Pachyneuria Mabille, 1888

Zhang, Jing, Cong, Qian, Shen, Jinhui, Song, Leina & Grishin, Nick V., 2023, Genomics-based taxonomic rearrangement of Achlyodini and Carcharodini (Lepidoptera: Hesperiidae: Pyrginae), Insecta Mundi 2023 (16), pp. 1-33 : 20

Pachyneuria Mabille, 1888 and Austinus O. Mielke and Casagrande, 2016 are subgenera of Sophista Plötz, 1879

Genomic tree places three current recognized genera, Sophista Plötz, 1879 (type species Thracides aristoteles Westwood, 1852 ), Pachyneuria Mabille, 1888 (type species Pachyneuria obscura Mabille, 1888 ) and Austinus O. Mielke and Casagrande, 2016 (type species Echelatus heros Mabille and Boullet, 1917 ) at the subgenus level ( Fig. 4 ). E.g., the COI barcode difference of Pachyneuria obscura and Austinus heros from Sophista aristoteles is 7.2% (48 bp) and 6.4% (4 bp), respectively. Furthermore, all these species possess similar wing shape and male genitalia in the shape of valvae rounder than in their relatives, harpe folded along the inner surface of the right valva, and lanceolate in dorsal view undivided uncus. Differences between these three genera are confined mainly to wing patterns. Therefore, we propose that Pachyneuria Mabille, 1888 and Austinus O. Mielke and Casagrande, 2016 are subgenera of Sophista Plötz, 1879 .

Pellicia (Pellicia) bilinea Mabille, 1889 is a species distinct from Pellicia (Pellicia) dimidiata Herrich-Schäffer, 1870

Genomic sequencing of Pellicia bilinea Mabille, 1889 (type locality in Panama: Chiriqui) syntype (NVG-15032E01, GenBank barcode OR665724) and a possible syntype of Pellicia dimidiata Herrich-Schäffer, 1870 (type locality Mexico and La Guaira, [ Venezuela]), names currently regarded as subjective synonyms, and their comparison with additional specimens suggests that they belong to distinct species ( Fig. 4 ): e.g., their Fst / Gmin /COI differences are 0.31/0.00/2.3% (15 bp). The only possible syntype of P. dimidiata we found (NVG-15032E 10 in MFNB, GenBank barcode OR665725) was from Venezuela: La Guaira, from the Weymer’s collection, with identification label in Plötz’s handwriting “ Pellicia (157.) / Dimidiata HS. ” This is likely the specimen illustrated by Plötz in his unpublished drawings as t[afel]. 199 ( Godman 1907) that also corresponds to an unnecessary replacement name Pellicia corinna Plötz, 1882 , as mentioned by Godman (1907) and by Weymer on another label of this specimen: “Corinna Plötz i. l. / Dimidiata HS / non Feld. / Laguayra”. The remark “non Feld.” refers to Carterocephalus dimidiatus C. Felder and R. Felder, 1867 , currently a valid species of Dalla Mabille, 1904 (type species Cyclopides eryonas Hewitson, 1877 ), a possible reason behind the replacement name P. corinna . The taxonomic identity of this syntype is consistent with the current application of the name P. dimidiata . However, exercising caution, we do not yet designate this specimen as a lectotype (or neotype if it is not a syntype). We will continue searching for Mexican syntypes and further investigating Weymer’s specimen. We suspect that the identification label by Plötz was the earliest label on this specimen, also accompanied by a small label “H S / 66 / Weymer”, probably meaning that this might have been a Herrich-Schäffer specimen in Weymer’s possession. The identification label by Weymer was added later when Plötz decided (incorrectly) that the name needed a replacement and suggested the name corinna , yet unpublished (therefore “i. l.”, for “in litteris”, on this label). For these reasons, it is possible that this specimen is sufficiently old and may indeed be a syntype of P.dimidiata as labeled. Regardless of its status as a syntype, South American populations represent a species distinct from the Central American species. Therefore, we propose that Pellicia (Pellicia) bilinea Mabille, 1889 , restored status, is a species distinct from Pellicia (Pellicia) dimidiata Herrich-Schäffer, 1870 , assuming that P. dimidiata is a South American species, pending further research. We note that only P. bilinea Mabille, 1889 was recorded from the US ( Fig. 4 ).

Figures

Figure 4. The nuclear genome-based phylogeny of Carcharodini, first segment (continues in Fig. 5, 6). See Fig.1 for notations.