, 17A, B, 19; SUPPORTING INFORMATION, APPENDIX S6)

Type material

Male holotype of Zaretis falcis Dias, Casagrande & Mielke, 2012 with the following labels: / Holotypus / 23–28-II-1988 – Ilha de Maracá, Alto Alegre, RR [Roraima, Brazil] Mielke & Casagrande/ HOLOTYPE Zaretis falcis Dias, Casagrande & Mielke , det. 2012/ DZ 19.625/ (DZUP); allotype female with the following labels: / Allotypus / 23–28-II-1988 - Ilha de Maracá, Alto Alegre, RR [Roraima, Brazil] Mielke & Casagrande/ ALLOTYPE Zaretis falcis Dias, Casagrande & Mielke , det. 2012/ DZ 19.478/ (DZUP).

Diagnosis

Zaretis falcis , as with most species of the genus, is somewhat variable but more-or-less distinctive. The species was recently described and diagnosed by Dias et al. (2012), but the diagnosis focused on a comparison with one of the most similar species, Z. pythagoras , which is not sympatric with Z. falcis . Zaretis falcis is sympatric with Z. itys , Z. isidora , Z. strigosus and Z. hurin sp. nov. in the Amazon basin and the Guianas. Both sexes can be distinguished from the above species by the distinctly falcate FW apex and the always crenulated outer margins. It can be distinguished further from Z. itys by the developed emargination of the inner margin at the tornus; and from Z. hurin sp. nov. by the absence of a purplish sheen on the FWD when viewed obliquely ( Fig. 11A–D). Males of Z. strigosus and Z. isidora can be extremely similar in colour and pattern to Z. falcis , and can be distinguished further from the last species by the male genitalia; in Z. falcis , the harpe is conspicuously longer and posteriorly directed ( Fig. 15H). Females ( Fig. 11C, D) can be distinguished further from Z. itys , Z. isidora and Z. hurin sp. nov. by the coloration of the basal, post-median and submarginal areas along the outer margin of the wings being uniformly orange on the upperside, and homogeneous beige to light brown on the underside; females of Z. strigosus can be extremely similar in colour and pattern to Z. falcis , which is distinguished externally only by the strongly falcate apex of the FW. However, Z. falcis can be distinguished by the longer than wide lamella postvaginalis, which is medially indented at its posterior edge ( Fig. 17A, B).

Discussion

Zaretis falcis was described based on the male holotype and the female allotype from Roraima, Brazil, collected by O. Mielke and M. Casagrande in 1988. Fifteen further specimens deposited at the DZUP and USNM were examined, but not explicitly designated as paratypes. Several other specimens were located at FLMNH, MNRJ, OM and other collections, after the description of Z. falcis , confirming its widespread Amazonian distribution. Dias et al. (2012) indicated that Z. falcis was probably not recognized as a distinct species in the past because of the infraspecific variation of species of Zaretis View in CoL , but acknowledged its distinctiveness and stability of phenotype. The examination of these additional specimens and specimens figured in publications (e.g. Witt, 1970: figs 3, 6; Pyrcz & Neild, 1996: pl. 20, fig. 848) confirms this assumption. An aberrant male from Bolívar, Venezuela, illustrated by Pyrcz & Neild (1996: pl. 20, fig. 851), was recognized as corresponding to Z. falcis in the taxonomic catalogue, but not discussed further by Dias et al. (2012). Two additional male specimens with corresponding phenotype were found at the MNRJ, collected in the beginning of the 20th century, from Óbidos and Itaituba, Pará, Brazil ( Fig. 12). Further studies with more recently collected specimens and analyses of their DNA barcodes could confirm whether these specimens correspond in fact to Z. falcis or to an undescribed species.

Distribution

Widespread in the Amazon basin and the Guianas, in low-elevation forests in Bolivia, Brazil (Acre, Amazonas, Distrito Federal, Mato Grosso, Pará, Rondônia and Roraima), Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana and Peru ( Fig. 19). It may occur in Suriname, Guyana, northwestern Argentina (i.e. Catamarca, Jujuy, Salta and Tucumán) and further south and east in Brazil (i.e. Goiás, Maranhão, Mato Grosso do Sul and Tocantins) .

Examined material

See Supporting Information, Appendix S1.