Neptis kejiaae H.Z. Li & Z. Liu, 2024

Neptis kejiaae H.Z. Li & Z. Liu sp. nov. (Chinese name: 可佳ųợø)

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:7A667364-D3C5-4F79-BA10-5182DF6E4270

( Figs. 1 View FIGURE 1 for adults, 3 for genitalia, 4 for diagnosis, 5 for distribution, 6 for phylogeny)

Holotype: ♂, Mt. Wuzhi , Wuzhishan, Hainan, China, ca. 800 m, 17.IV.2024, Z. Liu leg. (NK1; will be deposited at CMNH) . Paratype: ♂, collection data same as the holotype (NK2; CZL) .

Description: Male. ( Fig. 1 View FIGURE 1 ) Ground color black on upperside and brown on underside. Wing markings yellow, tinged with orange in upperside and lighter in underside. Forewing upperside: postdiscal spots composed of three bands, lower clavate band from basal part of spaces 1a to 1b, middle round band from spaces 1b to 3, upper ellipse band from spaces 4 to 6; lower and midle postdiscal bands almost contact with each other; subcostal small spots present in spaces 8 and 9, beyond upper postdiscal brand; cell streak with basal part laterally dusted and with distal part pointed. Hindwing upperside: discal band wide, basally whitish and turned into gray when passing through speculum; postdiscal band narrow, interrupted by black veins. Forewing underside: wing patterns similar to upperside but yellow markings broader; a submarginal yellow fascia running from spaces 8 to 3, ending at middle postdiscal brand; another submarginal fascia, outside preceding one, passing from costa to dorsum, tinged with lilac. Hindwing underside: subbase decorated with a yellow streak of an irregular shape; discal band wider, with a black line embedded in its lower edge; postdiscal band wider accompanied by yellow submarginal fascia, with their distal portions overlaid with lilac; ground color between discal and postdiscal bands dark-brown. Speculum on hindwing upperside and corresponding polished area on forewing underside dark. Fringes chequered black and white. Male Genitalia. ( Fig. 3 View FIGURE 3 ) Vinculum: slender, triple as long as saccus, ventrally broad. Saccus: from the part connected to vinculum, continuously narrowed forward, ending with a sharp point. Tegumen: dorsally elliptical, cephalic part protruding. Gnathos: vertically elongated, ventral portion integrated and protruding caudally. Uncus: straight, elongated into a pointed hook, slightly down-curved. Valva: more or less tongue-shaped with ampulla and harpe terminally differentiated; harpe wide, blade-like, gradually curved upward into a blunt end; ampulla fused with costa, a hump present in middle rear, caudal end of ampulla narrower and somewhat shorter than harpe with inconspicuous upper teeth. Juxta: bilateral parts expansive posteriorly, elliptical. Phallus: almost straight; basally expansive and terminal end forming a sharp upward hook; cornutus with tiny spins in expanded caudal part.

Diagnosis. The new species can be distinguished from other members in the N. hesione -group by the following characters ( Fig. 4 View FIGURE 4 ):

(1) Wing markings are more developed than other species in this group.

(2) The color of yellow markings is more intense, tinged with orange, but lighter in N. hesione and whiter in N. podarces stat. rev.

(3) Male brands on the hindwing speculum are darker than other species in this group.

(4) Terminal hook of the ampulla is almost absent as in N. podarces stat. rev., whereas it is present in N. hesione .

Distribution. Endemic to Hainan Is., China.

Etymology. The specific name is dedicated to Ms. Ke-Jia Sun, the wife of the second author, who encourages him to continue surveys on the butterfly fauna of Hainan.

Ecology. Both the new species and N. h. hesione are sympatric with Pantoporia bieti ( Oberthür, 1894) , a smaller species from a different genus but with a similar appearance ( Oberthür 1894).

Remarks. At present, a total of seven yellow-type Neptis species are known from Hainan, six of which are described as endemic, including N. ananta yanagisawai Sugiyama, 1992 , N. noyala qionga Gu & Wang, 1994 , N. namba leechuanlungi Wang & Lang, 2009 , N. manasa neohainana Lang, Xue & Han, 2009 , N. armandia leishuaimini Li & Liu, 2023 , and N. kejiaae sp. nov. ( Sugiyama 1992; Chou 1994; Lang 2009; 2012; Li et al. 2023). All of those yellow populations are extremely rare and hardly rediscovered, appearing to be threatened except N. a. yanagisawai (Lang et al. 2009).