Penaincisalia cuiva Prieto & Rodríguez 2007

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 : 13-14

Penaincisalia cuiva Prieto & Rodríguez 2007

( Figs. 20–21, 31 , 42 , 48 , 53 )

Penaincisalia cuiva Prieto & Rodríguez 2007: 61–68 .

Type material: Holotype male; Colombia, Departamento de Antioquia, Los Llanos-San Andrés road km 1–2 Santa Rosa , 2600–2750 m., 14.IX.2003, 6 o 38’ N, 75 o 27’ W., leg. Gabriel Rodríguez. ICN (at present deposited in GR).

Taxonomic history: This species is a very recent discovery of the Colombian Andes. It appears to be related to P. magnifica based on the observation that both of these taxa share dorsal blue coloration unique in the species group, plus almost identical male genital structures and similar formed androconial clusters.

Diagnosis: The male of Penaincisalia cuiva is distinguished from other “ browni group” species by having a sky blue dorsal wing surface and a wide postmedial band in the ventral wing surfaces that consists of scattered white scales between the medial and submarginal bands. The superficially closest species, P. magnifica , has a very similar wing dorsal surface ground color, but the hindwing shape is more rounded in P. cuiva . The hindwing tornal lobe is longer in P. magnifica than in P.cuiva and the blue coloration in the hindwing is much more extended, reaching the basal portion of the tornal lobe. The medial band in P. cuiva hindwing ventral surface is markedly irregular, while that in P. magnifica is a continuous pattern perceptibly curved towards the basal portion of the wing.

Identification. Male. Wing shape: hindwing apex rounded and anal tail appearing as a blunt spatulated lobe. Dorsal surface: Both wings iridescent sky blue except for a broad black border (approximately 5mm in width) in submarginal and marginal wing area. Forewing scent pad small (approximately 1/5 discal cell length), trapezoid in shape and black. Ventral surface: Ground color of both wings reddish brown, with evenly scattered white scales between medial and submarginal bands on both wings, forewing medial band deep brown and slightly irregular, forewing submarginal elements appear as a band of continuous lunular spots. Hindwing discal margin appears as an irregular, zigzag brown medial band crossing entire wing surface. Hindwing submarginal elements appear as an irregular line dividing submarginal (reddish brown) and postmedial (reddish brown with fine white scaling) wing parts.

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

Genitalia: Eighth abdominal tergite simple and in shape rectangle; caudal extension of valvae in lateral view with approximately 1/3 valval length, with a smoothly rounded dorsal margin at basal portion; valvae ventral keel with triangular blunt projection ( Fig. 42 ).

Female. Wing shape: Forewing shape triangular and pointed, hindwing apex rounded and anal tail occurring as a lateral lobe accompanied by a long tail extending from vein CuA2 terminus plus a short well defined extension of vein CuA1 terminus. Dorsal surface: Both wings iridescent silver-green ill-defined at apical part and accompanied by a broad black border (approximately 5mm in width) in submarginal and marginal wing areas. Ventral surface: Ground color of both wings reddish brown, medial and submarginal bands on both wings as in male.

Genitalia: ductus bursae lacking membranous area, anterior segment longer than posterior segment.

Distribution. Spatial: The species is known only from the type locality in Colombia ( Fig. 53 ). Temporal: Known only from April and September.

Biology: Males collected did not show any hilltopping behavior typical for the other members of the group. They were assembled on an isolated tree top at 6–7 m high, between 10:30 and 11:30 AM. The larval host plants and the nectar sources are unknown.

Material examined (3 ♂, 1♀ type material)

COLOMBIA: Holotype ♂ GR: Colombia, Departamento de Antioquia, Los Llanos-San Andres road km 1–2 Santa Rosa , 2600-2750 m., 14.IX.2003, 6 o 38’ N, 75 o 27’ W., Leg. Gabriel Rodríguez . Paratypes: 2 ♂ * GR: Colombia, Departamento de Antioquia, Los Llanos-San Andres road Km 1–2 Santa Rosa , 2600–2750m., 14.IX.2003, Leg. Gabriel Rodríguez ./ 1 ♀ * ICN: Colombia, Antioquia, Belmira, El Valle , 2700m robledales, 19–21 Abr 1997, C. Sarmiento CES 377 .

Figures

FIGURE 53. Distribution of P. magnifica and P.cuiva.

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.