Catasticta semiramis costarum Bollino & Lamas

Lamas, Gerardo & Bollino, Maurizio, 2004, Revisional notes on the " amastris " group of Catasticta Butler, 1870 (Lepidoptera: Pieridae), with descriptions of new species and subspecies, Zootaxa 605, pp. 1-19 : 14-15

Catasticta semiramis costarum Bollino & Lamas , ssp. n. (plate 2, figs. 17–20)

Holotype: male, Venezuela, Táchira, Tamá, La Revancha, ~ 7° 32'N 72° 23'W, 2800 m, II.2004, in MIZA.

Description: FW length: 25 mm.

Dorsal surface: Ground color of both wings deep brown with a complete series of brownish discal and submarginal spots, suffused with black scales on FW. HW costal cell above wholly yellowish, but at 2 mm of the base. Discal band scarcely evident, postdiscal spots elongated, marginal lunules nearly indistinguishable from ground color.

Ventral surface: As in s. semiramis , but HW discal band and interneural yellow submarginal stripes wider.

Allotype: female, Venezuela, Táchira, Tamá, La Revancha, ~ 7° 32'N 72° 23'W, 2800 m, III.2004, in MIZA.

Description: FW length: 25 mm.

FW more rounded than in male.

Dorsal surface: Lighter ground color. Light markings slightly more extended on FW and HW. HW with postdiscal spots larger than in the male, sub­ovate.

Ventral surface: As in the male.

Diagnostic characters: C. semiramis costarum is immediately distinguishable from s. semiramis by the almost entirely yellowish HW costal cell above, while in s. semiramis (and other semiramis subspecies) the basal half of that cell is brown or brownish, like the ground color.

Paratypes (77 males, 4 females): 10 males, same data as holotype, in MIZA; 9 males, 1 female, same data as holotype; 2 males, same data, I.2004; 19 males, sama data, III.2004; 4 males, Venezuela, Táchira, Junín, Fundo Piedras Blancas, 2700 m, ~ 7°32’N 72°23’W, I.2004 (local collectors); 7 males, idem, 2800 m; 4 males, idem, 3000 m; 1 male, idem, 3100 m, all in MBLI; 6 males, 1 female, same data as holotype; 4 males, same data, III.2004, all in MCCV; 2 males, same data as holotype, in ANLK; 5 males, same data as holotype, in ZMJU; 1 male, Venezuela, Táchira, Tamá, Picacho La Cueva Del Oso, 3100 m, 14.IV.1996; 1 female, Venezuela, Táchira, Rubio, Vega de la Pipa, 1000 m [sic!], 08.I.2004; 1 female, Venezuela, Táchira, Tamá, La Revancha, 2800 m, III.2004; 2 males, same data, III.2004, in FRSV; 1 male, [ Colombia], Santander, El Tamá, 3200 m, in JLBC.

Additional specimens, not included in the type series: 2 males, Venezuela, Parque Nacional El Tamá, Páramo Tamá, 3100–3300 m, 17.IV.1996 (T. Pyrcz), in AJWP.

Distribution: Occurs between 2700–3200 m, on both the Colombian and Venezuelan sides of the El Tamá range. Individuals are not rare, although highly localized.

Derivatio nominis. Named after Mauro and Clara Costa (Caracas, Venezuela), for their contribution to our knowledge of Venezuelan butterflies. The personal name Costa is Latin, giving the genitive costarum.