Cheimas opalinus opalinus (Staudinger)

(Figs. 1A–F, 2A–F, 9A–B, 11A)

Oxeoschistus opalinus Staudinger, O. Neue Südamerikanische Tagfalter. Deutsche Entomologische Zeitschrift Iris, 1897 (10): 145–146, pl. 5, fig. 10. (male), ab. spoliatus, p. 146, pl. 5 fig. 10, underside, types: males, Sierra Nevada de Mérida, " 3–4000 m " (according to Adams & Bernard, 1981: 348, 6 (4 male syntypes in ZMHU, Berlin, [examined]).

Cheimas opalinus (Staudinger); Thieme, 1907: 175 –176; Weymer (in Seitz), 1912: 271, pl. 58, row d, male, upperside; Gaede, 1931: 516; Adams & Bernard, 1981: 348 –349; Lamas, Viloria & Pyrcz, 2004: 207.

Cheimas opalinus ab. spoliatus Thieme, 1907: 177 (Staudinger in litt.); Lamas, Viloria & Pyrcz, 2004: 207.

Material examined: VENEZUELA, Cordillera de Mérida, Mérida State: 1 ♂: Edo . Mérida, Mucujún, 3000 m, 01.IV.1992, T . Pyrcz leg., prep. genit. 03/ 05.01.2005, T. Pyrcz; 1 ♂: P. N. La Culata, Monte Zerpa, 2900 m, 31.V.1992, T. Pyrcz leg. ; 4 ♂: La Culata, 3150 m, 16.II.1996, T. Pyrcz leg. ; 1 ♂: Mucujún, 3000 m, 01.I.1992, T. Pyrcz leg. ; 3 ♂: La Culata, Alto Río Mucujún, 3050–3100 m, 03.IV.2006, T. Pyrcz leg. ; 1 ♂: La Culata, Alto Río Mucujún, 3200–3250 m, 03.IV.2006, T. Pyrcz leg. ; 1 ♂: P. N. La Culata, Mucujún, 3000 m, 01.IV.1991, T. Pyrcz leg. ; 3 ♂: P. N. La Culata, Sector Monterrey, 3000–3050 m, 06.IV.2006, T. Pyrcz leg. ; 2 ♂: no locality data, ex coll. Krausiewicz, Oberschilesches Landesmuseum, acq. code 01/1998; 1 ♂: Merida, ex coll. Staudinger & Bang – Haas; 10 ♂: P. N. La Culata, Jají—Las Gonzales, Qda. La Boba, 3200–3250 m, 18–19.VII.2006, T . Pyrcz leg. (1 ♂: prep. genit. 403/ 21.08.2016 J. Lorenc; 1 ♀: prep. genit. 392/ 08.06.2016 J. Lorenc) ; 1 ♂: no data; 5 ♂: El Aguila—Piñango, Sector El Potrero, Km 26, 2900–2950 m, 09.IV.2006, T. Pyrcz leg. ; 4 ♂: El Aguila—Piñango, Sector El Potrero, Km 26, 2900–2950 m, 04.IV.2006, T . Pyrcz leg. (1 SEM prep., prep. genit. 390/ 30.06.2016, J. Lorenc); 1 ♂: P. N. Sierra Nevada, La Aguada, 3400–3450 m, 01.II.2007, T . Pyrcz leg., (prep. genit. 404/ 21.08.2016, J. Lorenc); 1 ♂: Tuñame—Esnujaque, La Morita, 2900–2950 m, 16.II.2010, T. Pyrcz leg. ; 2 ♀: P. N. La Culata, Jají—Las Gonzales, Qda. La Boba, 3200–3250 m, 18–19.VII.2006, T. Pyrcz leg. ; Trujillo State: 1 ♀: Tafayes—Piñango, paso, 3100–3150 m, 31.VII.2009, T. Pyrcz leg., CEP-MZUJ ; 1 ♂: Venezueal, Merida, ex Staudinger & Bang-Haas, 2016-221, köcsön anyag 2007. IX.26 ; 1 ♂: P. N. Sierra Nevada, La Aguada, 3400–3450 m, 01.II.2007, 2016 -221, köcsön anyag 2007. IX.26, HMNH; 3 ♂: La Culata, “ Cabaña de los Curas ”, sector Monterrey, 3100–3150m, 6.IV.2006, P. Boyer leg. ; 8 ♂: La Culata, 3000/ 3200 m, 3.IV.2006, P. Boyer leg. ; 11 ♂: via el Aguila a Piñango km26, El Potrero, 3200/ 3300 m, 8.IV.2006, P. Boyer leg. ; 2 ♂: Páramo de los Conejos, las Gonzales, Quebrada de la Boba, 3150 m, 19.II.2010, T. Pyrcz leg., PBF .

Diagnosis. Both males and females of the nominate subspecies of Cheimas opalinus (Figs. 1A–F, 2A–F) are readily identified based on the large, rounded HW patch, larger than in any other subspecies, covering about 2/3 of discal cell, brownish brick red FWV, and particularly dark, blackish upperside ground colour. They are also usually larger than other subspecies except C. opalinus dominici n. ssp. Female’s ductus bursae (Fig. 11A) is shorter and wider.

FWL: 27–31.5 mm, mean: 28.9 mm (n=40).

D colour: blackish brown, uniform

HWP colour: metallic green

HWP shape: rounded or gently oval, from the postbasal to the postmedian–submarginal anal area, covering two–thirds of discal cell, entering the base of M3–CuA1, and rarely M2–M3

Individual variation. Slight, and involves only to a limited extend the size of the HWD green patch put not its shape or shades of brown groundcolour.

Geographic range. Central part of CM, Chama valley, northern slopes of the Sierra Nevada and southern slopes of La Culata, and north-western (Maracaibo Lake) slopes of La Culata. A distribution map of all the subspecies is presented on Fig. 13.

Altitudinal range. 2900—3450 m a.s.l.