Penaincisalia vittata ( Johnson, 1992 ), 2004

Prieto, Carlos, Bálint, Zsolt, Boyer, Pierre & Micó, Estefanía, 2008, A review of the “ browni group ” of Penaincisalia with notes on their distribution and variability (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae: Eumaeini), Zootaxa 1941 (1), pp. 1-24 : 22-23

Penaincisalia vittata ( Johnson, 1992)

( Figs. 24–25, 33 , 38 , 49 , 54 )

Pons vittata Johnson 1992: 22 , Figs. 17, 113.; Bálint & Wojtusiak (2001): female, 380, Figs. 7, 8.

Penaincisalia vittata ( Johnson, 1992) Robbins, 2004 : pag. 121.

Type material “ Pons vittata ”: Type: Holotype Male: ECUADOR, Pichincha, Niebli, NW slope, Volcán Pichincha, 3500m., 1972, R. de Lefabre, November 1971, deposited in AME.

Taxonomic history: The species was described by Johnson (1992) on the basis of two male specimens from Ecuador. Later, Bálint and Wojtusiak (2001) described the female based on an individual deposited in MZUJ from Ecuador. Robbins (2004) transferred the species to Penaincisalia .

Diagnosis: P. vittata can be confused with P. browni and P. saraha as both species have similar purple dorsal wing surfaces. However, P.vittata males have a perfectly straight discal margin on the hindwing (this is slightly zigzagging in P. browni and P. saraha males), and the continuous medial and submarginal bands always reach the 2A vein (the medial band reach only the CuA2 vein on the forewing in P. browni and P. saraha ).

Identification. Male. Dorsal surface: Both wings dark purple with a distal black border (approximately 3mm) in submarginal and marginal wing areas. Forewing androconial cluster large (approximately 1/3 – 1/4 discal cell length), oval in shape and dark gray. Ventral surface: Ground color of both wings, reddish brown, dark brown forewing medial band reaching the 2A vein. Forewing submarginal band running parallel to medial band and always reaching the 2A vein. Distance between medial and submarginal bands is less than two times length between submarginal band and wing margin (at CuA2 cell level), dark brown marginal band present. Hindwing discal margin perfectly straight, sometimes bordered by white scales. Hindwing submarginal elements appear as continuous band, hindwing marginal band present.

Body: Thorax dark brown, abdomen dark brown dorsally and orange ventrally.

Genitalia: Eighth abdominal tergite simple and in shape rectangle; caudal extension of valvae in lateral view approximately 1/3 length of valvae. Ventral keel of the valvae pointed.

Female. Wing shape: hindwing apex rounded and anal tail occurring as a lateral lobe accompanied with a long tail extending from CuA2 vein plus a small caudal projection in the CuA1 vein. Dorsal surface: Both wings light sapphire blue with a broad and ill-defined black border (approximately 6mm wide) at submarginal and marginal portion of wings. Ventral surface: Ground color of both wings light pink-brown. Basal disc, medial and submarginal bands as in the male.

Genitalia: Posterior portion of ductus bursae longer than anterior one. The anterior and posterior sections of ductus bursae are not divided by a conspicuous membranous area.

Distribution: Spatial: Known from several localities in Ecuador ( Fig. 54 ), inhabits cloud forest from 3100m to 3500m. Temporal: Known from November, January, August and February.

Biology: Nothing is known about the early stages and host plants of this species.

Material examined (2 ♂, 2 ♀)

ECUADOR: Pichincha: 1 ♂ HNHM : Calacali, Pela Gallo , 3100m, 29.I.02, Leg. Wojtusiak, Pyrcz & Garlacz. / 1 ♂ * HNHM : Pichincha, Calacali, Pela Gallo , 3100m, 29.I.2002, Leg. Wojtusiak, Pyrcz & Garlacz. / 1 ♀ * MZUJ : Baños , El Tablón, 3400m, 7.VIII.98, Leg. T . Pyrcz ./ Tungurahua: 1♀ JFLC : Tungurahua, El Tablón, II.1999, Leg. I. Aldas .

Figures

FIGURE 54. Distribution of P.regala and P. vittata.

FIGURES 26–33. Androconial clusters of the “browni group”. 26, P. browni; 27, P. saraha; 28, P. caeruleonota; 29, P. purpurea (Ecuador); 30, P. magnifica; 31, P.cuiva; 32, P.regala; 33. P. vittata.

FIGURES 34–43. Left valva in lateral view. 34, P. browni; 35, P. saraha; 36, P. caeruleonota (Loja, Ecuador) indicating the ventral keel; 37, P. caeruleonota (“Volcan Cabogana”, Ecuador); 38, P. vittata; 39, P.regala; 40, P. purpurea (Ecuador); 41, P. purpurea (Perú); 42, P.cuiva; 43, P. magnifica.

FIGURES 44–49. Female genital structures of the “browni group”. 44, P. browni (indicating the relation of posterior (p) and anterior (a) regions of the ductus bursae; 45, P. saraha; 46, P. purpurea; 47, P. magnifica; 48, P.cuiva; 49, P. vittata.