Prometheus heliconioides ( Herrich-Schaeffer , [1853])

Gonzalez, Jorge M. & Domagala, Pawel J., 2021, Castniidae of the Museum of Natural History of the University of Wroclaw: new findings from Friedrich Wilhelm Niepelt's collection with comments on Karl Adolf Georg Lauterbach and August Weberbauer, Nota Lepidopterologica 44, pp. 123-132 : 123

Prometheus heliconioides ( Herrich-Schaeffer, [1853])

Comments.

This species is easily recognized by its color pattern, which mimics Lycorea Doubleday, [1847], Thyridia Hübner, 1816, and Methona Doubleday, [1847] ( Nymphalidae ), and the moth Notophyson heliconides (Swainson, 1833) ( Erebidae ), which could all form part of a mimetic ring ( Lamas 1973; Miller 1986; Ríos and González 2011; González and Domagała 2019). However, a morphological and/or molecular study of its several purported subspecies could clarify their taxonomic status. The specimen has a label identifying it as Diamuna falcata [now Darceta falcata (Druce, 1883)] an Erebidae to which P. heliconioides bears no resemblance. It was probably mislabeled.

Material examined.

1♀, Teffé [= Tefé], Amazonas, [ Brazil], Diamuna falcata ♀, Teffe [= Tefé], Amaz.[onas], [ Brazil], Tijunin. 37, Gazera heliconioides , coll.?, (Fig. 1h ) .

Figures

Figure 1. Butterfly-Moths (Lepidoptera: Castniidae) from the Insect collection of the Museum of Natural History, University of Wroclaw, Poland. a. Ceretes thais male, [Brazil] Minas Gerais; b. Synpalamides phalaris male, Brazil, [Coll.?] Lauterbach, 1547; c. Imara pallasia female, [Brazil], Santa Catharina, Collection Niepelt; d. Castnia invaria trinitatis female, [French Guiana], 222; e. Telchin licus female, Brazil, Collection Niepelt, Peru Weberbauer, S. G.; f. Synpalamides fabricii Brazil, Collection Niepelt.; g. Telchin evalthe quadrata male, Ecuador, Macas, 1905 - 08; h. Prometheus heliconioides female, [Brazil], Tefe, Amazonas, Tijunin; i. Yagra fonscolombe female, Brazil, Collection Niepelt. Figures are to scale. Scale bar: 10 mm.