taxonID	type	description	language	source
039C870B6D2F4A39FF06FF631606FD5C.taxon	description	Figs. 1 A – E, 6 O – P, 7 Y – $, 8	en	Álvarez, Yosiel, Núñez, Rayner, Magaldi, Luiza De Moraes, Matthews, Deborah, Freitas, André Victor Lucci, Espeland, Marianne (2025): Phenotypes, natural history and barcodes unveil cryptic species within the Caribbean Metalmark Dianesia carteri (Holland) (Lepidoptera: Riodinidae). Zootaxa 5686 (1): 5-48, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5686.1.2, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5360.3.8
039C870B6D2F4A39FF06FF631606FD5C.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis. Dianesia carteri can be distinguished from all its congeners by the following combination of characters: smaller size (FW length ♂ 11,5 – 12,7 mm, n = 12, ♀ 11,9 – 12,8 mm, n = 5); uniform light intense orange-brown upper surface background color; well-developed FW marginal orange band; postdiscal white band dorsally reduced to the first four spots, all well marked; male genitalia with very blunt uncus tooth-like protuberance, tegumen smoothly depressed dorsally, broad valvae with narrower tips; female genitalia with corpus bursae globose and short flat cylindrical signa with very blunt tips. Barcode rDNC: 67 (T), 160 (G), 178 (C).	en	Álvarez, Yosiel, Núñez, Rayner, Magaldi, Luiza De Moraes, Matthews, Deborah, Freitas, André Victor Lucci, Espeland, Marianne (2025): Phenotypes, natural history and barcodes unveil cryptic species within the Caribbean Metalmark Dianesia carteri (Holland) (Lepidoptera: Riodinidae). Zootaxa 5686 (1): 5-48, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5686.1.2, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5360.3.8
039C870B6D2F4A39FF06FF631606FD5C.taxon	description	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 orange-brown, the latter with bright orange segment junctions. FWL: 11,5 – 12,7 mm ♂, 11,9 – 12,8 mm ♀. Male UPFW bright orange-brown, browner from the postdiscal area towards outer margin, with two dark brown concentric, discontinuous bands extending basally and discally, respectively, from the discal cell to 2 A, 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 four spots, the two between R 2 – R 3 and R 3 – M 1 thinner and well-defined, and the two between M 1 – M 2 and M 2 – M 3 shorter, broader and more diffuse; two additional more diffuse spots between Cu 1 – Cu 2 and Cu 2 – 2 A. A 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 uniform orange background color, the middle discal dark brown band being incomplete, 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 orange color replaced by light brown, lighter towards base, and with the postdiscal white band better defined and broader; ocellus at anal angle larger and with an external superior pupil of blue scales. UNHW similar but orange color replaced by light brown with basal half darker, basal and discal brown bands reduced, postdiscal brown band discontinuous, ocellus at anal angle with a greater covering of metallic blue scales. Genitalia with broad, square-shaped tegumen, smoothly depressed dorsally; uncus strongly lobed, each lobe with a ventral blunt tooth-like protuberance; gnathi slender, smoothly curved upwards near tip; vinculum anteriorly concave, slender but broader near aedeagus; valvae broad, simple, 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. 6 O – P). Female similar to male but with elongated, narrower wings with rounder outer margins, and a lighter, more uniform orange-brown background color on the UP. 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 short flat cylindrical signa with very blunt tips (Fig. 7 Y – $).	en	Álvarez, Yosiel, Núñez, Rayner, Magaldi, Luiza De Moraes, Matthews, Deborah, Freitas, André Victor Lucci, Espeland, Marianne (2025): Phenotypes, natural history and barcodes unveil cryptic species within the Caribbean Metalmark Dianesia carteri (Holland) (Lepidoptera: Riodinidae). Zootaxa 5686 (1): 5-48, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5686.1.2, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5360.3.8
039C870B6D2F4A39FF06FF631606FD5C.taxon	materials_examined	Type material. Holotype ♂ BAHAMAS, New Providence Island, Nassau, 15 / IV / 1902, col. G. T. Carter, CME (Holotype No. 68). Paratypes 4 ♂, same location, 24 / V / 1902, col. G. T. Carter, CME (no collection ID voucher). Additional material. 16 ♂, 5 ♀. 4 km N Staniard Creek, Andros, 24 o 53 ’ N 77 o 55 ’ W, 19 / VIII / 2003, col. M. Simon, J. Miller & L. Miller, MGCL (1 ♂: 231025); 3 km S Staniard Creek, Andros, 24 o 47 ’ N 77 o 53 ’ W, 20 / VIII / 2003, col. M. Simon, J. Y. Miller & L. D. Miller, MGCL (5 ♂: 231019, 231021, 231022, 231023, 231024); Hardwood Coppice, vic. Forfer Station, Andros, 24 o 53 ’’’ N, 77 o 55 ’’’ W, 6 / III / 1999, col. R. Hirzel, DNA voucher LEP / 90779, LEP / 90780, MGCL (2 ♂, 1 ♀: 1138718, 1138719, 1138727); Stafford Creek, Andros, 24 o 50 ’, 77 o 58 ’’’ W, IV / 2004, col. M. Simon, MGCL, DNA vouchers RN 002, LEP / 90763 (3 ♂, 4 ♀: 1138705, 1138710, 1138711, 1138714, 1138729, 1138732, 1138734); same locality, 7 - 10 / VI / 2008, col. M. Simon, G. Goss, R. Rozycki, DNA voucher LEP- 90762, MGCL (1 ♂: 231026); same locality, 28 / V / 1987, col. D. J. Harvey, USNM (1 ♂: 1466534); Red Bay, Andros, 25 o 07 ’ N, 78 o 12 ’’’ W, 6 / VI / 1978, col. D. J. Harvey, USNM (1 ♂: 1587101); same locality, 9 / VI / 1978, col. D. J. Harvey, USNM (1 ♂: 1466533).	en	Álvarez, Yosiel, Núñez, Rayner, Magaldi, Luiza De Moraes, Matthews, Deborah, Freitas, André Victor Lucci, Espeland, Marianne (2025): Phenotypes, natural history and barcodes unveil cryptic species within the Caribbean Metalmark Dianesia carteri (Holland) (Lepidoptera: Riodinidae). Zootaxa 5686 (1): 5-48, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5686.1.2, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5360.3.8
039C870B6D2F4A39FF06FF631606FD5C.taxon	distribution	Distribution. Known only from four islands within the Bahamas archipelago: New Providence, Andros, San Salvador Island, and Hall Pond’s Key (Exumas) (Fig. 8). Habitat. Dry coastal scrub-woodland, sandy coastline vegetation, tropical hardwood hammock and pine forest.	en	Álvarez, Yosiel, Núñez, Rayner, Magaldi, Luiza De Moraes, Matthews, Deborah, Freitas, André Victor Lucci, Espeland, Marianne (2025): Phenotypes, natural history and barcodes unveil cryptic species within the Caribbean Metalmark Dianesia carteri (Holland) (Lepidoptera: Riodinidae). Zootaxa 5686 (1): 5-48, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5686.1.2, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5360.3.8
039C870B6D2F4A39FF06FF631606FD5C.taxon	biology_ecology	Biology. According to the accounts of Clench (1977), Harvey & Clench (1980) and Smith et al. (1994), Dianesia carteri is local but common in conserved areas of New Providence and Andros, where it flies swiftly amongst the deep vegetation of thickets. Its flight when disturbed is fast and circular, and, as with all other species, ends with the insect settled beneath a leaf, with wings outstretched. Nectar sources include Bursera simaruba (L.) Sarg. (Burseraceae), Coccoloba uvifera L. (Polygonaceae), Lantana involucrata L. (Verbenaceae) and Varronia bahamensis Urb. (Boraginaceae). Adult males typically perch on fixed spots of variable height, and if removed from these, another male soon occupies the vacant spot. The flight activity period seems to extend during daylight hours from early morning to late afternoon. Known records from specimens in collection and literature, spanning across most months, suggest that D. carteri is multivoltine and flies year-round. Adults from the dry season (November – April) can show a reduction of the orange color on the UP. Immature stages. Unknown. Host plant. Unknown, but likely Buxus bahamensis Baker (Buxaceae).	en	Álvarez, Yosiel, Núñez, Rayner, Magaldi, Luiza De Moraes, Matthews, Deborah, Freitas, André Victor Lucci, Espeland, Marianne (2025): Phenotypes, natural history and barcodes unveil cryptic species within the Caribbean Metalmark Dianesia carteri (Holland) (Lepidoptera: Riodinidae). Zootaxa 5686 (1): 5-48, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5686.1.2, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5360.3.8
039C870B6D2F4A39FF06FF631606FD5C.taxon	discussion	Remarks. In his original description, Holland (1902) apparently reviewed several specimens of both sexes; however, he did not mention the size of the type series, and despite our efforts, we could only locate four male paratypes. The known distribution of Dianesia carteri in the Bahamian archipelago is likely underestimated biased towards the larger islands. Its presence on Little San Salvador Island and Hall Pond’s Cay is supported on single observations and more surveys are required to confirm its survival on these small islands. Despite the host and larvae being unknown, the presence of Buxus bahamensis on several islands of the archipelago, and its use by a Cuban relative, suggest it is the most likely candidate. The distribution of this plant in the Bahamas could be used to identify potential new populations of this insect in the islands.	en	Álvarez, Yosiel, Núñez, Rayner, Magaldi, Luiza De Moraes, Matthews, Deborah, Freitas, André Victor Lucci, Espeland, Marianne (2025): Phenotypes, natural history and barcodes unveil cryptic species within the Caribbean Metalmark Dianesia carteri (Holland) (Lepidoptera: Riodinidae). Zootaxa 5686 (1): 5-48, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5686.1.2, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5360.3.8
039C870B6D2D4A37FF06FD0F1419F9A4.taxon	description	Figs. 1 F – J, 3 D – F, 5 A – B, 6 A – B, 7 A – C, 8, 9 A – D, 10 A	en	Álvarez, Yosiel, Núñez, Rayner, Magaldi, Luiza De Moraes, Matthews, Deborah, Freitas, André Victor Lucci, Espeland, Marianne (2025): Phenotypes, natural history and barcodes unveil cryptic species within the Caribbean Metalmark Dianesia carteri (Holland) (Lepidoptera: Riodinidae). Zootaxa 5686 (1): 5-48, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5686.1.2, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5360.3.8
039C870B6D2D4A37FF06FD0F1419F9A4.taxon	diagnosis	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).	en	Álvarez, Yosiel, Núñez, Rayner, Magaldi, Luiza De Moraes, Matthews, Deborah, Freitas, André Victor Lucci, Espeland, Marianne (2025): Phenotypes, natural history and barcodes unveil cryptic species within the Caribbean Metalmark Dianesia carteri (Holland) (Lepidoptera: Riodinidae). Zootaxa 5686 (1): 5-48, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5686.1.2, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5360.3.8
039C870B6D2D4A37FF06FD0F1419F9A4.taxon	description	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 2 A, 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. 6 A – B). 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. 7 A – C).	en	Álvarez, Yosiel, Núñez, Rayner, Magaldi, Luiza De Moraes, Matthews, Deborah, Freitas, André Victor Lucci, Espeland, Marianne (2025): Phenotypes, natural history and barcodes unveil cryptic species within the Caribbean Metalmark Dianesia carteri (Holland) (Lepidoptera: Riodinidae). Zootaxa 5686 (1): 5-48, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5686.1.2, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5360.3.8
039C870B6D2D4A37FF06FD0F1419F9A4.taxon	materials_examined	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, 20 º 26 ’ N, 74 º 48 ’ 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 T 1, MFP (1 ♀, no collection ID voucher); Cayo Guam, Moa, 20 º 35 ’ N, 74 º 50 ’ W, 13 / V / 2025, col. Y. Álvarez, YAC (1 ♀: YAC- 0800). Guantánamo: Meseta de Iberia, Baracoa, 20 º 28 ’ N, 74 º 43 ’ 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 Y 051, Y 052, Y 054, Y 055, Y 056, Y 057, Y 058, Y 059, 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, 20 º 28 ’ N, 74 º 43 ’ W, 11 / V / 2024, col. Y. Álvarez, YAC (1 ♂: YAC- 0571); Mina de Polvo (summit of La Bella Durmiente), Baracoa, 20 º 26 ’ N, 74 º 39 ’ 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, 20 º 25 ’ N, 74 º 37 ’ 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, 20 º 20 ’ N, 74 º 34 ’ W, 8 / VIII / 2022, col. A. Serrano, DNA vouchers Y 061, Y 062, Y 063, 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).	en	Álvarez, Yosiel, Núñez, Rayner, Magaldi, Luiza De Moraes, Matthews, Deborah, Freitas, André Victor Lucci, Espeland, Marianne (2025): Phenotypes, natural history and barcodes unveil cryptic species within the Caribbean Metalmark Dianesia carteri (Holland) (Lepidoptera: Riodinidae). Zootaxa 5686 (1): 5-48, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5686.1.2, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5360.3.8
039C870B6D2D4A37FF06FD0F1419F9A4.taxon	distribution	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. 9 A – D).	en	Álvarez, Yosiel, Núñez, Rayner, Magaldi, Luiza De Moraes, Matthews, Deborah, Freitas, André Victor Lucci, Espeland, Marianne (2025): Phenotypes, natural history and barcodes unveil cryptic species within the Caribbean Metalmark Dianesia carteri (Holland) (Lepidoptera: Riodinidae). Zootaxa 5686 (1): 5-48, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5686.1.2, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5360.3.8
039C870B6D2D4A37FF06FD0F1419F9A4.taxon	biology_ecology	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 – 200 m (Camarones, Balcón de Iberia) up to peaks of more than 1000 m (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. 5 A – B). Immature stages. Final instar (Fig. 10 A): 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).	en	Álvarez, Yosiel, Núñez, Rayner, Magaldi, Luiza De Moraes, Matthews, Deborah, Freitas, André Victor Lucci, Espeland, Marianne (2025): Phenotypes, natural history and barcodes unveil cryptic species within the Caribbean Metalmark Dianesia carteri (Holland) (Lepidoptera: Riodinidae). Zootaxa 5686 (1): 5-48, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5686.1.2, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5360.3.8
039C870B6D2D4A37FF06FD0F1419F9A4.taxon	discussion	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. 6 a 5 t 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.	en	Álvarez, Yosiel, Núñez, Rayner, Magaldi, Luiza De Moraes, Matthews, Deborah, Freitas, André Victor Lucci, Espeland, Marianne (2025): Phenotypes, natural history and barcodes unveil cryptic species within the Caribbean Metalmark Dianesia carteri (Holland) (Lepidoptera: Riodinidae). Zootaxa 5686 (1): 5-48, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5686.1.2, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5360.3.8
039C870B6D234A35FF06F95617F7F8DC.taxon	description	Figs. 1 K – N, 3 A – C, 6 - C – D, 7 D – F, 8, 9 A, C, 10 B	en	Álvarez, Yosiel, Núñez, Rayner, Magaldi, Luiza De Moraes, Matthews, Deborah, Freitas, André Victor Lucci, Espeland, Marianne (2025): Phenotypes, natural history and barcodes unveil cryptic species within the Caribbean Metalmark Dianesia carteri (Holland) (Lepidoptera: Riodinidae). Zootaxa 5686 (1): 5-48, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5686.1.2, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5360.3.8
039C870B6D234A35FF06F95617F7F8DC.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis. Dianesia aberrans sp. nov. can be easily separated from its congeners by the following combination of characters: body very dark brown, thorax with three pairs of yellow dorsal spots; wings very dark brown with orange tones replaced by golden yellow; FW with a projection of M 3 in outer margin; HW much rounder; FW postdiscal white band very irregular with seven spots, the first two between R 2 – R 3 and R 3 – M 1 thinner, the third between M 1 – M 2 shorter, the fourth between M 2 – M 3 longer, arrow-shaped and strongly displaced towards the external margin, and the sixth between Cu 1 – Cu 2 broader and displaced towards base; submarginal band very narrow and with external black spots much bolder and marked, the marginal black spot between M 3 and Cu 1 externally edged with golden yellow; three white spots in the outer margin fringes between R 4 – M 1, M 3 – Cu 1 and Cu 2 – 2 A; tornal ocellus bolder and with an external superior small yellow patch (white in the UN); HW with three white spots external to the postdiscal black line between M 2 – M 3, Cu 1 – Cu 2 and Cu 2 – 2 A (a smaller white spot between all other vein pairs on the UNHW); UNHW with whitish patches among the basal and discal black bands; male genitalia ventrally narrow, uncus tooth-like protuberance small and blunt; female genitalia with ovate corpus bursae, as long as half of the ductus bursae; bursal signa wider and uniformly cylindrical, with blunt tips. Barcode rDNC: 13 (C), 31 (T), 34 (T).	en	Álvarez, Yosiel, Núñez, Rayner, Magaldi, Luiza De Moraes, Matthews, Deborah, Freitas, André Victor Lucci, Espeland, Marianne (2025): Phenotypes, natural history and barcodes unveil cryptic species within the Caribbean Metalmark Dianesia carteri (Holland) (Lepidoptera: Riodinidae). Zootaxa 5686 (1): 5-48, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5686.1.2, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5360.3.8
039C870B6D234A35FF06F95617F7F8DC.taxon	description	Description. Eyes naked, green in life. Antennal socket yellow; antennae slender, 36 – 38 alternate blackish and white antennomers, club blackish with white tip. Head, thorax and abdomen very dark brown, the thorax with three pairs of dorsal round yellow spots and the abdomen with golden yellow segment junctions. FW length: 12,4 – 13,8 mm ♂, 13,1 – 14,3 mm ♀. Male UPFW very dark brown, base with two golden yellow-edged dark black concentric, discontinuous bands extending basally and discally, respectively, from the discal cell to 2 A; a third incomplete band of the same color edging the discal cell, and a very small spot of the same color on the bifurcation of Cu 1 and Cu 2. A thin black postdiscal line extending sinuously from costa to Cu 1, then displaced inwards from Cu 1 to Cu 2 and then straight to inner margin, internally edged by a blurred black area and externally edged by a white band consisting of seven well-marked spots, the two between R 2 – R 3 and R 3 – M 1 thinner, the third between M 1 – M 2 shorter, the fourth between M 2 – M 3 longer, arrow-shaped and strongly displaced towards the external margin, the fifth between M 3 – Cu 1 nearly absent, the sixth between Cu 1 – Cu 2 broader and displaced towards base, and a seventh between Cu 2 and 2 A smaller and more diffuse. A poorly developed submarginal curved narrow golden yellow band edged by marked black spots, interrupted by veins, the spot between M 3 and Cu 1 externally edged by a golden yellow spot; an elliptical black ocellus on the anal angle, internally edged by the golden yellow band, with an external superior small yellow pupil. UPHW with similar pattern, but yellow color present as a diffuse band parallel to inner margin, broader and more sinuous postdiscal brown line and submarginal yellow band, the latter with more defined and broader black edging, three white spots external to the postdiscal black line between M 2 – M 3, Cu 1 – Cu 2 and Cu 2 – 2 A and a larger, square ocellus in the anal angle, internally edged by golden yellow and with an external metallic blue pupil. UNFW similar but golden color restricted to a suffusion from costa to M 2 and from the postdiscal white band to apex, and also external to the black spot between M 3 and Cu 1; basal half darker but whiter near inner angle and with the postdiscal white band much more defined; a white patch near costa between the black bands of the discal cell; ocellus at anal angle with the external superior small pupil white. UNHW similar but basal half darker, golden yellow area as scattered basal scales, basal and discal brown bands reduced, postdiscal brown band discontinuous, dorsal white spots repeated but a smaller white spot between all other vein pairs. Genitalia with narrow, square-shaped tegumen; uncus almost not lobed, each lobe with a ventral small, blunt tooth-like protuberance; gnathi slender, smoothly curved upwards near tip; vinculum anteriorly concave, slender but broader near aedeagus; valvae broad, simple, as long as the tegumen, tip short and narrow upwards, 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. 6 C – D). Female similar to male but with elongated, narrower wings with rounder outer margins; a darker background color on the UP; and poorly developed postdiscal white band and marginal yellow 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 ovate, as long as half of the length of the ductus bursae, flattened dorsoventrally, surface uniformly punctate, with numerous folds around junction with ductus bursae; two narrow mid-lateral heavily sclerotized flat uniformly cylindrical signa with blunt tips (Fig. 7 D – F).	en	Álvarez, Yosiel, Núñez, Rayner, Magaldi, Luiza De Moraes, Matthews, Deborah, Freitas, André Victor Lucci, Espeland, Marianne (2025): Phenotypes, natural history and barcodes unveil cryptic species within the Caribbean Metalmark Dianesia carteri (Holland) (Lepidoptera: Riodinidae). Zootaxa 5686 (1): 5-48, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5686.1.2, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5360.3.8
039C870B6D234A35FF06F95617F7F8DC.taxon	materials_examined	Type material. Holotype — ♂ CUBA, Guantánamo, Baracoa, Mina Amores, 20 o 25 ’ N, 74 º 37 ’ W, 15 / VII / 2024, col. Y. Álvarez, DNA voucher DC- 110, YAC (YAC- 0618). Paratypes — 20 ♂, 7 ♀. Same data as for holotype, DNA vouchers DC- 109, DC- 110, DC- 112, YAC (1 ♂: YAC- 0617), ZUEC (3 ♂: 14713, 14715, 14717); same locality, 13 / VIII / 2023, col. A. Serrano, DNA vouchers Y 169, Y 170, YAC (3 ♂: YAC- 0446, YAC- 0447, YAC- 0448); same locality, 4 / V / 2024, col. Y. Álvarez, DNA vouchers DC- 74, DC- 77, ZUEC (1 ♀: 14711), YAC (1 ♂: YAC- 0543); Camarones, Baracoa, Guantánamo, 20 º 25´N, 74 º 37 ’ W, VIII / 1975, col. T. W. Turner, MGCL (1 ♂: 1138704); 1 km SE of Mina Amores, Baracoa, Guantánamo, 20 o 25 ’ N, 74 o 37 ’ W, 15 / VII / 2024, col. Y. Álvarez, DNA vouchers DC- 114, DC- 115, DC- 116, DC- 117, YAC (1 ♂, 1 ♀: YAC- 0622, YAC- 0623), ZUEC (3 ♂: 14712, 14714, 14716); same locality, 31 / I / 2025, col. Y. Álvarez, YAC (1 ♂, 1 ♀: YAC- 0708, YAC- 0709); Road between Camarones and Mina Amores, Baracoa, Guantánamo, 20 º 25 ’ N, 74 º 37 ’ W, 16 / VII / 2024, col. Y. Álvarez, DNA voucher DC- 119, YAC (1 ♀: YAC- 0627); Meseta de Iberia, Baracoa, Guantánamo, 20 º 28 ’ N, 74 º 43 ’ W, 20 / V / 2007, col. R. Núñez, DNA voucher RNA- 1 - 027, CZACC (1 ♀: 7 - 518987); same locality, 22 / VII / 2024, col. M. Gallardo-Capó, DNA vouchers DC- 120, DC- 121, YAC (2 ♂: YAC- 0503, YAC- 0504); Cayo Guam, Moa, Holguín, 20 º 35 ’ N, 74 º 50 ’ W, 13 / V / 2025, col. Y. Álvarez, YAC (1 ♂, 1 ♀: YAC- 0801, YAC- 0802); same locality, 21 / VII / 2025, col. Y. Álvarez, YAC (1 ♂, 1 ♀: YAC- 0853, YAC- 0854); Río Duaba (south of Yunque de Baracoa), Baracoa, Guantánamo, 20 º 19 ’ N, 74 º 34 ’ W, 22 / VII / 2025, col. Y. Álvarez, YAC (2 ♂: YAC- 0855, YAC- 0856).	en	Álvarez, Yosiel, Núñez, Rayner, Magaldi, Luiza De Moraes, Matthews, Deborah, Freitas, André Victor Lucci, Espeland, Marianne (2025): Phenotypes, natural history and barcodes unveil cryptic species within the Caribbean Metalmark Dianesia carteri (Holland) (Lepidoptera: Riodinidae). Zootaxa 5686 (1): 5-48, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5686.1.2, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5360.3.8
039C870B6D234A35FF06F95617F7F8DC.taxon	etymology	Etymology. Named after the Latin neutral adjective for “ aberrant ”, a term that was coined upon the discovery of a single specimen by Hernández et al. (1998) who mistakenly believed it to be an aberration (i. e., color mutation) of typical, sympatric Dianesia ramsdeni, instead of a different species, and that was subsequently employed to refer to this population.	en	Álvarez, Yosiel, Núñez, Rayner, Magaldi, Luiza De Moraes, Matthews, Deborah, Freitas, André Victor Lucci, Espeland, Marianne (2025): Phenotypes, natural history and barcodes unveil cryptic species within the Caribbean Metalmark Dianesia carteri (Holland) (Lepidoptera: Riodinidae). Zootaxa 5686 (1): 5-48, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5686.1.2, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5360.3.8
039C870B6D234A35FF06F95617F7F8DC.taxon	distribution	Distribution. Known only from a few localities of the Sierra de Moa-Toa section of the Nipe-Sagua-Baracoa mountains, northeastern Cuba: Cayo Guam, Monte Lejos (Holguín province), Balcón de Iberia, Meseta de Iberia, Camarones, Mina Amores, and Río Duaba (Guantánamo province). Sympatric with Dianesia ramsdeni along its entire range (Fig. 8). Habitat. Serpentine sclerophyllous montane forest and serpentine sclerophyllous lowland forest (Fig. 9 A, C).	en	Álvarez, Yosiel, Núñez, Rayner, Magaldi, Luiza De Moraes, Matthews, Deborah, Freitas, André Victor Lucci, Espeland, Marianne (2025): Phenotypes, natural history and barcodes unveil cryptic species within the Caribbean Metalmark Dianesia carteri (Holland) (Lepidoptera: Riodinidae). Zootaxa 5686 (1): 5-48, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5686.1.2, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5360.3.8
039C870B6D234A35FF06F95617F7F8DC.taxon	biology_ecology	Biology. This elusive and fascinating insect inhabits the deepest areas of the humid rainforests of the Moa – Baracoa mountains. It can be common there but extremely local; adults fly in trails and forest clearings near streams, and while males can be occasionally located inland, females are always found in the riverbanks where the host plants thrive. Adults have been observed visiting the flowers of Grisebachianthus lantanifolius (Griseb.) R. M. King & H. Rob. (Asteraceae) and Rauvolfia salicifolia Griseb. (Apocynaceae). Although they fly all day long, activity increases towards dusk. We recorded numerous males flying in circles performing combat, patrolling trail patches and even perching on the upper side of leaves (a very interesting behavior since all other species only settle under leaves) in the final hours of the afternoon with very low light levels. In Mina Amores, Río Duaba and Cayo Guam, lowland localities, this species outnumbers D. ramsdeni, but in the other localities tends to be very rare, suggesting it prefers the lower rainforests in comparison to its sympatric sibling. Immature stages. Final instar (Fig. 10 B): Head capsule pale green, covered with numerous whitish setae. Prothoracic shield pale green with two lateral black spots and four pairs of black setae, one dorsal and three lateral. Body uniformly pale green dorsally, segment junctions whitish; a diffuse, narrow, discontinuous white band running mid-dorsally along the body; two diffuse dorsolateral white bands, and two inner dorsolateral lines of white spots in the segment junction; a lateral small, irregular black spot on the fourth, fifth seventh, eighth and ninth segments, the first two of these with an inner irregular white spot; each segment with a lateral white spiracle opening and a tuft of long whitish setae. Anal plate pale green covered by numerous external long whitish setae. Host plant. Buxus marginalis (Britton) Urb. and B. shaferi (Buxaceae).	en	Álvarez, Yosiel, Núñez, Rayner, Magaldi, Luiza De Moraes, Matthews, Deborah, Freitas, André Victor Lucci, Espeland, Marianne (2025): Phenotypes, natural history and barcodes unveil cryptic species within the Caribbean Metalmark Dianesia carteri (Holland) (Lepidoptera: Riodinidae). Zootaxa 5686 (1): 5-48, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5686.1.2, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5360.3.8
039C870B6D234A35FF06F95617F7F8DC.taxon	discussion	Remarks. The original designation of this species as an “ aberrant ” morph of Dianesia ramsdeni was based on the “ nearly absence of the pale spots of the FW ” of the first collected male, according to Hernández et al. (1998), who also said that “ otherwise it was identical to the type ”, something that they claimed to have confirmed through examination of the genitalia. However, these authors never dissected the genitalia, as this specimen was found in the MGCL with the abdomen still intact. Moreover, this butterfly differs from its sympatric sibling species in several elements of the wing shape, color pattern, larval morphology and genitalia. The butterfly was observed sporadically five times across the Sierra de Moa-Toa after its initial discovery in 1975 near Mina Amores, until an established population was finally discovered there in August 2023. While we have observed oviposition behavior and one larva was found feeding on Buxus shaferi, our evidence suggests that B. marginalis is preferred. This species is probably more widespread in the lowland rainforests of the Moa-Toa mountains that what the current data suggests, in the same way that B. marginalis is (Köhler 2014).	en	Álvarez, Yosiel, Núñez, Rayner, Magaldi, Luiza De Moraes, Matthews, Deborah, Freitas, André Victor Lucci, Espeland, Marianne (2025): Phenotypes, natural history and barcodes unveil cryptic species within the Caribbean Metalmark Dianesia carteri (Holland) (Lepidoptera: Riodinidae). Zootaxa 5686 (1): 5-48, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5686.1.2, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5360.3.8
039C870B6D204A31FF06FF6314ECFB55.taxon	description	Figs. 2 A – D, 3 G – I, 6 M – N, 7 M – O, 8, 9 I, 10 C	en	Álvarez, Yosiel, Núñez, Rayner, Magaldi, Luiza De Moraes, Matthews, Deborah, Freitas, André Victor Lucci, Espeland, Marianne (2025): Phenotypes, natural history and barcodes unveil cryptic species within the Caribbean Metalmark Dianesia carteri (Holland) (Lepidoptera: Riodinidae). Zootaxa 5686 (1): 5-48, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5686.1.2, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5360.3.8
039C870B6D204A31FF06FF6314ECFB55.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis. Dianesia sheylae sp. nov. can be distinguished from all its congeners by the following combination of characters: uniform chestnut brown upper surface background color with orange glow reduced to base; FW postdiscal white band very well developed dorsally with the first four spots more marked, much more developed and marked ventrally; discal black band between discal cell and 2 A outwardly angled; UNFW ocellus as large as the UNHW ocellus; male genitalia with broad valvae with short narrow tips and with prominent ventral uncus tooth-like protuberance; female genitalia with corpus bursae globose and short flat cylindrical signa with blunt tips. Barcode rDNC: 49 (C), 55 (T), 79 (G).	en	Álvarez, Yosiel, Núñez, Rayner, Magaldi, Luiza De Moraes, Matthews, Deborah, Freitas, André Victor Lucci, Espeland, Marianne (2025): Phenotypes, natural history and barcodes unveil cryptic species within the Caribbean Metalmark Dianesia carteri (Holland) (Lepidoptera: Riodinidae). Zootaxa 5686 (1): 5-48, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5686.1.2, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5360.3.8
039C870B6D204A31FF06FF6314ECFB55.taxon	description	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 chestnut brown, the thorax with scattered dark orange pubescence and the abdomen with dark orange segment junctions. FW length: 13,6 – 14,2 mm ♂, 13,5 – 14 mm ♀. Male UPFW chestnut 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 2 A, the inner half of the basal band outwardly angled; a third incomplete band of the same color edging the discal cell, and a very 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 and broader, and the two between M 3 – Cu 1 and Cu 1 – Cu 2 larger, broader and more diffuse. A 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; a light area near costa between the black bands of the discal cell; ocellus at anal angle larger and with an external superior small pupil of blue scales, internally edged by pale yellow scales. UNHW similar but paler with 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 narrow, 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, as long as the tegumen, tip short 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. 6 M – N). 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 better developed postdiscal white band and 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 short flat cylindrical signa with blunt tips (Fig. 7 M – O).	en	Álvarez, Yosiel, Núñez, Rayner, Magaldi, Luiza De Moraes, Matthews, Deborah, Freitas, André Victor Lucci, Espeland, Marianne (2025): Phenotypes, natural history and barcodes unveil cryptic species within the Caribbean Metalmark Dianesia carteri (Holland) (Lepidoptera: Riodinidae). Zootaxa 5686 (1): 5-48, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5686.1.2, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5360.3.8
039C870B6D204A31FF06FF6314ECFB55.taxon	materials_examined	Type material. Holotype — ♂ CUBA, Cienfuegos, Bahía de Jagua, Caletón de Don Bruno, 22 º 04 ’ N, 80 º 27 ’ W, 12 / VI / 2024, col. Y. Álvarez & S. Yong, YAC (YAC- 0601). Paratypes — 6 ♂, 6 ♀. Same data as for holotype, YAC (2 ♂, 2 ♀: YAC- 0592, YAC- 0593, YAC- 0594, YAC- 0600); same locality, 20 / IX / 2023, col. Y. Álvarez, DNA voucher Y 183, YAC (1 ♂: YAC- 0458); same locality, 4 / IV / 2024, col. Y. Álvarez & S. Yong, DNA vouchers DC- 30, DC- 36, DC- 40, DC- 41, ZUEC (1 ♂, 2 ♀: 14719, 14720, 14721), YAC (1 ♂: YAC- 0512); same locality, 28 / VIII / 2024, col. Y. Álvarez, YAC (1 ♂, 1 ♀: YAC- 0644, YAC- 0645); same locality, 20 / III / 2025, col. Y. Álvarez, YAC (1 ♀: YAC- 0753). Additional material. CUBA, Cienfuegos, Bahía de Jagua, Caletón de Don Bruno, 20 / IX / 2023, col. Y. Álvarez, four larvae in ethanol, DNA vouchers DCL 01 A, DCL 01 B, DCL 01 C, DCL 01 D, ZFMK (sex unknown).	en	Álvarez, Yosiel, Núñez, Rayner, Magaldi, Luiza De Moraes, Matthews, Deborah, Freitas, André Victor Lucci, Espeland, Marianne (2025): Phenotypes, natural history and barcodes unveil cryptic species within the Caribbean Metalmark Dianesia carteri (Holland) (Lepidoptera: Riodinidae). Zootaxa 5686 (1): 5-48, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5686.1.2, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5360.3.8
039C870B6D204A31FF06FF6314ECFB55.taxon	etymology	Etymology. Named after Sheyla Yong, a renowned Cuban entomologist, and a dear friend to the first author, who played a crucial role in the development of this research and accompanied the first author in many fieldwork visits, particularly those conducted to study this species.	en	Álvarez, Yosiel, Núñez, Rayner, Magaldi, Luiza De Moraes, Matthews, Deborah, Freitas, André Victor Lucci, Espeland, Marianne (2025): Phenotypes, natural history and barcodes unveil cryptic species within the Caribbean Metalmark Dianesia carteri (Holland) (Lepidoptera: Riodinidae). Zootaxa 5686 (1): 5-48, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5686.1.2, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5360.3.8
039C870B6D204A31FF06FF6314ECFB55.taxon	distribution	Distribution. Known only from Caletón de Don Bruno, in the western shores of Bahía de Jagua (“ Bahía de Cienfuegos ”), Cienfuegos province, central Cuba (Fig. 8). Habitat. Dry coastal forest (Fig. 9 I).	en	Álvarez, Yosiel, Núñez, Rayner, Magaldi, Luiza De Moraes, Matthews, Deborah, Freitas, André Victor Lucci, Espeland, Marianne (2025): Phenotypes, natural history and barcodes unveil cryptic species within the Caribbean Metalmark Dianesia carteri (Holland) (Lepidoptera: Riodinidae). Zootaxa 5686 (1): 5-48, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5686.1.2, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5360.3.8
039C870B6D204A31FF06FF6314ECFB55.taxon	biology_ecology	Biology. This insect is locally common at the few scattered vegetation patches where it has been located in the western entrance of the bay. It flies swiftly inside forest clearings and along trails, but sometimes within the thick vegetation. Males have preferential perching sites from where they chase passing insects, whilst females tend to fly closer to the host plants. Adults have been observed nectaring on Croton glabellus L., (Euphorbiaceae), Bourreria succulenta Jacq. and B. microphylla Griseb. (Boraginacaeae). Adults are on the wing year-round, although they are more common from June to August, and fly from the early morning until late afternoon; we have seen an activity peak between 17 and 18 h. Adults from the dry season (November – April) can show a reduction of the orange color on the UP. Immature stages. Final instar (Fig. 10 C): Head capsule orange, covered with numerous whitish setae. Prothoracic shield green yellow, covered by whitish setae and a pair of lateral black setae. Body dark 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; 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. Males with yellow-orange testicles visible dorsally in the seventh segment. Anal plate yellow, covered by numerous external long whitish setae. Host plant. Buxus glomerata (Griseb.) Müll. Arg. (Buxaceae) (Álvarez & Yong 2024).	en	Álvarez, Yosiel, Núñez, Rayner, Magaldi, Luiza De Moraes, Matthews, Deborah, Freitas, André Victor Lucci, Espeland, Marianne (2025): Phenotypes, natural history and barcodes unveil cryptic species within the Caribbean Metalmark Dianesia carteri (Holland) (Lepidoptera: Riodinidae). Zootaxa 5686 (1): 5-48, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5686.1.2, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5360.3.8
039C870B6D204A31FF06FF6314ECFB55.taxon	discussion	Remarks. This insect was reported from the Cienfuegos Bay by Alayo & Hernández (1987) on the basis of specimens collected by Fernando de Zayas in June 1954, near Castillo de Jagua, to the south of Caletón de Don Bruno, where the original vegetation and the butterfly have now both vanished. The specimens collected by Zayas were not available for examination, and the butterfly remained undetected for 70 years after fruitless expeditions to the area, until its rediscovery in September 2023 (Álvarez & Yong 2024). Currently only one population is known, occupying less than 2 km 2 of partially conserved dry coastal forest mixed with farms and houses. While it is likely present both to the west of the type locality and in the eastern side of the bay, where suitable, more conserved habitat patches prevail, several surveys had failed to locate it outside of the type locality. Not only is this butterfly very restricted in distribution, it is also the only Cuban member of the genus restricted to terrain outside any natural reserve on the island.	en	Álvarez, Yosiel, Núñez, Rayner, Magaldi, Luiza De Moraes, Matthews, Deborah, Freitas, André Victor Lucci, Espeland, Marianne (2025): Phenotypes, natural history and barcodes unveil cryptic species within the Caribbean Metalmark Dianesia carteri (Holland) (Lepidoptera: Riodinidae). Zootaxa 5686 (1): 5-48, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5686.1.2, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5360.3.8
039C870B6D254A2FFF06FB1A117DFD04.taxon	description	Figs. 2 E – H, 3 J – L, 5 C – D, 6 K – L, 7 G – I, 8, 9 G – H, 10 D	en	Álvarez, Yosiel, Núñez, Rayner, Magaldi, Luiza De Moraes, Matthews, Deborah, Freitas, André Victor Lucci, Espeland, Marianne (2025): Phenotypes, natural history and barcodes unveil cryptic species within the Caribbean Metalmark Dianesia carteri (Holland) (Lepidoptera: Riodinidae). Zootaxa 5686 (1): 5-48, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5686.1.2, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5360.3.8
039C870B6D254A2FFF06FB1A117DFD04.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis. Dianesia alayoi sp. nov. most resembles the closely related D. flammata sp. nov. from which it can be separated by its darker UP and UN coloration, particularly in the female; the better development of the FW basal and discal dark brown bands and the postdiscal white band, particularly in the female; the poorer development of the submarginal orange band on both wings; UN with darker basal areas; a light area near costa between the black bands of the discal cell on the UNHW; the larger size of the UNHW tornal ocellus, which features a superior pupil of blue scales; male genitalia with narrower tegumen, shorter and blunter ventral uncus tooth-like protuberance, broader valvae; female genitalia with longer signa with sinuous inner margin. Final instar greener, with bolder, more marked lateral black spots and dorsal white lines. From the other species of the genus, it can be separated by the combination of pale orange-brown UP background color, no blurred blackish area interior to the FW black postdiscal line and well-developed FW postdiscal white band. Barcode rDNC: 85 (C), 181 (G), 400 (G).	en	Álvarez, Yosiel, Núñez, Rayner, Magaldi, Luiza De Moraes, Matthews, Deborah, Freitas, André Victor Lucci, Espeland, Marianne (2025): Phenotypes, natural history and barcodes unveil cryptic species within the Caribbean Metalmark Dianesia carteri (Holland) (Lepidoptera: Riodinidae). Zootaxa 5686 (1): 5-48, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5686.1.2, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5360.3.8
039C870B6D254A2FFF06FB1A117DFD04.taxon	description	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 orange-brown, the thorax with scattered light orange pubescence and the abdomen with light orange segment junctions. FW length: 13,0 – 14,5 mm ♂, 14,1 – 14,5 mm ♀. Male UPFW pale orange-brown, darker from the postdiscal area towards outer margin, base bright orange with two dark brown concentric, discontinuous bands extending basally and discally, respectively, from the discal cell to 2 A; a third incomplete band of the same color edging the discal cell, and a very 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 inner margin, 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 orange color extending beyond the postdiscal brown line until the submarginal band, 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; a light area near costa between the black bands of the discal cell; ocellus at anal angle larger and with an external superior small pupil of blue scales, internally edged by pale yellow scales. UNHW similar but paler with 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 narrow, square-shaped tegumen; uncus weakly lobed, each lobe with a ventral blunt tooth-like protuberance; gnathi slender, smoothly curved upwards near tip; vinculum anteriorly concave, slender but broader near aedeagus; valvae broad, simple, as long as the tegumen, tip gradually narrowed, 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. 6 K – L). Female similar to male but with elongated, narrower wings with rounder outer margins; a darker background color on the UP, the basal orange more developed, extending beyond the postdiscal black line in the HW; and better developed postdiscal white band and 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 progressively broadening, flattened dorsoventrally, surface uniformly punctate, with numerous folds around junction with ductus bursae; two mid-lateral heavily sclerotized long flat cylindrical signa with pointed tips and sinuous inner margins (Fig. 7 G – I).	en	Álvarez, Yosiel, Núñez, Rayner, Magaldi, Luiza De Moraes, Matthews, Deborah, Freitas, André Victor Lucci, Espeland, Marianne (2025): Phenotypes, natural history and barcodes unveil cryptic species within the Caribbean Metalmark Dianesia carteri (Holland) (Lepidoptera: Riodinidae). Zootaxa 5686 (1): 5-48, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5686.1.2, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5360.3.8
039C870B6D254A2FFF06FB1A117DFD04.taxon	materials_examined	Type material. Holotype — ♂ CUBA, Santiago de Cuba, Baconao, Sigua (near “ Costa Morena ” hotel), 19 º 53 ’ N, 75 º 31 ’ W, 2 / VIII / 2023, col. A. Serrano, DNA voucher Y 164, YAC (YAC- 0428). Paratypes — 13 ♂, 6 ♀. Same data as for holotype, YAC (1 ♂, 1 ♀: YAC- 0426, YAC- 0429); same locality, 2 / V / 2024, col. Y. Álvarez, DNA vouchers DC- 83, DC- 85, DC- 86, DC- 89, ZUEC (2 ♂: 14729, 14729), YAC (1 ♂, 1 ♀: YAC- 0585, YAC- 0586); same locality, 10 / VII / 2024, col. Y. Álvarez, YAC (1 ♂, 1 ♀: YAC- 0615, YAC- 0616); Daiquirí, Baconao, Santiago de Cuba, VI / 1954, col. P. Alayo, CZACC (4 ♂: 7 - 503423, 7 - 503424, 7 - 503428, 7 - 503430); Playa Berraco, Baconao, Santiago de Cuba 19 º 53 ’ N, 75 º 34 ’ W, 19 / VII / 2022, col. A. Serrano, DNA voucher Y 060, YAC (1 ♂: YAC- 0084); Near Playa “ Hacienda el Indio ”, Mi Retiro, Baconao, Santiago de Cuba, 19 º 54 ’ N, 75 º 37 ’ W, 6 / VIII / 2023, col. Y. Álvarez, YAC (1 ♂: YAC- 0435); Punta de Maisí, Maisí, Guantánamo, 20 º 14 ’ N, 74 º 08 ’ W, 27 / I / 2025, col. Y. Álvarez, YAC (2 ♀: YAC- 0737, YAC- 0738); Terrazas de Maisí, Maisí, Guantánamo, 20 º 13 ’ N, 74 º 09 ’ W, 30 / I / 2025, col. Y. Álvarez, YAC (1 ♂, 1 ♀: YAC- 0706, YAC- 0707); Boca de Jauco, Maisí, Guantánamo, 20 º 05 ’ N, 74 º 20 ’ W, 23 / VII / 2025, col. Y. Álvarez, YAC (1 ♂: YAC- 0857). Additional material. CUBA, Santiago de Cuba, Baconao, Sigua, near “ Costa Morena ” hotel, 19 º 53 ’ N, 75 º 31 ’ W, 2 / VIII / 2023, col. A. Serrano, three larvae in ethanol, DNA vouchers JA 1, JA 2, JA 3, ZFMK.	en	Álvarez, Yosiel, Núñez, Rayner, Magaldi, Luiza De Moraes, Matthews, Deborah, Freitas, André Victor Lucci, Espeland, Marianne (2025): Phenotypes, natural history and barcodes unveil cryptic species within the Caribbean Metalmark Dianesia carteri (Holland) (Lepidoptera: Riodinidae). Zootaxa 5686 (1): 5-48, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5686.1.2, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5360.3.8
039C870B6D254A2FFF06FB1A117DFD04.taxon	etymology	Etymology. Named after Pastor Alayo, a prominent Cuban entomologist of the last century, who devoted a great part of his life to the study of Cuban butterflies, the original discoverer and collector of this new species, and a personal idol of the first author.	en	Álvarez, Yosiel, Núñez, Rayner, Magaldi, Luiza De Moraes, Matthews, Deborah, Freitas, André Victor Lucci, Espeland, Marianne (2025): Phenotypes, natural history and barcodes unveil cryptic species within the Caribbean Metalmark Dianesia carteri (Holland) (Lepidoptera: Riodinidae). Zootaxa 5686 (1): 5-48, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5686.1.2, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5360.3.8
039C870B6D254A2FFF06FB1A117DFD04.taxon	distribution	Distribution. Known only from scattered localities of the southern coast of Santiago de Cuba (Playa Siboney, Playa Daiquirí, Playa Hacienda del Indio, Playa Berraco, Sigua) and Guantánamo (Yunque de Baitiquirí, Terrazas de Macambo, Imías, Jacabo Arriba, Playitas de Cajobabo, Boca de Jauco, Ovando, Maisí) provinces (Fig. 8). Habitat. Dwarf dry coastal scrub-woodland and dry coastal scrub-woodland (Fig. 9 G – H).	en	Álvarez, Yosiel, Núñez, Rayner, Magaldi, Luiza De Moraes, Matthews, Deborah, Freitas, André Victor Lucci, Espeland, Marianne (2025): Phenotypes, natural history and barcodes unveil cryptic species within the Caribbean Metalmark Dianesia carteri (Holland) (Lepidoptera: Riodinidae). Zootaxa 5686 (1): 5-48, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5686.1.2, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5360.3.8
039C870B6D254A2FFF06FB1A117DFD04.taxon	biology_ecology	Biology. This butterfly is locally common in well-preserved patches of dry scrub-woodland near the shoreline and inland wherever the host plant grows. Its flight is quick and not easily followed, describing an irregular path amongst deep scrub. Adults visited flowers of Anastraphia calcicola Britton (Asteraceae), Bourreria suculenta (Boraginaceae), Rauvolfia tetraphylla L. (Apocynaceae) and Guaiacum officinale L. (Zygophillaceae). Adults are on the wing year-round, although they are more common from June to August, and, on the account of Alayo & Hernández (1987), they have an activity peak in the twilight hours, but we have seen it flying from the early morning until late afternoon. Adults from the dry season (November – April) can show a reduction of the orange color on the UP (Fig. 5 C – D). Immature stages. Final instar (Fig. 10 D): Head capsule orange, covered with numerous whitish setae. Prothoracic shield green yellow, covered by whitish setae and a pair of lateral black setae. Body green, dorsal and lateral areas delimited by a lateral diffuse white band from the sixth to the tenth segments, yellowish near anal plate; 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; 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. Males with yellow-orange testicles visible dorsally in the seventh segment. Anal plate yellow, covered by numerous external long whitish setae. Host plant. Buxus glomerata (Buxaceae).	en	Álvarez, Yosiel, Núñez, Rayner, Magaldi, Luiza De Moraes, Matthews, Deborah, Freitas, André Victor Lucci, Espeland, Marianne (2025): Phenotypes, natural history and barcodes unveil cryptic species within the Caribbean Metalmark Dianesia carteri (Holland) (Lepidoptera: Riodinidae). Zootaxa 5686 (1): 5-48, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5686.1.2, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5360.3.8
039C870B6D254A2FFF06FB1A117DFD04.taxon	discussion	Remarks. This species remained undetected since its first discovery by Pastor Alayo in June 1954 near Playa Daiquirí, Santiago de Cuba (Alayo & Hernández, 1987) until it was briefly spotted in January 2011 near Sigua, a few miles to the east of the former locality (Núñez & Barro 2016). However, no specimen was collected until July 2022 and August 2023 when new populations were discovered in nearby areas. This butterfly is surely more widespread and continuously distributed along the southeastern coast of eastern Cuba than what the current data suggest, given that its host plant is uniformly present in this area (Köhler 2014).	en	Álvarez, Yosiel, Núñez, Rayner, Magaldi, Luiza De Moraes, Matthews, Deborah, Freitas, André Victor Lucci, Espeland, Marianne (2025): Phenotypes, natural history and barcodes unveil cryptic species within the Caribbean Metalmark Dianesia carteri (Holland) (Lepidoptera: Riodinidae). Zootaxa 5686 (1): 5-48, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5686.1.2, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5360.3.8
039C870B6D3B4A2DFF06FCCF1136FE24.taxon	description	Figs. 2 I – L, 4 A – C, 6 E – F, 7 J – L, 8, 9 H – I, 10 E	en	Álvarez, Yosiel, Núñez, Rayner, Magaldi, Luiza De Moraes, Matthews, Deborah, Freitas, André Victor Lucci, Espeland, Marianne (2025): Phenotypes, natural history and barcodes unveil cryptic species within the Caribbean Metalmark Dianesia carteri (Holland) (Lepidoptera: Riodinidae). Zootaxa 5686 (1): 5-48, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5686.1.2, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5360.3.8
039C870B6D3B4A2DFF06FCCF1136FE24.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis. Dianesia flammata sp. nov. most resembles the closely related D. alayoi sp. nov. from which it can be separated by its brighter UP and UN coloration, (particularly in the female); in both sexes, the FW postdiscal white band restricted to the first white spots, the discal dark brown bands reduced; the extended submarginal orange band on both wings; UN with no darker basal areas; no light area near costa between the black bands of the discal cell on the UNHW; the smaller size of the UNHW tornal ocellus, which lacks a superior pupil of blue scales; male genitalia with broader tegumen, more prominent ventral uncus tooth-like protuberance, slightly narrower, mid-dorsally concave valvae; female genitalia with shorter signa with straighter inner margin. Final instar lighter, with smaller and blurred lateral black spots and dorsal white lines. From the other species of the genus, it can be separated by the combination of bright orange-brown UP background color, no blurred blackish area interior to the FW black postdiscal line, poorly developed FW postdiscal white band and UNHW with no light area near costa between the black bands of the discal cell. Barcode rDNC: 85 (T), 319 (A), 400 (A), 562 (A).	en	Álvarez, Yosiel, Núñez, Rayner, Magaldi, Luiza De Moraes, Matthews, Deborah, Freitas, André Victor Lucci, Espeland, Marianne (2025): Phenotypes, natural history and barcodes unveil cryptic species within the Caribbean Metalmark Dianesia carteri (Holland) (Lepidoptera: Riodinidae). Zootaxa 5686 (1): 5-48, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5686.1.2, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5360.3.8
039C870B6D3B4A2DFF06FCCF1136FE24.taxon	description	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 orange-brown, the thorax with scattered light orange pubescence and the abdomen with light orange segment junctions. FW length: 13,1 – 14,4 mm ♂, 12,5 – 13,6 mm ♀. Male UPFW light orange-brown, darker from the postdiscal area towards outer margin, base bright orange with two dark brown concentric, discontinuous bands extending basally and discally, respectively, from the discal cell to 2 A; a third incomplete band of the same color edging the discal cell, and a very small spot of the same color on the bifurcation of Cu 1 and Cu 2, which can be reduced or absent. A thin dark brown postdiscal line extending sinuously from costa to Cu 1 and then straight to inner margin, externally edged by a white band consisting of four spots, the two between R 2 – R 3 and R 3 – M 1 thinner longer, the two between M 1 – M 2 and M 2 – M 3 shorter and broader. 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 orange color extending beyond the postdiscal brown line until the submarginal band, 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 whiter near inner angle and with the postdiscal white band much more defined and broader, extending towards inner angle; ocellus at anal angle internally edged by pale yellow scales. UNHW similar but paler with no orange color, basal and discal brown bands reduced, postdiscal brown band discontinuous. 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 medium-broad, simple, as long as the tegumen, mid-dorsally concave, tip gradually narrowed, 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. 6 E – F). Female similar to male but with elongated, narrower wings with rounder outer margins; a much lighter, uniform orange color on the UP, extending beyond the postdiscal black line in both wings; and better developed postdiscal white band and 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 progressively broadening, flattened dorsoventrally, surface uniformly punctate, with numerous folds around junction with ductus bursae; two mid-lateral heavily sclerotized long flat cylindrical signa with pointed tips and nearly straight inner margins (Fig. 7 J – L).	en	Álvarez, Yosiel, Núñez, Rayner, Magaldi, Luiza De Moraes, Matthews, Deborah, Freitas, André Victor Lucci, Espeland, Marianne (2025): Phenotypes, natural history and barcodes unveil cryptic species within the Caribbean Metalmark Dianesia carteri (Holland) (Lepidoptera: Riodinidae). Zootaxa 5686 (1): 5-48, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5686.1.2, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5360.3.8
039C870B6D3B4A2DFF06FCCF1136FE24.taxon	materials_examined	Type material. Holotype — ♂ CUBA, Ciego de Ávila, Cayo Coco, south of Laguna Larga, 22 º 32 ’ N, 78 º 22 ’ W, 14 / VI / 2024, col. Y. Álvarez & S. Yong, YAC (YAC- 0596). Paratypes — 16 ♂, 7 ♀. Same data as for holotype, YAC (2 ♀: YAC- 0597, YAC- 0598); same locality, 12 / IX / 1995, col. M. López, CZACC (2 ♂: 7 - 519237, 7 - 519239); same locality, 8 / IV / 2024, col. Y. Álvarez & S. Yong, DNA vouchers DC- 01, DC- 02, DC- 03, DC- 13, ZUEC (1 ♂, 2 ♀: 14725, 14726, 14727), YAC (1 ♂, 2 ♀: YAC- 0525, YAC- 0526, YAC- 0529); Punta Cerquita, Cayo Santa María, Villa Clara, X / 2001, col. R. Núñez, DNA vouchers Y 043, CZACC (4 ♂: 7 - 516464, 7 - 516467, 7 - 516470, 7 - 518984); same locality, II / 2002, col. R. Núñez, DNA vouchers RNA- 1 - 022, RNA- 1 - 023, RNA- 3 - 01, RNA- 3 - 02, RNA- 3 - 04, CZACC (6 ♂: 7 - 516466, 7 - 518983, 7 - 518984, 7 - 519236, 7 - 519238. 7 - 519240); Pelo de Oro, Cayo Santa María, X / 2001, col. R. Núñez, CZACC (1 ♂, 1 ♀: 7 - 516465, 7 - 516469); Los Cañones, 6 km east of Caletones, Gibara, Holguín, 21 º 13 ’ N, 76 º 17 ’ W, 23 / I / 2025, col. Y. Álvarez, YAC (1 ♂: YAC- 0682). Additional material: CUBA. Ciego de Ávila: Cayo Coco, south of Laguna Larga, 22 º 32 ’ N, 78 º 22 ’ W, 14 / VI / 2024, col. Y. Álvarez & S. Yong, DNA voucher DC- 05, DC- 07 (two larvae preserved in ethanol), ZUEC; Cayo Coco, Camino Viejo de la Jaula, 30 / XI / 2010, col. D. M. Fernández, DNA voucher RNA- 1 - 342, DMFC (no collection ID voucher). Camagüey: Nuevitas, La Sierrecita, 2015, col. D. M. Fernández, DNA voucher RNA- 1 - 299, DMFC (no collection ID voucher). Holguín: Bahía del Naranjo, south of Playa Esmeralda, 21 º 06 ’ N, 75 º 52 ’ W, 14 / V / 2024, col. Y. Álvarez, DNA voucher BEH 003, ZFMK (1 ♂: Lep 180903).	en	Álvarez, Yosiel, Núñez, Rayner, Magaldi, Luiza De Moraes, Matthews, Deborah, Freitas, André Victor Lucci, Espeland, Marianne (2025): Phenotypes, natural history and barcodes unveil cryptic species within the Caribbean Metalmark Dianesia carteri (Holland) (Lepidoptera: Riodinidae). Zootaxa 5686 (1): 5-48, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5686.1.2, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5360.3.8
039C870B6D3B4A2DFF06FCCF1136FE24.taxon	etymology	Etymology. Named after the female conjugation of the Latin adjective flammeum “ flaming ”, as a reference to its bright orange UP color, contrasting to its browner Cuban congeners.	en	Álvarez, Yosiel, Núñez, Rayner, Magaldi, Luiza De Moraes, Matthews, Deborah, Freitas, André Victor Lucci, Espeland, Marianne (2025): Phenotypes, natural history and barcodes unveil cryptic species within the Caribbean Metalmark Dianesia carteri (Holland) (Lepidoptera: Riodinidae). Zootaxa 5686 (1): 5-48, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5686.1.2, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5360.3.8
039C870B6D3B4A2DFF06FCCF1136FE24.taxon	distribution	Distribution. Known only from several keys of the Jardines del Rey (also known as Sabana-Camagüey) archipelago (Cayo Majá, Cayo Español Adentro, Cayo Las Brujas, Cayo Santa María, Cayo Guillermo, Cayo Coco, Cayo Romano del Norte, Cayo Romano del Sur), north of Villa Clara, Ciego de Ávila and Camagüey provinces, as well as the northern coast of Camagüey (Playa Santa Lucía, La Sierrecita), Las Tunas (Playa Herradura) and Holguín (Los Cañones, Caletones) provinces, mainland Cuba. Apparently sympatric with Dianesia serpentinicola sp. nov. in north Holguín (see Discussion) (Fig. 8). Habitat. Dry coastal scrub-woodland and dry coastal forest (Fig. 9 H – I).	en	Álvarez, Yosiel, Núñez, Rayner, Magaldi, Luiza De Moraes, Matthews, Deborah, Freitas, André Victor Lucci, Espeland, Marianne (2025): Phenotypes, natural history and barcodes unveil cryptic species within the Caribbean Metalmark Dianesia carteri (Holland) (Lepidoptera: Riodinidae). Zootaxa 5686 (1): 5-48, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5686.1.2, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5360.3.8
039C870B6D3B4A2DFF06FCCF1136FE24.taxon	biology_ecology	Biology. This butterfly is locally common in well-preserved patches of dry scrub-woodland near the shoreline. Its flight is quick and not easily followed, describing an irregular path amongst deep scrub. Males can be seen on open, flowery patches of vegetation and are very territorial: the same male can occupy the same patch for days, usually settling under a leaf and chasing passing males and other insects. Females tend to be found in patches of the host plant. Adults visited flowers of Bourreria suculenta (Boraginaceae), Croton glabellus (Euphorbiaceae), Tara vesicaria (L.) Molinari, Sánchez Och. & Mayta (Fabaceae) and Turnera diffusa Willd. (Passifloraceae). Adults are on the wing year-round, although they are more common from June to August, and fly from the early morning until late afternoon; we have seen an activity peak between 17 and 18 h. Adults from the dry season (November – April) can show a reduction of the orange color on the UP. Immature stages. Final instar (Fig. 10 E): Head capsule orange, covered with numerous whitish setae. Prothoracic shield green yellow, covered by whitish setae and a pair of lateral black setae. Body light green, dorsal and lateral areas delimited by a lateral diffuse white band from the sixth to the tenth segments, yellowish near anal plate; 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, a lateral small, compact 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. Males with yellow-orange testicles visible dorsally in the seventh segment. Anal plate yellow, covered by numerous external long whitish setae. Host plant. Buxus bahamensis (Buxaceae).	en	Álvarez, Yosiel, Núñez, Rayner, Magaldi, Luiza De Moraes, Matthews, Deborah, Freitas, André Victor Lucci, Espeland, Marianne (2025): Phenotypes, natural history and barcodes unveil cryptic species within the Caribbean Metalmark Dianesia carteri (Holland) (Lepidoptera: Riodinidae). Zootaxa 5686 (1): 5-48, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5686.1.2, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5360.3.8
039C870B6D3B4A2DFF06FCCF1136FE24.taxon	discussion	Remarks. Upon its discovery this species was believed to be Dianesia carteri carteri described from the Bahamas, likely based on its bright orange background color (Hernández et al. 1998). These authors also claimed that this was the same “ light form ” that Alayo & Hernández (1987) mentioned for the Santiago de Cuba population (Dianesia alayoi sp. nov.), with which this species is closely related. This species has the broadest range of any Cuban member of the genus and its likely widespread along the Jardines del Rey archipelago and the northern shores of central and eastern Cuba, in the same manner as its hostplant (Köhler 2014).	en	Álvarez, Yosiel, Núñez, Rayner, Magaldi, Luiza De Moraes, Matthews, Deborah, Freitas, André Victor Lucci, Espeland, Marianne (2025): Phenotypes, natural history and barcodes unveil cryptic species within the Caribbean Metalmark Dianesia carteri (Holland) (Lepidoptera: Riodinidae). Zootaxa 5686 (1): 5-48, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5686.1.2, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5360.3.8
039C870B6D384A29FF06FF6316E7FE90.taxon	description	Figs. 2 M – P, 4 D – F, 5 E – F, 6 G – H, 7 P – R, 8, 9 E – F, 10 F	en	Álvarez, Yosiel, Núñez, Rayner, Magaldi, Luiza De Moraes, Matthews, Deborah, Freitas, André Victor Lucci, Espeland, Marianne (2025): Phenotypes, natural history and barcodes unveil cryptic species within the Caribbean Metalmark Dianesia carteri (Holland) (Lepidoptera: Riodinidae). Zootaxa 5686 (1): 5-48, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5686.1.2, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5360.3.8
039C870B6D384A29FF06FF6316E7FE90.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis. Dianesia galindoensis most resembles the closely related D. abscondita sp. nov. from which it can be separated by its smaller size (FW length ♂ 13,0 – 13,9 mm, n = 11, ♀ 12,6 – 13,5 mm, n = 5 in D. galindoensis vs. FW length ♂ 14,2 – 14,8 mm, n = 6, ♀ 14,1 – 14,7 mm, n = 4 in D. abscondita), lighter UP and UN brown background color; less marked and developed postdiscal white band; more developed submarginal orange band; small dark brown spot on the bifurcation of Cu 1 and Cu 2 usually absent; less marked light area near costa between the black bands of the discal cell on the UNHW; male genitalia with tegumen not dorsally depressed, less prominent ventral uncus tooth-like protuberance, longer and narrower valvae; female genitalia with shorter, broader signa with blunter tips. Final instar yellower, with smaller and lighter lateral black spots and dorsal white lines. From the also similar D. serpentinicola sp. nov. males differ by their darker coloration; reduced FW postdiscal white band; less developed submarginal orange band; less contrasting UN coloration; male genitalia with broader tegumen, slightly more developed uncus tooth-like protuberance, and longer valvae. Females are darker, with less developed submarginal orange band; UN less contrasting; female genitalia with shorter signa with less blunt tips. From the other species of the genus, it can be separated by the combination of small size, dark grey-brown UP background color, reduced submarginal orange band and poorly developed FW postdiscal white band. Barcode rDNC: 166 (G), 319 (T), 424 (C).	en	Álvarez, Yosiel, Núñez, Rayner, Magaldi, Luiza De Moraes, Matthews, Deborah, Freitas, André Victor Lucci, Espeland, Marianne (2025): Phenotypes, natural history and barcodes unveil cryptic species within the Caribbean Metalmark Dianesia carteri (Holland) (Lepidoptera: Riodinidae). Zootaxa 5686 (1): 5-48, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5686.1.2, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5360.3.8
039C870B6D384A29FF06FF6316E7FE90.taxon	description	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 grey-brown, the thorax with scattered light orange pubescence and the abdomen with light orange segment junctions. FW length ♂ 13,0 – 13,9 mm, ♀ 12,6 – 13,5 mm. Male UPFW grey-brown, base with reduced pale orange area and with two dark brown concentric, discontinuous bands extending basally and discally, respectively, from the discal cell to 2 A; a third incomplete band of the same color edging the discal cell, and a very 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 inner margin, externally edged by a white band consisting of four 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. A poorly developed submarginal curved broad orange band, sometimes nearly absent, 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 orange color slightly more developed, 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 whiter near inner angle and with the postdiscal white band much more defined and broader, extending towards inner angle; ocellus at anal angle with an external superior small pupil of blue scales, and internally edged by pale yellow scales. UNHW similar but paler with no orange color, basal and discal brown bands reduced, postdiscal brown band discontinuous. Genitalia with broad, square-shaped tegumen; uncus weakly lobed, each lobe with a ventral small tooth-like protuberance; gnathi slender, smoothly curved upwards near tip; vinculum anteriorly concave, slender but broader near aedeagus; valvae medium-broad, simple, as long as tegumen, tip short 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. 6 G – H). Female similar to male but with elongated, narrower wings with rounder outer margins; a much lighter, uniform color on the UP, extending beyond the postdiscal black line in both wings; and better developed postdiscal white band and 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 narrow, flattened dorsoventrally, surface uniformly punctate, with numerous folds around junction with ductus bursae; two mid-lateral heavily sclerotized short flat cylindrical signa with blunt tips (Fig. 7 P-R).	en	Álvarez, Yosiel, Núñez, Rayner, Magaldi, Luiza De Moraes, Matthews, Deborah, Freitas, André Victor Lucci, Espeland, Marianne (2025): Phenotypes, natural history and barcodes unveil cryptic species within the Caribbean Metalmark Dianesia carteri (Holland) (Lepidoptera: Riodinidae). Zootaxa 5686 (1): 5-48, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5686.1.2, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5360.3.8
039C870B6D384A29FF06FF6316E7FE90.taxon	materials_examined	Type material. Holotype — ♂ CUBA, Mayabeque, Santa Cruz de Norte, Lomas de Galindo, 23 º 06 ’ N, 81 º 65 ’ W, 30 / VI / 2014, col. A. Barro & A. Serrano, MFP (13.15009). Paratypes — 3 ♂, 1 ♀. Same data as for holotype, MPF (13.15010, 13.150 11, 13.150 12, 13.15013). Additional material. 15 ♂, 7 ♀. Same data as for holotype, DNA vouchers AB- 006, AB- 007, MFP (1 ♂, 1 ♀, no collection ID voucher); same locality, 6 / X / 2018, col. Y. Álvarez, MK (1 ♀: ZFMK Lep 180908); same locality, 10 / VII / 2019, col. Y. Álvarez, DNA vouchers YDC 006, YA- 004, G 1, RN 18 - 015, RN 18 - 017, CZACC (1 ♂: 7 - 519240), ZFMK (4 not spread specimens), MK (1 ♂: ZFMK Lep 180909); same locality, 23 / VI / 2022, col. A. Serrano, DNA vouchers Y 064, Y 065, Y 066, Y 067, YAC (3 ♂: YAC- 0092, YAC- 0093, YAC- 0193), CZACC (1 ♂: 7 - 519246); same locality, 28 / III / 2024, col. Y. Álvarez, DNA vouchers DC- 15, DC- 19, DC- 22, ZUEC (1 ♂, 2 ♀: 14722, 14724, 14724); same locality, 5 - 6 / VI / 2024, col. Y. Álvarez & S. Yong, YAC (1 ♂, 1 ♀: YAC- 0591, YAC- 0599); same locality, 21 / VIII / 2024, YAC (6 ♂, 2 ♀: YAC- 0633, YAC- 0634, YAC- 0635, YAC- 0636, YAC- 0637, YAC- 0638, YAC- 0639, YAC- 0640).	en	Álvarez, Yosiel, Núñez, Rayner, Magaldi, Luiza De Moraes, Matthews, Deborah, Freitas, André Victor Lucci, Espeland, Marianne (2025): Phenotypes, natural history and barcodes unveil cryptic species within the Caribbean Metalmark Dianesia carteri (Holland) (Lepidoptera: Riodinidae). Zootaxa 5686 (1): 5-48, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5686.1.2, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5360.3.8
039C870B6D384A29FF06FF6316E7FE90.taxon	distribution	Distribution. Known only from Lomas de Galindo, a serpentine area near the northern coast in the boundaries of the western provinces of Mayabeque and Matanzas (Fig. 8). Habitat. Dry serpentine scrub-woodland and associated gallery forest patches (Fig. 9 E – F).	en	Álvarez, Yosiel, Núñez, Rayner, Magaldi, Luiza De Moraes, Matthews, Deborah, Freitas, André Victor Lucci, Espeland, Marianne (2025): Phenotypes, natural history and barcodes unveil cryptic species within the Caribbean Metalmark Dianesia carteri (Holland) (Lepidoptera: Riodinidae). Zootaxa 5686 (1): 5-48, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5686.1.2, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5360.3.8
039C870B6D384A29FF06FF6316E7FE90.taxon	biology_ecology	Biology. This insect is very local but usually common in intricate areas of deep scrub-woodland. It flies very swiftly amongst the deep thorny vegetation, often coming to rest on naked twigs and under leaves. Males tend to patrol open trails and clearings and are very territorial; females are more common in host plant patches. This species has been observed visiting flowers of Bonellia stenophylla subsp. canasiana Lepper & J. E. Gut (Primulaceae), Bourreria havanensis (Roem. & Schult) Miers, B. microphylla Griseb. (Boraginaceae), Neobracea valenzuelana (A. Rich.) Urb. (Apocynaceae) and Phyllanthus orbicularis Kunth (Phyllantaceae). 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 19 h. Adults from the dry season (November – April) can show a reduction of the orange color on the UP (Fig. 5 E – F). Immature stages. Final instar (Fig. 10 F): Head capsule orange, covered with numerous whitish setae. Prothoracic shield green yellow, with a lateral obliquus purplish line; covered by whitish setae and a pair of lateral black setae. Body dark yellow green dorsally, lighter 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 pale dorsal purplish areas restricted to the outer half; segment junctions yellower; white band running mid-dorsally along the last five body 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 black longitudinal spots on the ninth segment; a lateral small, compact 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. Males with yellow-orange testicles visible dorsally in the seventh segment. Anal plate yellow, with four longitudinal central purplish stripes, covered by numerous external long whitish setae. Host plant. Buxus gonoclada (Griseb.) Müll. Arg. subsp. gonoclada (Buxaceae).	en	Álvarez, Yosiel, Núñez, Rayner, Magaldi, Luiza De Moraes, Matthews, Deborah, Freitas, André Victor Lucci, Espeland, Marianne (2025): Phenotypes, natural history and barcodes unveil cryptic species within the Caribbean Metalmark Dianesia carteri (Holland) (Lepidoptera: Riodinidae). Zootaxa 5686 (1): 5-48, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5686.1.2, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5360.3.8
039C870B6D384A29FF06FF6316E7FE90.taxon	discussion	Remarks. The type series of this butterfly consists of a few very worn specimens and was not available for examination, prompting us to illustrate topotypes in our work. The species’ original description (Hernández et al. 2025) is very poor, lacking important characters (i. e., female genitalia, immatures). Apparently, the measurements of the FW were inaccurately taken by the aforementioned authors, indicating that the species is much larger than what really is: FW length ♂ 14 – 17 mm (n = 3) in their work vs. 13,0 – 13,9 mm (n = 11) in our work. This inaccuracy impeded them to diagnose species based on their size difference, being Dianesia ramsdeni noticeably larger than D. galindoensis: FW length ♂ 15,1 – 17,0 mm (n = 16) in D. ramsdeni vs. 13,0 – 13,9 mm (n = 11) in D. galindoensis. Their reference to the existence of “ whitish bands with lines of orange ” in the FW, a feature that they considered diagnostic of the species, is caused by the worn condition of the type series, since the only white band in the FW of any species of Dianesia is the one external to the black postdiscal line. Apparently, the authors tried to refer to the lighter base of the UNFW, a trait that is not only present in other species of the genus, but also was addressed highly ambiguously in their work, potentially creating confusion to the readers. Furthermore, they claim that the FW submarginal orange band is absent on the males of Dianesia ramsdeni, which is evidently incorrect as our photographs denote (see Fig. 3 D, 5 B). Apparently, these authors compared specimens of the “ humid ” season form of Dianesia galindoensis with specimens of the “ dry ” season form of Dianesia ramsdeni which has a reduction on the orange colors on the UP (see Fig. 5), detecting non-existing differences between species which are linked to seasonal polymorphism. A comparison of the males of the “ humid ” season form of both species demonstrates that the band is present in both, albeit more reduced in Dianesia ramsdeni (Fig. 5 B and F). Several diagnostic differences in male genitalia were not examined. These multiple flaws prompted a necessary re-description of the species in the present work. This species is the westernmost known representative of the genus in Cuba, and is likely present in other nearby serpentine outcrops of the Mayabeque and Matanzas provinces. Although only one population is currently known, the insect is locally very abundant and quite widespread in the area.	en	Álvarez, Yosiel, Núñez, Rayner, Magaldi, Luiza De Moraes, Matthews, Deborah, Freitas, André Victor Lucci, Espeland, Marianne (2025): Phenotypes, natural history and barcodes unveil cryptic species within the Caribbean Metalmark Dianesia carteri (Holland) (Lepidoptera: Riodinidae). Zootaxa 5686 (1): 5-48, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5686.1.2, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5360.3.8
039C870B6D3D4A27FF06FE471447FB8D.taxon	description	Figs. 2 Q – T, 4 G – I, 6 I – J, 7 V – X, 8, 9 E – F, 10 G	en	Álvarez, Yosiel, Núñez, Rayner, Magaldi, Luiza De Moraes, Matthews, Deborah, Freitas, André Victor Lucci, Espeland, Marianne (2025): Phenotypes, natural history and barcodes unveil cryptic species within the Caribbean Metalmark Dianesia carteri (Holland) (Lepidoptera: Riodinidae). Zootaxa 5686 (1): 5-48, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5686.1.2, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5360.3.8
039C870B6D3D4A27FF06FE471447FB8D.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis. Dianesia abscondita sp. nov. most resembles the closely related D. galindoensis from which it can be separated by its larger size (FW length ♂ 14,2 – 14,8 mm, n = 6, ♀ 14,1 – 14,7 mm, n = 4 in D. abscondita vs. FW length ♂ 13,0 – 13,9 mm, n = 11, ♀ 12,6 – 13,5 mm, n = 5 in D. galindoensis), darker UP and UN brown background color; more marked and developed postdiscal white band; less developed submarginal orange band; small dark brown spot on the bifurcation of Cu 1 and Cu 2 always present; more marked light area near costa between the black bands of the discal cell on the UNHW; male genitalia with tegumen slightly dorsally depressed, more prominent ventral uncus tooth-like protuberance, shorter and broader valvae; female genitalia with longer signa with pointed tips. Final instar greener, with larger and darker lateral black spots and dorsal white lines. From the also similar D. serpentinicola sp. nov. males differ by their darker coloration; more marked and developed postdiscal white band; less developed submarginal orange band; less contrasting UN coloration; male genitalia with broader tegumen, more developed uncus tooth-like protuberance, and longer valvae. Females are darker, with less developed submarginal orange band; UN less contrasting; female genitalia with signa with pointed tips. From the other species of the genus, it can be separated by the combination of large size, dark grey-brown UP background color, reduced submarginal orange band and poorly developed FW postdiscal white band. Barcode rDNC: 241 (T), 274 (C), 281 (T).	en	Álvarez, Yosiel, Núñez, Rayner, Magaldi, Luiza De Moraes, Matthews, Deborah, Freitas, André Victor Lucci, Espeland, Marianne (2025): Phenotypes, natural history and barcodes unveil cryptic species within the Caribbean Metalmark Dianesia carteri (Holland) (Lepidoptera: Riodinidae). Zootaxa 5686 (1): 5-48, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5686.1.2, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5360.3.8
039C870B6D3D4A27FF06FE471447FB8D.taxon	description	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 grey-brown, the thorax with scattered light orange pubescence and the abdomen with light orange segment junctions. FW length ♂ 14,2 – 14,8 mm, ♀ 14,1 – 14,7 mm. Male UPFW dark grey-brown, base with reduced pale orange area and with two dark brown concentric, discontinuous bands extending basally and discally, respectively, from the discal cell to 2 A; a third incomplete band of the same color edging the discal cell, and a very 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 inner margin, 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, sometimes nearly absent, 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 orange color slightly more developed, 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 whiter near inner angle and with the postdiscal white band much more defined and broader, extending towards inner angle; ocellus at anal angle with an external superior small pupil of blue scales, and internally edged by pale yellow scales. UNHW similar but paler with no orange color, basal and discal brown bands reduced, postdiscal brown band discontinuous. Genitalia with broad, slightly dorsally depressed, 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 medium-broad, simple, shorter than tegumen, mid-dorsally concave, tip short 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. 6 I – J). Female similar to male but with elongated, narrower wings with rounder outer margins; a much lighter, uniform color on the UP, extending beyond the postdiscal black line in both wings; and better developed postdiscal white band and 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 narrow, flattened dorsoventrally, surface uniformly punctate, with numerous folds around junction with ductus bursae; two mid-lateral heavily sclerotized long flat cylindrical signa with narrow tips (Fig. 7 V – X).	en	Álvarez, Yosiel, Núñez, Rayner, Magaldi, Luiza De Moraes, Matthews, Deborah, Freitas, André Victor Lucci, Espeland, Marianne (2025): Phenotypes, natural history and barcodes unveil cryptic species within the Caribbean Metalmark Dianesia carteri (Holland) (Lepidoptera: Riodinidae). Zootaxa 5686 (1): 5-48, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5686.1.2, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5360.3.8
039C870B6D3D4A27FF06FE471447FB8D.taxon	materials_examined	Type material. Holotype — ♂ CUBA, Villa Clara, Alturas de Santa Clara, road to El Playazo, 22 º 23 ’ N, 79 º 55 ’ W, 8 / VIII / 2024, col. Y. Álvarez, YAC (YAC- 0648). Paratypes — 5 ♂, 5 ♀. Same data as for holotype, DNA vouchers DC- 107, DC- 108, YAC (2 ♂, 1 ♀: YAC- 0631, YAC- 0646, YAC- 0647), ZUEC (1 ♂: 14731); same locality, 21 / IV / 2024, col. Y. Álvarez, DNA vouchers DC- 98, DC- 99, DC- 101, ZUEC (1 ♂, 2 ♀: 14732, 14733, 14734); same locality, 30 / VI / 2024, col. Y. Álvarez, DNA voucher DC- 102, YAC (1 ♀: YAC- 0602); same locality, 7 / VIII / 2024, col. Y. Álvarez, DNA voucher DC- 106, ZUEC (1 ♂: 14730); same locality, 26 / IX / 2024, col. Y. Álvarez, YAC (1 ♀: YAC- 0649); same locality, 27 / II / 2025, col. Y. Álvarez, YAC (1 ♀: YAC- 0746). Additional material. CUBA. Villa Clara: Alturas de Santa Clara, road to El Playazo, 22 º 23 ’ N, 79 º 55 ’ W, 21 / IV / 2024, col. Y. Álvarez, DNA vouchers DC- 96, DC- 97, DC- 100, DC- 105, ZUEC (four larvae in ethanol).	en	Álvarez, Yosiel, Núñez, Rayner, Magaldi, Luiza De Moraes, Matthews, Deborah, Freitas, André Victor Lucci, Espeland, Marianne (2025): Phenotypes, natural history and barcodes unveil cryptic species within the Caribbean Metalmark Dianesia carteri (Holland) (Lepidoptera: Riodinidae). Zootaxa 5686 (1): 5-48, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5686.1.2, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5360.3.8
039C870B6D3D4A27FF06FE471447FB8D.taxon	etymology	Etymology. The epithet is a feminine Latin adjective meaning “ hidden ”, as this butterfly remained undetected in the type locality until April 2024, being the most recent species of the genus to be discovered.	en	Álvarez, Yosiel, Núñez, Rayner, Magaldi, Luiza De Moraes, Matthews, Deborah, Freitas, André Victor Lucci, Espeland, Marianne (2025): Phenotypes, natural history and barcodes unveil cryptic species within the Caribbean Metalmark Dianesia carteri (Holland) (Lepidoptera: Riodinidae). Zootaxa 5686 (1): 5-48, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5686.1.2, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5360.3.8
039C870B6D3D4A27FF06FE471447FB8D.taxon	distribution	Distribution. Known only from near El Playazo, in the northwestern limits of Alturas de Santa Clara, Villa Clara province, central Cuba (Fig. 8). Habitat. Dry serpentine scrub-woodland and associated gallery forest patches (Fig. 9 E – F).	en	Álvarez, Yosiel, Núñez, Rayner, Magaldi, Luiza De Moraes, Matthews, Deborah, Freitas, André Victor Lucci, Espeland, Marianne (2025): Phenotypes, natural history and barcodes unveil cryptic species within the Caribbean Metalmark Dianesia carteri (Holland) (Lepidoptera: Riodinidae). Zootaxa 5686 (1): 5-48, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5686.1.2, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5360.3.8
039C870B6D3D4A27FF06FE471447FB8D.taxon	biology_ecology	Biology. Habits and behavior of this species are similar to those of Dianesia galindoensis. Adults have been recorded taking nectar on Anastraphia cowellii Britton (Asteraceae). Adults are on the wing year-round, although they are more common from June to August, and fly from the early morning until late afternoon; we have seen an activity peak between 17 and 18 h. Adults from the dry season (November – April) can show a reduction of the orange color on the UP. Immature stages. Final instar (Fig. 10 G): Head capsule orange, covered with numerous whitish setae. Prothoracic shield green yellow, with a lateral obliquus purplish line; covered by whitish setae and a pair of lateral black setae. Body dark yellow green dorsally, lighter 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 yellower; white band running mid-dorsally along the last five body 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 small, compact 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. Males with yellow-orange testicles visible dorsally in the seventh segment. Anal plate yellow, with four longitudinal central purplish stripes, covered by numerous external long whitish setae. Host plant. Buxus gonoclada subsp. gonoclada (Buxaceae).	en	Álvarez, Yosiel, Núñez, Rayner, Magaldi, Luiza De Moraes, Matthews, Deborah, Freitas, André Victor Lucci, Espeland, Marianne (2025): Phenotypes, natural history and barcodes unveil cryptic species within the Caribbean Metalmark Dianesia carteri (Holland) (Lepidoptera: Riodinidae). Zootaxa 5686 (1): 5-48, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5686.1.2, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5360.3.8
039C870B6D3D4A27FF06FE471447FB8D.taxon	discussion	Remarks. The discovery of this species was predicted on the basis of the distribution of its host plant, which it shares with D. serpentinicola sp. nov. and D. galindoensis, which inhabit similar habitats of eastern and western Cuba, respectively. The dry serpentine scrub-woodland that once prevailed throughout Alturas de Santa Clara has now been extremely disturbed and fragmented, and despite several surveys conducted at other conserved habitat patches, the butterfly has only been located to date in the type locality. Nevertheless, several other well-preserved fragments remain to be surveyed and this species is likely more widespread in the Clarense serpentine outcrop of central Cuba.	en	Álvarez, Yosiel, Núñez, Rayner, Magaldi, Luiza De Moraes, Matthews, Deborah, Freitas, André Victor Lucci, Espeland, Marianne (2025): Phenotypes, natural history and barcodes unveil cryptic species within the Caribbean Metalmark Dianesia carteri (Holland) (Lepidoptera: Riodinidae). Zootaxa 5686 (1): 5-48, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5686.1.2, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5360.3.8
039C870B6D324A23FF06F9A51587FD70.taxon	description	Figs. 2 U – X, 4 J – L, 6 Q – R, 7 S – U, 8, 9 E, 10 H	en	Álvarez, Yosiel, Núñez, Rayner, Magaldi, Luiza De Moraes, Matthews, Deborah, Freitas, André Victor Lucci, Espeland, Marianne (2025): Phenotypes, natural history and barcodes unveil cryptic species within the Caribbean Metalmark Dianesia carteri (Holland) (Lepidoptera: Riodinidae). Zootaxa 5686 (1): 5-48, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5686.1.2, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5360.3.8
039C870B6D324A23FF06F9A51587FD70.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis. Dianesia serpentinicola sp. nov. most resembles D. abscondita sp. nov. and D. galindoensis, from which it can be separated by its smaller size in males in the case of the former (FW length 12,6 – 13,7 mm, n = 5 in D. serpentinicola vs. 14,2 – 14,8 mm, n = 6, in D. abscondita) and larger size in both sexes in the case of the latter (FW length ♂ 12,6 – 13,7 mm, n = 5, ♀ 13,0 – 14,8, n = 3, in D. serpentinicola vs. ♂ 13,0 – 13,9 mm, n = 11, ♀ 12,6 – 13,5 mm, n = 5 in D. galindoensis); UP color light gray-brown; UP base strongly tinted in pale orange; UPFW white band with four first spots well-marked, the fourth one as broad as the others; UN with basal area darker and contrasting; UNHW with a well-marked light area near costa between the black bands of the discal cell; male genitalia with sorter tegumen and valvae; female genitalia with signa with very blunt tips. From the other species of the genus, it can be separated by the combination of dark grey-brown UP background color, reduced submarginal orange band and poorly developed FW postdiscal white band.	en	Álvarez, Yosiel, Núñez, Rayner, Magaldi, Luiza De Moraes, Matthews, Deborah, Freitas, André Victor Lucci, Espeland, Marianne (2025): Phenotypes, natural history and barcodes unveil cryptic species within the Caribbean Metalmark Dianesia carteri (Holland) (Lepidoptera: Riodinidae). Zootaxa 5686 (1): 5-48, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5686.1.2, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5360.3.8
039C870B6D324A23FF06F9A51587FD70.taxon	description	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 grey-brown, the thorax with scattered light orange pubescence and the abdomen with light orange segment junctions. FW length ♂ 12,6 – 13,7 mm, ♀ 13,0 – 14,8 mm. Male UPFW grey-brown, base pale orange and with two dark brown concentric, discontinuous bands extending basally and discally, respectively, from the discal cell to 2 A; a third incomplete band of the same color edging the discal cell, and a very small spot of the same color on the bifurcation of Cu 1 and Cu 2, absent sometimes. A thin dark brown postdiscal line extending sinuously from costa to Cu 1 and then straight to inner margin, 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 broader and more diffuse, and the two between M 3 – Cu 1 and Cu 1 – Cu 2 smaller, 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 orange color slightly more developed, 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, base darker, basal half whiter near inner angle and with the postdiscal white band much more defined and broader, extending towards inner angle; ocellus at anal angle with an external superior small pupil of blue scales, and internally edged by pale yellow scales. UNHW similar but paler with no orange color, base darker, basal and discal brown bands reduced, postdiscal brown band discontinuous. Genitalia with broad, square-shaped tegumen; uncus weakly lobed, each lobe with a small tooth-like protuberance; gnathi slender, smoothly curved upwards near tip; vinculum anteriorly concave, slender but broader near aedeagus; valvae medium-broad, simple, much shorter than tegumen, tip short 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. 6 Q – R). Female similar to male but with elongated, narrower wings with rounder outer margins; a much lighter, uniform color on the UP, extending beyond the postdiscal black line in both wings; and better developed postdiscal white band and 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 narrow, flattened dorsoventrally, surface uniformly punctate, with numerous folds around junction with ductus bursae; two mid-lateral heavily sclerotized long flat cylindrical signa with very blunt tips (Fig. 7 S – U).	en	Álvarez, Yosiel, Núñez, Rayner, Magaldi, Luiza De Moraes, Matthews, Deborah, Freitas, André Victor Lucci, Espeland, Marianne (2025): Phenotypes, natural history and barcodes unveil cryptic species within the Caribbean Metalmark Dianesia carteri (Holland) (Lepidoptera: Riodinidae). Zootaxa 5686 (1): 5-48, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5686.1.2, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5360.3.8
039C870B6D324A23FF06F9A51587FD70.taxon	materials_examined	Type material. Holotype — ♂ CUBA, Holguín, Bahía del Naranjo, south of Playa Esmeralda, 21 º 06 ’ N, 75 º 52 ’ W, 14 / V / 2024, col. Y. Álvarez, YAC (YAC- 0583). Paratypes — 10 ♂, 6 ♀. Same data as for holotype, YAC (1 ♀: YAC- 0584); same locality, 18 / VIII / 2023, col. Y. Álvarez, DNA vouchers Y 171, BE 001, BE 002, BE 004, BE 005, BE 006, BE 007, ZFMK (5 ♂, 1 ♀: Lep 180901, Lep 180902, Lep 180904, Lep 180905, Lep 180906, Lep 180907), YAC (1 ♀: YAC- 0456); Ceja de Melones, Rafael Freyre, Holguín, 20 º 58 ’ N, 76 º 03 ’ W, 14 / V / 2024, col. Y. Álvarez, DNA vouchers DC- 46, DC- 49, ZUEC (1 ♂: 14718), YAC (1 ♀: YAC- 0580); Cuabal de La Palma, Rafael Freyre, Holguín, 20 º 57 ’ N, 76 º 05 ’ W, 11 / II / 2025, col. Y. Álvarez, YAC (4 ♂, 2 ♀: YAC- 0725, YAC- 0726, YAC- 0727, YAC- 0744, YAC- 0750, YAC- 0751). Additional material. CUBA. Holguín: Rafael Freyre, Ceja de Melones, 20 º 58 ’ N, 76 º 03 ’ W, 14 / V / 2024, col. Y. Álvarez, DNA vouchers DC- 47, DC- 50, ZUEC (two larvae in ethanol).	en	Álvarez, Yosiel, Núñez, Rayner, Magaldi, Luiza De Moraes, Matthews, Deborah, Freitas, André Victor Lucci, Espeland, Marianne (2025): Phenotypes, natural history and barcodes unveil cryptic species within the Caribbean Metalmark Dianesia carteri (Holland) (Lepidoptera: Riodinidae). Zootaxa 5686 (1): 5-48, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5686.1.2, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5360.3.8
039C870B6D324A23FF06F9A51587FD70.taxon	etymology	Etymology. The species epithet is derived from the word “ serpentine ” and the suffix - cola, meaning “ an inhabitant ” and derived from the Latin verb “ colo ”, meaning to “ inhabit or dwell ”, as a reference to the restriction of this species to serpentine soils.	en	Álvarez, Yosiel, Núñez, Rayner, Magaldi, Luiza De Moraes, Matthews, Deborah, Freitas, André Victor Lucci, Espeland, Marianne (2025): Phenotypes, natural history and barcodes unveil cryptic species within the Caribbean Metalmark Dianesia carteri (Holland) (Lepidoptera: Riodinidae). Zootaxa 5686 (1): 5-48, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5686.1.2, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5360.3.8
039C870B6D324A23FF06F9A51587FD70.taxon	distribution	Distribution. Known only a few localities in the serpentine hills north of Holguín province, eastern Cuba, namely La Palma, Ceja de Melones, Cerro Galano, Playa Esmeralda (Bahía del Naranjo) and Boca de Samá. Apparently sympatric with Dianesia flammata sp. nov. in the latter localities (see Discussion) (Fig. 8). Habitat. Dry serpentine scrub-woodland (Fig. 9 E).	en	Álvarez, Yosiel, Núñez, Rayner, Magaldi, Luiza De Moraes, Matthews, Deborah, Freitas, André Victor Lucci, Espeland, Marianne (2025): Phenotypes, natural history and barcodes unveil cryptic species within the Caribbean Metalmark Dianesia carteri (Holland) (Lepidoptera: Riodinidae). Zootaxa 5686 (1): 5-48, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5686.1.2, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5360.3.8
039C870B6D324A23FF06F9A51587FD70.taxon	biology_ecology	Biology. Habits and behavior of this species are similar to those of Dianesia galindoensis. It was observed visiting flowers of Croton glabellus (Euphorbiaceae) and Henoonia myrtifolia Griseb. (Solanaceae). 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 19 h. Adults from the dry season (November – April) can show a reduction of the orange color on the UP. Immature stages. Final instar (Fig. 10 H): Head capsule orange, covered with numerous whitish setae. Prothoracic shield green yellow, with a lateral obliquus purplish line; covered by whitish setae and a pair of lateral black setae. Body yellow green dorsally, lighter 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; segment junctions yellower; white band running mid-dorsally along the last five body 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 small, compact 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. Males with yellow-orange testicles visible dorsally in the seventh segment. Anal plate yellow, with four longitudinal central purplish stripes, covered by numerous external long whitish setae. Host plant. Buxus gonoclada subsp. gonoclada (Buxaceae) (Esnard et al. 2023).	en	Álvarez, Yosiel, Núñez, Rayner, Magaldi, Luiza De Moraes, Matthews, Deborah, Freitas, André Victor Lucci, Espeland, Marianne (2025): Phenotypes, natural history and barcodes unveil cryptic species within the Caribbean Metalmark Dianesia carteri (Holland) (Lepidoptera: Riodinidae). Zootaxa 5686 (1): 5-48, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5686.1.2, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5360.3.8
039C870B6D324A23FF06F9A51587FD70.taxon	discussion	Remarks. Esnard et al. (2023) described and illustrated the life cycle of this species, inadvertently also listing other species of Buxus as hosts that actually belong to D. ramsdeni. The species is likely more widespread in well-preserved scrub-woodland areas of the northern hills of Holguín, where large extensions of undisturbed habitat prevail.	en	Álvarez, Yosiel, Núñez, Rayner, Magaldi, Luiza De Moraes, Matthews, Deborah, Freitas, André Victor Lucci, Espeland, Marianne (2025): Phenotypes, natural history and barcodes unveil cryptic species within the Caribbean Metalmark Dianesia carteri (Holland) (Lepidoptera: Riodinidae). Zootaxa 5686 (1): 5-48, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5686.1.2, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5360.3.8
