Neolucia hobartensis albolineata, Braby & Wurtz, 2018

Braby, Michael F. & Wurtz, Graham E., 2018, A new subspecies of Neolucia hobartensis (Miskin, 1890) (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae) from Mainland Southeastern Australia, with a Review of Butterfly Endemism in Montane Areas in this Region, Records of the Australian Museum (Rec. Aust. Mus.) 70 (5), pp. 423-433 : 424-430

Neolucia hobartensis albolineata ssp. nov.

Figs 8–11

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:7C95E916-9067-44CF-B0B0-4DC6576E6FE8

Holotype ♂, “Smokers Gap, ACT, 25 DEC. 1998, M.F. Braby” ( ANIC). Paratypes 55♂♂, 27♀♀. Australian Capital Territory: ♂ “ SMOKER GAP, ACT, 1244 ALT, 6 JAN 1980, NB TINDALE” ( ANIC); 4♀ “ SMOKER’S GAP, CORIN DAM, ACT, 26th Jan 1987, GE Wurtz ” ( GEWC); ♂ “ Smokers Gap, ACT, 12-Jan-1992, EGGLETON” ( ANIC); 3♂, 2♀ “ Smokers Gap, ACT, 5 FEB. 1995, M.F. Braby” ( ANIC); 5♂, 3♀ “ Smokers Gap, ACT, 25 DEC. 1998, M.F. Braby” ( ANIC); 9♂, 2♀ “ Smokers Gap, ACT, 16 JAN. 1999, M.F. Braby” ( ANIC); ♀ “ Smokers Gap, ACT, emg. 8 JAN. 1999, pupated 30 DEC. 98, M.F. Braby | reared from larva on EPACRIS BREVIFLORA flowers” ( ANIC); ♀ “ Smokers Gap, ACT, emg. 10 JAN. 1999, pupated 31 DEC. 98, M.F. Braby | reared from larva on Epacris breviflora flowers” ( ANIC); ♀ “ Smokers Gap, ACT, emg. 10 JAN. 1999, pupated 1 JAN. 99, M.F. Braby | reared from larva on EPACRIS BREVIFLORA flowers” ( ANIC); ♂ “ Mt. Gingera,A.C.T., 24 Jan. 1951, M.F. Day” ( ANIC); ♂ “ Mt. Gingera, A.C.T. 6000 ft., 25 Jan. 1956, I.F.B. Common” ( ANIC); ♀ “ Mt. Gingera, A.C.T. 5500 ft., 22-1-1956, I.F.B. Common” ( ANIC); 3♂ “ Mt. Gingera, A.C.T. 5500 ft., 6 Feb. 1962, I.F.B. Common” ( ANIC); 6♂ “ Mt. Gingera, ACT. 5500 ft., 5 Feb. 1969, I.F.B. Common & A.E. May” ( ANIC); ♂, 2♀ “Mt. Gingera, A.C.T. 1670 m, Emg. 25 Jan. 1971, E.D. Edwards”, “6/ 71 Larva on flowers Epacris petrophila ” (ANIC) ; ♀ same data but with date “ Emg. 28 Jan. 1971 ” ( ANIC); 4♂ “ 1 Ml NE of Lee ’ s Springs, A.C.T. 4000 ft, 30 Jan. 1957, I.F.B. Common” ( ANIC); ♂, 2♀ “Mt. Franklin, ACT. 4800 ft., 5 Feb. 1969, I.F.B. Common & A.E. May” ( ANIC); 1♂ “ [3.6 km S by road of] GIBRALTAR FALLS, TIDBINBILLA RGE, ACT, 4th Jan 1980, GE Wurtz” ( GEWC); 1♂ “ [3.6 km by road S of] GIBRALTAR FALLS, TIDBINBILLA RGE, ACT, 26th Jan 1987, GE Wurtz” ( GEWC); 2♂ “ HONEYSUCKLE CK, ACT, 29th NOV 1980, ANDREW ATKINS” ( ANIC); 1♀ “ Honey Suckle Crk, ACT, S 35.35 .5, E 148.58, 2nd Feb 1984, GE Wurtz ” ( GEWC); 2♀ “ Honeysuckle Ck, Namadgi NP, ACT, 1080 m, 35 ° 35'S, 148 ° 59'E, 15 JAN. 1995, M.F. Braby” ( ANIC); 6♂, ♀ “ Brindabella Ra., A.C.T., 21 Jan. 1981, J.F.R. Kerr” ( ANIC); 8♂, 2♀ “ 2 STICKS ROAD, BRINDABELLA RANGE, W. CANBERRA, ACT, 14th Jan 1979, GE Wurtz ” ( GEWC); ♂ “ 2 km NTH of PICCADILLY CIRCUS, A.C.T., 21 JAN. 1984, K.L. DUNN, C.E. ASTON” ( ANIC); ♀ “ 2.2 km N. Piccadilly Circus, ACT, 12 JAN. 1997, M.F. Braby” ( ANIC). New South Wales: 6♂, ♀ “ E.D. EDWARDS, 25.1.70, Boyd R, N.S.W., AUSTRALIA ” ( ANIC).

Other material examined An additional 638 specimens from New South Wales and Victoria currently lodged in the ANIC (263♂, 106♀), NMV (106♂, 28♀), AMS (76♂, 28♀) and GEWC (18♂, 13♀) were examined ( Table 1). Locations for these specimens are as follows. New South Wales: South Black Range , Tallaganda NP, 9 km E of Hoskinstown (4♂, 2♀) ; Cumberland Range, Talbingo (2♂); Tinderry Mountains (2♂, 1♀); 2 km SE of Tantangara Dam (1♂) ; 10 mls E of Kiandra , NSW (2♂); 1 km W of Three Mile

♀♀ — — 1 5 — 1 7 1 — 99 201 ♂♂ 1 — — 1 3 — 31 2 1 223 519 data longitude 146.67 146.758 146.708 146.7069 145.9 146.644 146.975 146.3 146.268 146.275 inferred latitude 37.33 - - 37.392 37.475 - - 37.4767 37.5 - - 37.537 - 37.708 37.8 - 37.841 - - 37.842

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Shaws

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Licola

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720 = subtotals total (

Dam , Kosciuszko NP (18♂, 3♀) ; Ogilvies Creek (3♂, 1♀) ; Hotel Kosciuszko, Diggers Creek (16♂, 2♀) ; Mt Stilwell , Kosciuszko NP (1♂, 1♀) ; Alpine Way , 7 mls NE of Thredbo (15♂) ; Mt Kosciuszko , NSW (80♂, 27♀) ; Brown Mountain [near Nimmitabel] (3♂, 1♀) . Victoria: Mt Buffalo (3♂, 3♀) ; Glen Wills (3♂, 8♀) ; Toombullup via Tolmie (6♂) ; Mt Cope (2♀) ; Mt Hotham (18♂, 4♀) ; Brandy Creek, Hotham Heights (1♀) ; 4 km S[E] of Mt Hotham (1♀) ; Cobbler Plateau (1♀) ; Bindaree Hut / Howqua River (3♂, 2♀) ; Lost Plain (1♂) ; 2 km E of Lost Plain (1♀) ; Shaw ’ s Creek, Tamboritha Saddle / Bennison High Plains (16♂, 6♀) ; 5 km N[E] of Licola (1♀) ; Lake Mountain (3♂) ; Mt Erica (29♂, 7♀) ; Mt St Gwinear (2♂, 1♀) ; Mt Baw Baw (223♂, 99♀) . It has also been collected from Mt St Bernard (1♂) and Mt Reynard (1♂) , VIC (D.F. Crosby, pers. comm.).

Diagnosis. Neolucia hobartensis albolineata is distinguished from N. hobartensis hobartensis ( Figs 1, 2, 4–7 ) by the following four character states: (a) specimens of both sexes are substantially larger than those of N. hobartensis hobartensis ; (b) the underside ground colour of the fore wing in males is greyish-brown, with the markings usually more distinct, particularly the postmedian band which is often more contrasted (darker) against the ground colour and conspicuously edged with dark brown and then white, whereas in N. hobartensis hobartensis the ground colour is grey, with the markings generally more obscure or less contrasting. This character, however, is not applicable in females. (c) The white postmedian band or patch on the underside of the hind wing in both sexes is broader and more conspicuous, whereas in N. hobartensis hobartensis the white band or patch is often absent; when present it is substantially smaller in extent and less clearly defined; (d) the markings on the underside of the hind wing in males, particularly the subbasal and median series of spots, are generally more distinct, being darker brown against a white ground colour, although this character is variable in both N. hobartensis albolineata and N. hobartensis hobartensis and is not applicable in females. In N. hobartensis albolineata , the ground colour of the basal area of the hind wing may be broadly white, a feature that is absent in both N. hobartensis hobartensis and N. hobartensis monticola .

Neolucia hobartensis monticola ( Figs 12–17 ) is similar in size to N. hobartensis albolineata , but it differs in having the underside ground colour of the fore wing and basal area of the hind wing brown, and the white postmedian band or patch on the underside of the hind wing absent or smaller in extent and less clearly defined. The extensive brown underside ground colour is diagnostic of N. hobartensis monticola and this feature no doubt contributed to Waterhouse & Lyell’s (1914, p. 108) conclusion that the subspecies is “much darker both above and beneath”. Dissection and examination of the male genitalia of two specimens of each subspecies revealed no significant differences between N. hobartensis hobartensis , N. hobartensis albolineata and N. hobartensis monticola .

Description. The species Neolucia hobartensis has been adequately described and illustrated previously, by Waterhouse & Lyell (1914), Common & Waterhouse (1981) and Braby(2000); hence, only a brief description is provided here for Neolucia hobartensis albolineata .

Male. Fore wing length 12.0 mm (holotype). Upperside dark bronzy-brown, with scale-fringe chequered dark brown hobartensis . Records for N. hobartensis albolineata ssp. nov. are based on museum specimen

material examined in this study, whereas those for N. hobartensis hobartensis and N. hobartensis

monticola are from the Atlas of Living Australia (biocache.ala.org.au accessed 1 May 2018)

and white. Fore wings covered with long hairs (androconia) parallel to veins. Underside of fore wing ground colour grey-brown, with a series of slightly darker markings edged narrowly with dark brown and white, markings comprise a subbasal spot and a larger median spot in discal cell, an obscure median spot above vein 1A+2A and a conspicuous postmedian band from above vein M 1 to below vein CuA 2, followed by one or two obscure dark subterminal bands, and a narrow brown-black terminal line; hind wing with a series of dark brown subbasal and median spots or markings which often coalesce, edged narrowly with black and usually broadly surrounded with white, followed by a prominent white postmedian band or patch, usually two indistinct black inverted V-shaped subterminal marks, and a narrow black terminal line.

Female. Fore wing length 9.6–11.4 mm (paratypes). Similar to male, but upperside without androconia; underside ground colour paler with markings more distinct, and termen of wings more rounded.

Variation. Specimens from the Kosciuszko Plateau, NSW,

particularly near the summit of Mt Kosciuszko (1900–2190 m), are unusual. They are smaller in size, paler brown, and the underside markings of the hind wing frequently lack the distinct contrasting pattern of spots and the conspicuous white postmedian band or patch is often absent or substantially reduced in extent. In many respects they resemble N. hobartensis hobartensis or N. mathewi ( Miskin, 1890) . Further investigation of this high altitude population is warranted to determine if the distinct phenotype has a genetic or environmental basis.

Remarks. Neolucia hobartensis was originally described by Miskin (1890) under the name Lycaena hobartensis Miskin, 1890 from Tasmania, with Mt Wellington near Hobart the type locality ( Waterhouse, 1928). Miskin (1890, pp. 38–39) did not designate a type in the original description, which may have been based on a single specimen(but see Hancock, 1995). Waterhouse (1928) referred to a type, and Couchman (1956) referred to a holotype, though gave the sex as female, and referred to a second specimen. Hancock (1995) referred to a syntype male in the QM and gave label data. Edwards et al. (2001) interpreted Waterhouse’s reference to a type as a lectotype designation. The lectotype male is illustrated in Figs 1–3 .

Twenty-four years after Miskin’s description, Waterhouse & Lyell (1914) described the subspecies Neolucia hobartensis monticola Waterhouse & Lyell, 1914 based on a series of specimens from Ebor, NSW (9♂, 10♀). Waterhouse & Lyell (1914) illustrated a syntype male (figure 831), but they did not designate a type in the original description. Peters (1971) subsequently referred to a holotype in the AMS and provided a registration number (KL.25037). Edwards et al. (2001) interpreted Peter’s incorrect reference to a holotype as a lectotype designation. We have examined the lectotype male ( Figs 16–18 ) and the 18 paralectotypes in AMS and they agree with Waterhouse & Lyell’s (1914) concept of N. hobartensis monticola .

It is perhaps surprising that the new geographically intermediate subspecies described herein was overlooked by G. A. Waterhouse, and has since remained unrecognized for more than 100 years since the revisionary work of Waterhouse & Lyell (1914) given the large number of specimens (721) available in public museums and the private collection of GEW from a relatively accessible and well-collected region of Australia. However, Waterhouse & Lyell’s (1914) description of N. hobartensis monticola and examination of the G. A. Waterhouse collection in AMS revealed that in the early 1900’s the diagnosis of N. hobartensis monticola was based chiefly on comparison of their material from Ebor with specimens from only four other locations: New South Wales (22♂, 5♀ Mt Kosciuszko), Victoria (3♂, 1♀ Mt Erica; 1♂, 1♀ Mt Hotham ) and Tasmania (5♂ Mt Wellington ). Thus , it is clear that of the material in AMS G. A. Waterhouse placed under N. hobartensis hobartensis the vast majority (71%) came from Mt Kosciuszko , most of which was collected by himself during an expedition in 27–29 January 1906 ( Edwards, 2002). However, as noted above, material from the Kosciuszko Plateau is not typical of N. hobartensis albolineata elsewhere on the Australian mainland: although this population is variable, the specimens are generally smaller and paler and a large proportion (c. 60%) lack the diagnostic white patch on the underside of the hind wing. Thus, comparison of this anomalous high altitude population with typical N. hobartensis hobartensis from Mt Wellington would explain lack of recognition of the southern mainland populations as being taxonomically distinct from the Tasmanian populations at that time .

Etymology. The name albolineata is derived from the Latin word albus, which means white, and the Latin word lineatus, which means lined, and refers to the broad white postmedian line or band on the underside of the hind wing. The species group name is thus a compound descriptive name comprising an adjective-adjective combination with the ending of the second name in feminine form to agree with the gender of the generic name ( Neolucia ) with which it is combined, according to Article 31.2 of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature (1999).

Distribution. Neolucia hobartensis albolineata occurs in southeastern Australia where it has a patchy distribution in the southeastern highlands of the mainland along and adjacent to the Great Dividing Range. It extends from the South Black Range in Tallaganda National Park east of Hoskinstown, NSW ( Braby, 2000) and the Brindabella Range (1.5 km NE of Lees Spring south of Mt Coree), ACT ( Kitching et al., 1978), southwest to Mt Baw Baw ( Quick, 1973) and Lake Mountain ( Quick, 1973), VIC ( Fig. 19 ). The record further north from the Boyd River, NSW (1220 m) (E. D. Edwards), represents a disjunct population located approximately 170 km NNE of Hoskinstown. The subspecies is restricted to montane areas, mainly above 1000 m, although a plot of available specimen data indicates no clear relationship between altitude and latitude across the geographical range of N. hobartensis albolineata (r = 0.072, P> 0.05) ( Fig. 20 ). Most specimens have been collected at altitudes between 1100–1800 m. The only records above 1900 m are from the Kosciuszko Plateau, NSW, which represents the highest altitude occurrences (up to 2190 m) within the geographic range of N. hobartensis albolineata . The only records below 1000 m that we are aware of are the series of specimens (3♂, 2♀) from Bindaree Hut / Howqua River, VIC (840 m), collected by the late W. N. B. Quick and D. F. Crosby on 3 Dec. 1972, and another series (6♂) from Toombullup near Tolmie, VIC (820 m), collected by M. F. Braby on 17 Dec. 1983.

The published record further east of the Boyd River from Medlow Barth near Kanangra Walls in the Blue Mountains, NSW (1060 m) by Edwards (1963) is erroneous—the specimens collected are actually N. agricola (Westwood, 1851) (E. D. Edwards, pers. comm). Material (2♂) in the ANIC from the low altitude town of “Valencia Creek, VIC” collected by D.F. Crosby on 15 NOV. 1961 is erroneous and refers to Mt Erica (D.F. Crosby, pers. comm. 2018).A female specimen in AMS labelled “Mylor, S. Australia, 30 Nov. 1902 | 023”, “G. A. Waterhouse Collection”, “KL24887”, and a male in AMS labelled “Woodside, S. Aust., M. W. Mules”, “ Nov - 22nd 1933 ”, “G. A. Waterhouse Collection”, “KL24890” are considered to be erroneous. The species is not known to occur in the Mt Lofty Ranges near Adelaide, SA.

Biology. The biology of the subspecies, including descriptions or illustrations of the immature stages, life history and developmental times, has been well documented ( Quick, 1973; Common & Waterhouse, 1981; Braby, 2000; Field, 2013; Bond, 2016). The larvae specialize on the flowers and new foliage of Epacris spp. ( Ericaceae ), including E. petrophila Hook. f., E. breviflora Stapf and E. paludosa R.Br. , growing in subalpine and alpine heathland or heathy open-woodland on acidic soils, especially along edges of swamps or along boggy creeks. The life cycle has an embryonic diapause that persists for about nine months of the year, mainly from autumn to spring.

The larval food plant of N. hobartensis hobartensis in Tasmania is Epacris serpyllifolia R.Br. (Virtue & McQuillan, 1994) , whereas that of N. hobartensis monticola in northern New South Wales has not previously been identified. Waterhouse (1932, p. 170) reported the food plant for the latter subspecies in only general terms “… at Barrington Tops in January, this butterfly was very plentiful at the edges of the swamps, where two species of Epacris were growing. By beating these, I obtained a number of nearly full-grown larvae. These were all feeding on the Epacris with yellowish-green leaves and small white flowers.” Since Waterhouse’s observations, the species-level identity of the larval food plant of N. hobartensis monticola has remained undetermined. However, during a visit to Barrington Tops National Park, NSW the food plant was determined to be Epacris rhombifolia (L.R.Fraser & Vickery) Menadue—at Polblue Swamp (1450 m) adults flew in close proximity to this shrub growing along the edge of open swampland, and a female was observed on two occasions to lay eggs on the stems above the leaf axils on 27 January 2018 (M. F. Braby, unpublished data).

Figures

Figure 19. Map of southeastern Australia showing geographical distribution of Neolucia

Figure 20. Scatter plot of altitude against latitude for each location of Neolucia hobartensis albolineata ssp. nov. based on specimen label data in the ANIC, NMV and GEWC.

Figures 1–18. Adult specimens of Neolucia hobartensis: (1–3) N. hobartensis hobartensis lectotype male (QM) showing upperside, underside and labels; (4–7) N. hobartensis hobartensis from Tasmania: 4 and 5, male upperside and underside “Pine Tier Lake, TAS, S42.04.14, E146.28.74, 16th Jan. 2013, G.E. Wurtz” (GEWC), 6 and 7, female upperside and underside “Mt. Barrow, T. 4000 ft., 4 Mar. 1963, I.F.B. Common & M.S. Upton” (ANIC); (8–11) N. hobartensis albolineata ssp. nov. from ACT and southern NSW: 8 and 9, holotype male upperside and underside “Smokers Gap, ACT, 25 DEC. 1998, M.F. Braby” (ANIC), 10 and 11, paratype female upperside and underside “E.D. EDWARDS, 25.1.70, Boyd R, N.S.W., AUSTRALIA” (ANIC); (12–15) N. hobartensis monticola from northern NSW: 12 and 13, male upperside and underside “Barrington Tops, NSW, 23 Jan. 1987, J.F.R. Kerr” (ANIC), 14 and 15, female upperside and underside “Barrington Tops, NSW, 23 Jan. 1987, J.F.R. Kerr” (ANIC); (16–18) N. hobartensis monticola lectotype male (AMS) showing upperside, underside and labels.