Ceretes thais (Drury, 1782)

(Figs. 19)

Papilio thais Drury, 1782

Taxonómic history. The genus Ceretes was proposed by Schaufuss (1870) to include the species “Nicon H[übner].”, “ Thais D[rury]” and “Marcel-Serres God[ar]t”. Miller (1986) and Lamas (1995) recognize only two species ( thais and marcelserres) in the genus and nicon is considered a synonym of thais .

Distribution. Since this species is distributed from southeastern Brazil to Bolivia, and there are records of the species collected in Misiones, Argentina (Miller 1986) [even though Lamas (pers. comm.) considers the Bolivian citations as possibly incorrect] it will not be surprising that it could also be found in Paraguay.

Biology and behavior. This genus is the only markedly sexually dimorphic in the family (Miller 1986). Very little information is known about the species, except that adults can be seen flying during January and February mainly (Miller 1986). Hosts are unknown.

Material examined. 1 3, Corupá, Brazil, Jan-1959 (CUIC); 1 Ƥ, Corupá, Brazil, XII-1945, A. Mäller (CUIC); 1 Ƥ, Corupá, Brazil, July 1965, FMNH-INS 0 0 0 0 0 41 483 (FMNH); 1 3, Petropolis, Brazil, Jones, Brazil, Strecker Coll. 25652, FMNH-INS 0 0 0 0 0 41 484 (FMNH); 1 Ƥ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Strecker Colln 25653, FMNH-INS 0 0 0 0 0 41 485 (FMNH); 1 Ƥ, Brazil, December, Blumenthal (FSCA); 1 Ƥ, Brazil, Coll. Dr. Frank Hedges (FSCA); 1 Ƥ, Iguazú, Misiones, Argentina, Coll. A. Breyer (MLP): 1 3, Brazil, Joinville, XII, 1958, local coll.leg. (RVC); 1 Ƥ Brazil, Boca do Mato, xii.2001, Cachotiras de Macacù (RVC); 2 Ƥ, Brazil, Boca do Mato, Cachotiras de Macacù, m.500, 21.0 1.1996 (RVC).