Chitta Grishin, new genus

http://zoobank.org/ BCD865CA-926C-43DB-9EEB-8E14E7296149

Type species. Phlebodes chittara Schaus, 1902 .

Definition. A possible sister to the clade with Thoon Godman, [1900] (type species Proteides modius Mabille, 1889) and Halotus Godman, [1900] (type species Hesperilla saxula Mabille, 1891, a subjective junior synonym of Hesperia angellus Plötz, 1886) (Fig. 11–12). Not monophyletic with Psoralis Mabille, 1904 (type species Psoralis sabaeus Mabille, 1904, currently considered a junior subjective synonym of Pamphila idee Weeks, 1901) where it was placed previously (Fig. 11–12). Immediately distinguished from Psoralis by greenish ventral colors and a pattern of four pale dots on hindwing below, indeed reminiscent of Thoon . Genitalia illustrated by Bell (1959: fig. 24, as Psoralis alis Bell, 1959, a junior subjective synonym of Chitta chittara), quite distinctive and diagnostic: uncus and tegumen very short, look compressed, penis with a long titillator diverging from penis, valva peculiar, crooked with three teeth on harpe, directed dorsad, caudad and ventrad (Bell 1959). In DNA, a combination of the following base pairs is diagnostic: aly 1107.9.6:A335C, aly13410.7.2:T37C, aly 1838.8.3:G730G (not C), aly127.64.1:G1182G (not A), aly4966.20.2:A1499A (not G).

Etymology. The name is a feminine noun in the nominative singular formed from the type species name.

Species included. Only the type species.

Parent taxon. Subtribe Moncina A. Warren, 2008.