Psychonotis melane melane ( Joicey & Talbot, 1916 )

Schröder, Stefan, 2019, Notes on the genus Psychonotis (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae) from Western New Guinea (Papua and Papua Barat), with description of a new subspecies of P. melane (Joicey & Talbot, 1916), Sugapa Digital 11 (2), pp. 79-86 : 83

Psychonotis melane melane ( Joicey & Talbot, 1916)

(Figs 27-28, 33)

Thysonotis melane Joicey & Talbot, 1916a: 82 , pl. 7 fig. 7.

Psychonotis melane: D’Abrera, 1977: 329 fig. of Psychonotis melanae [sic!] sensu Parsons, 1998: 674.

A very distinctive species for the genus. As its name suggests, males are dark brown or black on the upperside and compared with other species of this genus, the white underside bands are reduced in width. Joicey & Talbot (1916a: 82) also mentioned in their description that the “basal two thirds of costa [are] blue” and that the hindwing white discal band is narrowing sharply to the inner margin. The metallic lunules on the hindwing margin are comparably large, and approaching in size the lunules of caelius , but may be outlined rather faintly in most cases and are sometimes reduced to a thin line of blue scales along the outer wing margin. There is a faint streak of metallic blue scales along the costa of the forewing and some basal scaling on the hindwings. Underside markings are generally much stronger in caelius . Female specimens are apparently still unknown.

Distribution: Regarded as a local subspecies of the Wandammen Mountains (located on the west side of the Cenderawasih Bay) in West Papua, and the Wissel Lakes, Papua (Paniai District: Waghete, Modio, K. Enaro, Tuguwai, a small series of four males in KSP [KSP 11923- 11926]).