Coliates proserpina

Jong, Rienk De, 2017, Fossil butterflies, calibration points and the molecular clock (Lepidoptera: Papilionoidea), Zootaxa 4270 (1), pp. 1-63 : 36

proserpina . Coliates Scudder, 1875

Family incertae sedis.

France, Bouches-du-Rhône, Aix-en-Provence; late Oligocene–early Miocene.

Depository: MNHN (probably).

Published figures: Leestmans (1983: Fig. 5 ); Scudder (1875: Pl. II Fig. 5 ).

Only forewings are available in this specimen. It seems that R2 is missing or fused with R1, while M1 is stalked on the common stem of R3, R4 and R5. The latter condition is widespread in Pieridae , but recurs in some Lycaenidae and in one genus ( Microtia ) of Nymphalidae and, thus, is insufficient to identify the fossil as a pierid. Scudder compared the fossil to Delias ( Pieridae , India to Australia), but in this genus there are only three radial branches present. In most pierid genera two radial branches (R1 and R2) arise free from the cell. The fossil does not exhibit additional further characters that could be helpful phylogenetically; we can only identify the fossil as belonging to the Pieridae . Apparently based on Scudder’s comparison of the fossil with Delias and not on a personal inspection of the fossil or of the description, Braby et al. (2006) considered the closest relative the Delias- Prioneris group (possibly Aporia ), and used it as calibration point for this node in the phylogeny of the Pieridae , thus taking the risk that it greatly overestimates the divergence ages in Pieridae .

Figures

FIGURE 5. Ƒanessa amerindica Miller & Brown, 1989, holotype, collections of Invertebrate Paleontology, University of Florida. Photo by Roger Portell. Fig. 6. Pseudoneorina coulleti Nel & Descimon, 1984. France, Dép. Alpes-de-Haute- Provence, Dauphin, specimen in coll. M. Henrotay; photo by courtesy of M. Henrotay. Fig. 7. Archaeolycorea ferreirai Martins-Neto, 1989. Fig. 4 A of original description. Fig. 8. Oligodonta florissantensis Brown, 1976, holotype, collections of Invertebrate Paleontology, University of Florida. Photo by courtesy of Akito Kawahara. Fig. 9. Neorinella garciae Martins- Neto, Kucera-Santos, de Moraes Vieira & de Campos Fragoso, 1993. Fig. 3 A of original description. Fig. 10. Protocoeliades kristenseni de Jong, 2016, holotype, Zoologisk Museum, Copenhagen, Denmark. Photo by Department of Paleobiology, National Museum of Natural History, Washington DC, USA.