Spindasis syama lamuae, Hsu & Liang, 2020

Hsu, Yu-Feng & Liang, Jia-Yuan, 2020, On systematic status of Spindasis syama Horsfield, [1829] in Taiwan and the Philippines (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae: Aphnaeini), Zootaxa 4763 (4), pp. 485-500 : 491-494

Spindasis syama lamuae ssp. nov.

( Figs. 9–16 , 25–29 )

Aphnaeus syama var. leechi ; Matsumura (not Swinhoe), 1919: Thousand insects of Japan (Additamenta) 3: 609. pl., 48, 4, 5. (mis-identification)

Aphnaeus syama formosana ; Seitz 1927 (not Matsumura): the Macrolepidoptera of the world: 937, pl. 156, fig. 156h; Hirayama (not Moore) 1933: Butterflies in Colour: pl. 20, Fig. 3 ; pl. 21, fig. 3. (mis-identification)

Aphnaeus syama formosana ab. nakaharai Naritomi 1941: Kontyukai 91: 618, pl. 4, Fig. 4 .

Diagnosis. Ssp. lamuae is characteristic by distal band of central symmetry system of hindwing undersides broken posteriorly at 1A+2A ( Figs. 10, 12 , 14, 16 ), whereas this band is continuous, forming a complete V-shaped band in the other subspecies ( Figs. 18, 20 ). The appearance of ssp. lamuae is most similar to ssp. sepulveda Fruhstorfer, 1912 of continental China ( Figs. 17–20 , 30–34 ) in wing patterns, sharing the feature of distal band of central symmetry system of forewing undersides in touch with parafocal elements. Ssp. lamuae demonstrates profound seasonal variation, with the markings on wing undersides of individuals emerged in dry/cooler months reduced and turning reddish ( Figs. 12 , 16 ). By contrast, seasonal variation is absent in ssp. sepulveda , with individuals emerged from all seasons possessing black spots and bands ( Figs. 18, 20 ); posterior margin of costa on valva is smooth in lamuae ( Fig. 27 ), whereas it is unevenly serrate in ssp. sepulveda ( Fig. 32 ).

Type materials. Holotype. ♂, KAOHSIUNG Co [= KAOHSIUNG CITY]: Meinong, Shuangxi , 150m, 8. II. 2006, Coll. Y. F. Hsu ( NHM).

Paratypes. JILONG CITY: 1♀, Longgang Trail, 2. IX. 2006, Coll. Y. F. Hsu; 1♀, same locality, 26. IX. 2006 (Y. F. Hsu). TAIPEI Co. [= NEW TAIPEI CITY]: 1♂, Shiding, Ergeshan , 28. V. 2004, reared from Maesa japonica , emgd. 10. VIII. 2004, HSU 04 F53 (J. R. Chen & C. T. Chuang); 2♂, 1♀, Danshui , Miantianshan , 2. VIII. 1987 (Y. F. Hsu). TAOYUAN Co. [= TAOYUAN CITY]: 1♂, 1♀, Fuxing , Gaoyi , VIII. 1984 (C. L. Lee). YILAN Co.: 1♂, Datong , Qilan , 5. VIII. 1988 (C. F. Li). NANTOU Co.: 3♂, Yuchi , Lianhuachi , 22. V. 1989 (C. F. Li); 1♀, Puli , 15. VIII. 1989 (C. F. Li); 1♂, Yuchi , Lianhuachi , 700m, 8. X. 2002 (Y. F. Hsu); 1♂, Renai, Huisun, ca 700m, 14. XI. 2004 (Y. F. Hsu); 1♀, same locality, 22. X. 2005 (Y. F. Hsu); 1♂, 1♀, same locality, 16. X. 2010 (Y. F. Hsu); 1♀, Renai, Nanshanxi, ca 900m, 1. IX. 2007 (Y. F. Hsu); 1♂, 1♀, Renai, Wushe, 26. VII. 2016 (J. Y. Liang) (genitalia preparation JYL446, 447). HUALIAN Co.: 1♀, Xiulin, Lushui, 11. VIII. 1988 (C. F. Li). JIAYI Co.: 1♂, Fanlu, Chukou, ca 350m, 10. X. 2005 (Y. F. Hsu); 1♀, Fanlu, Chukou, 300m, 5. IX. 2010 (Y. F. Hsu); 1♂, 1♀, Alishan, Shizhuo/Dabang, 900/ 1000m, 25. IX. 2010 (Y. F. Hsu). TAINAN Co. [= TAINAN CITY]: 1♂, Guanziling, 400m, 17. IX. 2002 (Y. F. Hsu); 1♂, Baihe, Zhentoushan, 25. X. 2002 (Y. F. Hsu); 2♂, Xinhua, 24. IX. 2010 (Y. F. Hsu); 1♂, 1♀, same locality, 29. III. 2013 (Y. F. Hsu). KAOHSIUNG Co. [= KAOHSIUNG CITY]: 1♂, Liugui, 1. II. 1983 (Y. F. Hsu); 1♂, same locality, 26. III. 1989 (D. X. Lee); 1♂, same locality, 200m, 31. XII. 2006 (Y. F. Hsu); 5♂, Liugui, Nanfengshan, 17. VI. 1989 (Y. F. Hsu); 3♀, Meinong, Shuangxi, 150m, 8. II. 2006 (Y. F. Hsu), 2♂, same locality, 22. I. 2007 (Y. F. Hsu). PINGDONG Co.: 1♀, Wutai, Wutoushan, 9. IV. 1999 (Y. F. Hsu); 1♂, same locality, 1200m, 4. IV. 2002 (Y. F. Hsu, C. C. Lu & C. L. Huang); 1♀, Wutai, 400m, 8. II. 2006 (C. C. Lu); 1♂, 2♀, Wutai, Yichangshan, 1100/ 1400m, 15/ 16. III. 2009, reared from Ardisa crenata with Crematogaster laborisa , emgd. 9. IV/ 9. V. 2009, HSU 09 C26 (Y. F. Hsu & H. C. Huang); 2♂, Sandimen, 250m, 10. II. 2007 (Y. F. Hsu); 1♂, Fangliao, Yuquan, 26. II. 2006 (Y. F. Hsu); 1♂, same locality, 19. III. 2006 (Y. F. Hsu), 1♂, Chunri, Dahanshan, 20. I. 2011, reared from Psidium guajava , emgd. 17. IV. 2011, HSU 11 A14 (J. H. Lin); 2♂, same locality, 27. IV. 2011 (J. H. Lin) . Paratypes deposited in NHM, NMNS, and NTNU.

Bionomics. Female butterfly oviposits on foliage (twig or leaf) of hostplant ( Fig. 43, 44 ) in the presence of associated ants. Larvae are phytophagous but tended by Crematogaster ants on regular basis ( Lin 2011). The larvae devour leaves by scratching epidermis and mesophyll. Larvae conceal themselves gregariously in shelters construct- ed by tying dry leaves while not feeding ( Figs. 45 ). Pupation is taken place within the larval shelters ( Figs. 46 ).

Hostplants. Plants oviposited by females or utilized by immatures in the wild included Maesa japonica (Primulaceae) (04F53, oviposition), Ardisia crenata (Primulaceae) (09C26, 09J46, larvae), A. cornudentata morrisonensis (Primulaceae) (09H10, oviposition; 10H20, larvae), A. cornudentata cornudentata (Primulaceae) (09K4, 10H27, 10J52, 11D33, larvae), Mallotus japonica (Euphorbiaceae) (10G26, larva) and Smilax odortissima (Smilaceae) (10J41, larvae).

Myrmecophily. This butterfly is obligatorily associated with Crematogester amia (09C26, 09H10, 10G26, 10H20, 10J41) and C. popohana (09K4, 10H27, 10J52, 11D33) in the wild, but larvae may complete development without presence of ants in laboratory ( Lin 2011).

Etymology. The subspecific name lamuae refers to a comic character Lam (Lamu) created by a famous manga artist Rumiko Takahashi. The patterns of wing undersides recall the graphic design of the bikini Lam wears.

Remarks. Seitz (1927) states that S. syama in Taiwan is diagnosable by having the ground color of wing undersides being white, but examined specimens and illustrations of literature all have yellow or creamy yellow ground color on wing undersides.

Figures

FIGURES 9–12. Adults of Spindasis syama lamuae, ssp. nov., dry season form. 9, upperside of holotype male, 10, underside of holotype male, 11, upperside of paratype female, 12, underside of paratype female. Scale bar = 1 cm.

FIGURES 13–16. Adults of Spindasis syama lamuae, ssp. nov., wet season form. 13, upperside of paratype male, 14, underside of paratype male, 15, upperside of paratype female, 16, underside of paratype female. Scale bar = 1 cm.

FIGURES 25–29. Male genitalia of Spindasis syama lamuae, ssp. nov. (Taiwan). 25, caudal view of tegumen, 26, dorsal view of valvae, 27, enlargement of costa, 28 Lateral view of phallus, 29, enlargement of cornutus. Scale bar = 0.5 mm for 25, 26, and 28; 0.1mm for 27 and 29.

FIGURES 1–7. Holotype of Aphnaeus formosana Moore, [1877] and A. hirayamae Matsumura, 1919. 1, A. formosana, male, upperside, 2, A. formosana, male, upperside, 3, A. formosana, labels, 4, A. hirayamae, male, upperside, 5, A. hirayamae, male, underside, 6, A. hirayamae, labels, 7, underside of top label in Fig.6. Scale bar = 1 cm.

FIGURES 17–20. Adults of Spindasis syama sepulveda (Fruhstorfer, 1912). 17, upperside of male (Chongqing, China), 18, underside of male (Chongqing, China), 19, upperside of female (Hong Kong), 20, underside of female (Hong Kong). Scale bar = 1 cm.

FIGURES 30–34. Male genitalia of Spindasis syama sepulveda (Fruhstorfer, 1912) (Chongqing, China). 30, caudal view of tegumen, 31, dorsal view of valvae, 32, enlargement of costa, 33 Lateral view of phallus, 34, enlargement of cornutus. Scale bar = 0.5 mm for 30, 31, and 33; 0.1mm for 32 and 34.

FIGURES 43–46. Biology of Spindasis syama lamuae ssp. nov. 43, Female ovipositing on Ardisia crenata, 44, egg attached on a twig of A. crenata, 45, larvae and associated Crematogester amia ants in a shelter made of dry leaves, 46, larvae and pupae in a shelter. All photographs were taken on March 15–16, 2009, from Yichangshan, Pingdong Co., Taiwan.