Telemiades nicomedes (Möschler, 1879)

Siewert, Ricardo Russo, Mielke, Olaf Hermann Hendrik & Casagrande, Mirna Martins, 2020, Taxonomic revision of the Neotropical genus Telemiades Hübner, [1819] (Lepidoptera: Hesperiidae: Eudaminae), with descriptions of fourteen new species, Zootaxa 4721 (1), pp. 1-111 : 69-71

Telemiades nicomedes (Möschler, 1879)

( Figs 120–123 , 173 , 202 , 216 )

Telegonus nicomedes Möschler, 1879 . Verh. zool.–bot. Ges. Wien 28 (1878): 208; 1 male, Colombia and 1 female, Brasil. Eudamus phlius Plötz, 1881 . Stett. ent. Ztg. 43: 97; nº 5.055 [holotype], Brasil; Mus. Berol. — Godman, 1907. Ann. & Mag.

Nat. Hist. (7)20: 134.

Telemiades nicomedes ; Mabille & Boullet, 1912. Ann. Sc. nat., Zool., Paris, (9)16: 119, 121.— Draudt, 1922, in Seitz. Gross– Schmett. Erde 5, p. 869, pl. 168e (d).— Shepard, 1931. Lep. Cat. 47, p. 79.—Hayward, 1935. Rev. Soc. ent. arg. 7: 133.—Hayward, 1935. Rev. Soc. ent. arg. 7: 193.—Hayward, 1941. Rev. Mus. La Plata, n. s., Zool. 2: 250.—Hayward, 1947. Acta zool. Lill. 4: 257.—Silva et al., 1968. Quarto Cat. Ins. viv. Plantas Brasil 2 (2), p. 320; host plant.—Ebert, 1968, in Silva et al. Quarto Cat. Ins. viv. Plantas Brasil 2 (2), p. 239.

Cogia phlius ; Mabille & Boullet, 1919. Ann. Sc. nat., Zool., Paris, (10)2: 204, 207.— Draudt, 1922, in Seitz. Gross–Schmett. Erde 5, p. 878.—J. Zikán, 1928. Ent. Rdsch., Stuttgart, 45: 26.— Shepard, 1931. Lep. Cat. 47, p. 111.—Shepard, 1938. Lep. Cat. 74, p. 620.—J. Zikán & W. Zikán, 1968. Pesq. agropec. bras. 3: 58.

Telemiades vespasius [misidentification]; Evans, 1953. Cat. Amer. Hesp. 3, p. 26, pl. 27 (male gen.); syn.: curtius, phlius .— Hayward, 1973. Op. Lill. 23: 37.—Bridges, 1983. Lep. Hesp. 1, p. 31, 93, 124; 2, p. 36; syn.: curtius, phlius .—Scott, 1986. Papilio , n. s., 3: 9.—Bridges, 1988. Cat. Hesp. 1, p. 50, 148, 196; 2, p. 60; syn.: curtius, phlius .—K. Brown, 1992, in Morellato. Hist. nat. Japi, p. 176, fig. 16 (v).— Bridges, 1994. Cat. Fam.–Group, Gen.–Group, Sp. Group Nam. Hesp. (Lep.) World 8, p. 59, 177, 236; 9, p. 67; syn.: curtius, phlius .—C. Mielke, 1995. Revta bras. Zool. 11 (4): 7 61.—K. Brown & Freitas, 2000. Bol. Mus. Biol. Mello Leitão, n. s., Sta. Teresa, 11/12: 112.— Canals, 2003. Marip. Misiones, p. 457.—O. Mielke, 2004. Hesperioidea, p. 57, in Lamas (ed.). Checklist: Part 4A, Hesperioidea–Papilionoidea, in Heppner (ed.). Atlas Neotrop. Lep. 5A; syn.: curtius, phlius , vespacius.—O. Mielke, 2005. Cat. Amer. Hesperioidea 3, p. 749; syn.: curtius, phlius , vespacius. —O. Mielke et al., 2012. Revta bras. Ent. 56 (1): 63.—Giovenardi et al., 2013. Rev. colomb. Ent. 39 (2), Supl., p. 12.—Beltrami et al., 2014. Trop. Lep. Res. 24 (1): 34.

(no genus) nicomedes ; Beattie, 1976. Rhop. Direct., p. 212.

(no genus) phlius ; Beattie, 1976. Rhop. Direct., p. 232.

Telemiades aff. nicomedes ; J. de la Maza E. & R. G. de la Maza E., 1985. Rev. Soc. Mex. Lep. 9: 42.—R. G. de la Maza E. & White, 1990. Rev. Soc. Mex. Lep. 13: 84.

Type material. Telegonus nicomedes Möschler, 1879 was described based on one male from Colombia and one female from Brazil. Only the male specimen was found at ZMHU with the same characteristics published on the original description. However, this male specimen has a label written ‘Brasil’. This fact suggested that Möschler misinterpreted the sex of the female specimen from Brazil. The male specimen is illustrated on Butterflies of America ( Warren et al. 2018) with the following labels: / Origin./ Brasil. Crft. 73./ Type. Vrhdlg. zool. bot. Gsellschft. 1878. p. 208./ 97: 4 [?]/ nicomedes Möschl. / Coll. Staudinger/ Coll. Möschl./ nicomedes Möschl. / GEN.PREP., MIELKE 1996/ http://coll.mfn–berlin.de/u/940b29/ DNA sample ID: NVG–15031E09 c/o Nick V. Grishin/. In order to stabilize the identity of this species, this male specimen is hereby designated lectotype of Telegonus nicomedes Möschler, 1879 and the following labels will be attached: / Lectotypus / Lectotypus Telegonus nicomedes Möschler, 1879 Siewert, Mielke & Casagrande det. 2019/. These labels will be sent to the curator for the collection.

Eudamus phlius Plötz, 1881 was described based on one specimen [holotype] from Brazil. The female holotype is deposited at the ZMHU and illustrated on Butterflies of America ( Warren et al. 2018) with the following labels: / Typus/ 5055/ phlius Plötz Type/ Brasil. Virmont/.

Diagnosis. FW length: males 23–25 mm (n=10) and females 26–28 mm (n=9). Telemiades nicomedes has the spot pattern of wings similar to T. epicalus but is immeditally distinguished by the ground color brown. The females are larger than males and have a quadrate HW. Besides, the morphological pattern of genitalias is unique in the genus: uncus quadrified, distally truncated; valva with distal margin rounded and a dorso–distal projection curved inwards; ductus bursae dilated on initial third and strongly sclerotized.

Variation. Some females have two narrow hyaline spots in M 3 –CuA 1 and CuA 1 –CuA 2 in FW.

Natural History. One adult male was collected feeding in flowers of Luehea divaricata Mart. in the municipality of Turvo, Paraná state, Brazil (Dolibaina com. pess.).

Distribution. Telemiades nicomedes occurs in forested areas of Atlantic Forest, with records in Argentina and in the Brazilian states of Espírito Santo, Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais, São Paulo, Paraná, Santa Catarina, and Rio Grande do Sul.

Taxonomic discussion. After its decription, Telegonus nicomedes was transferred to Telemiades by Mabille & Boullet (1912). Evans (1953) erroneously interpreted T. nicomedes as Telemiades vespasius (Fabricius, 1793) and his interpretation was followed by several authors. The specimen illustrated by Jones (Jones’ Icones 1785–1787) and which was used for the description of Hesperia vespasius does not correspond to any species of Telemiades , but to a species of Augiades (Siewert et al. in prep.).

By misinterpretation, Evans (1953) synonymized Hesperia curtius Fabricius, 1793 and Eudamus phlius Plötz, 1881 , syn. nov. with T. vespasius . The examination of the type material of Eudamus phlius corroborates its synonymy with T. nicomedes , which type material was also examined. However, some of the material described by Fabricius was based only on Jones’ Icones figures, and in such cases, there are no type specimens (O. Karsholt, com. pess.). This applies also to H. curtius : the figure shown for this species does not correspond to any species of Telemiades (Siewert et al. in prep.).

Examined material. BRAZIL: Minas Gerais— Alto Caparaó, Parque Nacional de Caparaó, 6–8–II–1987, 1 male, Mielke & Casagrande leg., DZ 13.891 ( DZUP); Brumadinho, Casa Branca , Córrego do Feijão , 900 m, 3– I–2002, 3 males and 1 female, O.–C. Mielke leg., OM 55.729 , OM 55.763 , OM 55.448 , OM 55.609 ( DZUP–OM); Caité, 1100 m, 7–I–2002, 4 males and 4 females, OM 55.217 , OM 55.196 , OM 55.182 , OM 55.301 , OM 55.161 , OM 55.231 , OM 55.189 , OM 55.210 ( DZUP–OM). Espírito Santo— no specific locality, 1 female, ex–coll. Fruhstorfer, NHMUK 010242088 ( NHMUK). Rio de Janeiro— Cachoeiras de Macacu, Boca do Mato , 1–III–1992, 1 female, Tangerini leg., ex–coll. Tangerini, DZ 36.084 ( DZUP); 23–III–1999, 1 female, Tangerini leg., ex–coll. Tangerini, DZ 36.086 ( DZUP); Itatiaia, 31–XII–1929, 1 female, 5–I–1930, 1 female, 7–I–1930, 1 male, 8–I–1930, 1 female, 10–I–1930, 1 male, 26–XII–1931, 1 male, 31–XII–1931, 1 male, ex–coll. J. F. Zikán ( IOC); II–1930, 1 female, I–1931, 1 female, B. Pohl leg. ( MZUSP); 3–I–1933, 1 male, OM 8.201 ( DZUP–OM); Nova Friburgo, 1 male, ex–coll. J. Arp, 58/176 ( MNRJ); 1 male ( ZMHU); Petrópolis, 1 male, 62/074 ( MNRJ); Alto da Serra , 3–II– 1961, 1 female, Mielke leg., OM 3.574 ( DZUP–OM); Independência, 8–I–1968, 1 female, Mielke leg., OM 29.753 ( DZUP–OM); Resende, 1200 m, 2–II–1958, 1 female, R. Frey leg., DZ 26.349 ( DZUP); Teresópolis, Serra dos Órgãos (Orgel–Gebirge), 800–1100 m, 13–I–1968, 1 female, Ebert leg., DZ 26.347 ( DZUP). São Paulo— no specific locality, 1 male e 1 female, NHMUK 010242178 *, NHMUK 010242179 ( NHMUK); Jundiaí, Serra do Japi , 20–II–1990, 1 female, Brown leg., OM 24.932 ( DZUP–OM); Lins, 1 female, H. Rogers leg., NHMUK 010242087 ( NHMUK); São Paulo, Ipiranga, I–1923, 1 male, B. Pohl leg. ( MZUSP). Paraná— Balsa Nova, São Luiz do Purunã , 8–17–II–1991, 1 male, C. Mielke leg., OM 26.535 ( DZUP–OM); Curitiba, Passaúna, 12–II–1993, 1 female, Mielke leg., OM 34.588 ( DZUP–OM); Lapa, III–1932, 2 females, B. Pohl leg. ( MZUSP); Morretes, Alto da Serra , 800 m, 4–II–1989, 4 males and 1 female, 7–II–1989, 4 males and 2 females, 19–II–1989, 1 male, 25–II–1989, 1 male, 1–II–1990, 1 male, 8–II–1990, 1 male e 1 female, 28–I–1993, 1 male e 1 female, Mielke leg., OM 21.644 , OM 21.706 , OM 21.730 , OM 52.343 , OM 51.222 , OM 21.895 , OM 21.897 , OM 21.972 , OM 22.014 , OM 21.875 , OM 21.876 , OM 21.749 , OM 20.968 , OM 51.156 , OM 25.156 , OM 25.287 *, OM 33.966 *, OM 33.829 ( DZUP–OM); Ponta Grossa, 10 Km L, 7–II–2010, 1 female, O.–C. Mielke leg., DZ 26.351 ( DZUP); Quatro Barras, Banhado, 800 m, 7–II–1970, 1 male, Becker leg., DZ 26.346 ( DZUP); Tijucas do Sul, Vossoroca, 8–III–1972, 1 female, Mielke leg., OM 29.813 * ( DZUP–OM); Turvo, Salto do Paulinho Rickli , 1000 m, 5–II–2011, 1 male, Dolibaina leg., DZ 26.352 ( DZUP); Ventania, 12 Km NO, 1000 m, 30–XI–2008, 1 male, Mielke leg., DZ 26.350 ( DZUP). Santa Catarina— Joinville, 1 female, Schmidt leg., 70/226 ( MNRJ); Rio do Júlio , 600 m, 4–II–1988, 1 female, Mielke leg., OM 17.295 ( DZUP–OM); Rio dos Cedros, Alto Rio dos Cedros, 650 m, 17–II–1973, 1 male, Ebert leg., DZ 26.348 ( DZUP); São Bento do Sul, Rio Natal , 400 m, 2–II–1993, 1 female, C. Mielke leg., OM 33.702 ( DZUP–OM); 500 m, 20–I–1988, 1 male e 1 female, 29–I–2011, 1 female, 31–I–2012, 1 male, 27–I–2015, 2 females, Rank leg., OM 16.901 , OM 16.900 , DZ 26.353, DZ 26.354, DZ 36.085, DZ 36.087 ( DZUP and DZUP–OM); Rio Vermelho, 850 m, 25–II–1973, 1 female, 6–II–1974, 1 female, 10–II–1974, 1 male, 15–I–1991, 1 female, Rank leg., OM 29.729 , OM 29.789 , OM 29.525 , OM 25.997 ( DZUP–OM); Taió, 28–I–1966, 1 female, Mielke leg., OM 9.438 ( DZUP–OM); Timbó, III–1932, 1 male, B. Pohl leg. ( MZUSP). Rio Grande do Sul— no specific locality, 1 male ( ZSM); 1 male ( ZMHU) .

Figures

FIGURE 173. Male genitalia of Telemiades nicomedes (Möschler, 1879) (OM 33.966—OM).

FIGURE 202. Female genitalia of Telemiades nicomedes (Möschler, 1879) (OM 25.287—OM).

FIGURE 216. Geographical distribution of Telemiades nicomedes.

FIGURES 120–123. Telemiades nicomedes (Möschler, 1879). 120–121. Male from Ventania, Paraná, Brazil (DZ 26.350— DZUP). 122–123. Female from São Bento do Sul, Santa Catarina, Brazil (OM 16.900—OM).