Alesa lipara Bates, 1867

Santos, Wildio Ikaro Da Graça, Dolibaina, Diego Rodrigo, Dias, Fernando Maia Silva, Mielke, Olaf Hermann Hendrik & Casagrande, Mirna Martins, 2023, A review of the South American metalmark genus Alesa Doubleday, 1847 (Lepidoptera: Riodinidae: Eurybiini) with the description of two new species, Zootaxa 5284 (1), pp. 77-120 : 110-113

Alesa lipara Bates, 1867

Figs 34–35 , 42–45 , 50, 54 , 58 , 69 , 75 , 80 , 89–91 , 96

Alesa lipara Bates, 1868 . Jour. Linn. Soc. 9: 371, 415; male, Tapajós, Amazons, [Pará, Brazil].—Herrich-Schäffer, 1868. Corr.-Blatt. zool.-min. Ver. Regensburg 22: 122.—Kirby, 1871. Syn. Cat. diurn. Lep., p. 287.—Kirby, 1879. Cat. Coll. diurn. Lep. Hewitson, p. 186.—Mengel, 1905. Cat. Erycinidae , p. 55.—Stichel, 1915. Dtsch. ent. Ztschr. 1915: 695.—Stichel, 1926. Dtsch. ent. Ztschr. 1926: 92.— d’Abrera, 1994. Butt. Neotrop. Region 6, Riodinidae , p. 933, figs (male, female d).— Brévignon, 1997. Lambillionea 97 (3)(1): 331, 334.— Callaghan & Lamas, 2004, Riodinidae , p. 148, in Lamas (ed.). Checklist: Part 4A. Hesperioidea—Papilionoidea, in Heppner (ed.) Atlas of Neotropical Lepidoptera 5A.— Hall & Ahrenholz, 2010. Trop. Lep. Res. 20 (1): 22.—Nielsen & Salazar, 2014. Bol. Cient. Mus. Hist. Nat. U. Caldas 18 (2): 218.—Gonzalo-Andrade et al., 2015. Rev. Colomb. Amaz. 8: 107.— Gallard, 2017. Riodinidae Guyane, p. 55.—Garwood et al., 2021. Checklist of Colombian Butterflies 1: 75.

Alesa amesis lipara ; Stichel, 1910, in Wytsman. Gen. Ins. 112A, p. 81.— Seitz, 1916. Gross-Schmett. Erde 5, p. 652, pl. 127 (male, female d).— Stichel, 1930. Lep. Cat. 40, p. 292; syn.: f. hemiurga .

Alesa hemiurga [misidentification]; Lamas et al., 1991. Publ. Mus. Hist. nat. UNMSM(A) 40: 14.—Lamas, 1994. RAP Work. Pap. 6: 167.— Robbins et al., 1996, in Wilson & Sandoval. Manu, p. 235.

Diagnosis. Alesa lipara is easily distinguished from other species in the “ amesis group”. Males are mostly dark on both wings upper side, without submarginal iridescence, but with a uniform purplish sheen. Hindwing underside have a light cream ground color between discal band and outer margin, discal and postdiscal bands irregular, postdiscal bands interrupted by M 1, and the submarginal ocelli more elongated and narrow and without iridescence. Males differ from A. hemiurga by the absence of spots or bands on both wings upper side. Females of A. lipara differ from those of A. amesis by hindwing upper side without dark blue iridescence at the center of the submarginal ocelli. There are no notable differences between the female of A. lipara and the putative female of A. hemiurga , except by the longer forewing of the former, 15–16,5mm.

Type material. Alesa lipara was described from an unstated number of male specimens from Rio Tapajós, Amazonas [Pará, Brazil]. To ensure avoid future uncertainty, a male syntype in NMHUK with the following labels is here designated lectotype of Alesa lipara Bates, 1868 : / Tapajos, Amazons, H. W. Bates / ♁ / Type H. T. / A. lipara / Type [verse of the same label:] ♁ Tapajos / 199 / Alesa lipara, Bates. Godman-Salvin Coll. 1913 .-2. / BMNH (E) 1717339 /. Thus, the following labels will be added: / LECTOTYPUS / Lectotypus Alesa lipara Bates, 1868 / W. Santos, Dolibaina, Dias, O. Mielke & Casagrande des. 2021 /.

Distribution. Alesa lipara is widespread in the Amazon, occurring in Ecuador, Peru, Brazil (Acre, Amazonas and Rondônia) and French Guiana ( Fig. 96 ).

Comments. Alesa lipara is the second most common species in the “ amesis group”, occurring mostly in lowlands of the Amazon basin. The dark color pattern of both wings upper side of A. lipara is somewhat similar to that of A. amesis , and this similarity was probably the reason why Stichel (1910) recognized the former as a subspecies of the latter. However, the absence of the iridescence and the presence of a purplish sheen on both wings upper side, readily distinguish A. lipara from A. amesis . Actually, Alesa lipara are probably more closely related to A. hemiurga and A. thelydrias , considering the light creamy ground color of both wings underside, irregular discal and postdiscal bands of the hindwing underside, slender anterior projection of saccus, dorsal outer process of valva ventrally inclined, and ventral inner process of valva with a spine at the tip (although the male genitalia of A. thelydrias was not examined). Among these species, A. hemiurga is the species superficially more similar to A. lipara , as both have a purplish sheen on wings upper side. Nevertheless, the dark area around the middle of the interveins in the submarginal area of the forewing upper side is well marked in A. hemiurga , and absent or only slightly present in A. lipara ; other bands and spots are present or visible by transparency on both wings upper side of A. hemiurga , but not in A. lipara . Even though the wing pattern of A. lipara and A. hemiurga are not similar, there is no significant genitalic difference between these two species. Probably for that reason, A. hemiurga was considered a form of A. lipara by Stichel (1930). Nevertheless, the wing pattern differences were considered by Callaghan & Lamas (2004) and Hall & Ahrenholz (2010) to support A. lipara and A. hemiurga as distinct species. Females of A. lipara are similar to females of A. amesis and A. hemiurga , and it is distinguished from the former by the absence of iridescence at the center of the submarginal ocelli on both surfaces of the hindwing; however, there is no notable differences between A. hemiurga and A. lipara , other than the larger forewing length of the A. lipara . Females of A. lipara from some localities of the southern and western Amazon have a white submarginal area on both sides of the hindwing ( Figs 89–91 ), however, the genitalia of both phenotypes are identical.

Alesa lipara is found resting on leaves between two to three meters above the ground in partially shaded trails and paths during the morning. Males of A. lipara also hilltop, in small partially shaded forest gaps, about 1.5m from the ground. At the Parque Nacional da Serra do Divisor, Acre, Brazil, males of A. lipara were observed on a hilltop between 8:30–9:30h, occurring with at the same time with A. hemiurga .

Examined material. ECUADOR — Napo: Apuya (road Tena-Puyo) , 600m, 12–14.II.1995, 1 male, J. P. Hall & K. R. Willmott leg. ( MGCL) . PERU — Loreto: 17.VII.1979, 1 male, 2 females ( MGCL), ( Rio Sucusari ) , 140m, 12.IX.1995, 1 male, 23.IX.1995, 1 male, Robbins leg. ( USNM), ( Rio Castaña ) , 150m, 22.X.1993, 1 male, Lamas leg., 30.X.1993, 1 male, Robbins leg. ( USNM) ; San Roque , no date , 1 male, A. C. Allyn leg. ( MGCL) . Madre de Dios: Puerto Maldonado , 9.XI.1992, 4 males, 3 females, Tello leg. ( USNM), ( Comunidad Inferno ) , 300m, 16–17.X.1982, 1 male, O. Mielke & Casagrande leg., DZ 35.256 ( DZUP) . Tambopata , 300 m, 26.X.1991, 1 male, 28.X.1991, 1 male, Robbins leg. ( USNM) , 25.X.1991, 1 male, Mielke & Casagrande leg. ( USNM) , 7.X.1986, 1 male, Ahrenholz leg. ( USNM) . Pakitza ( Parque Manu ) , 19.X.1990, 1 male, 25.X.1990, 1 male, 26.X.1990, 1 male, Lamas leg. ( USNM) , 15.X.1990, 1 male, 28.X.1990, 1 male, 24.X.1990, 1 male, 10.X.1991, 1 male, Robbins leg. ( USNM) , 13.X.1991, 1 male, O. Mielke leg. ( USNM) , 23.IX.1989, 1 female, Harvey leg. ( USNM) , 13.X.1990, 1 female, Lamas leg. ( USNM) , 19.X.1990, 1 female, Robbins leg. ( USNM) . BRAZIL — Amazonas : Fonte Boa , 80m, 11–23.VIII.2011, 1 male, 3 females, E. Emery leg., DZ 48.317, DZ 47.977, DZ 48.237, DZ 48.077, ex. coll. E. Emery ( DZUP) . Ipiranga ( Rio Purus ), 1 male, 2 females, ex. coll. Le Moult ( MGCL) . Tefé , 4–6.XII.1987, 3 males, 4 females, Mielke & Casagrande leg., DZ 35.146, DZ 35.176, DZ 35.126, DZ 35.266, DZ 34.966, DZ 35.026, DZ 35.006 ( DZUP), ( Rio Solimıes ) , IX.1930, 1 female, X.1930, 2 females, ex. coll. Le Moult ( MGCL) . Maués ( Rio Preto ) , 1–15.II.2008, 1 male, OM 70.219 ( OM) . Acre: Mâncio Lima (Parque Nacional Serra do Divisor, Porç „o Norte, Rio Moa ) , 23–30.VIII.2014, 2 males, O. Mielke, Casagrande, Carneiro, Dias, Dolibaina, Siewert & Salik leg., DZ 35.016, DZ 35.076 ( DZUP) , 7–10,13. X.2018, 4 males, O. Mielke, Casagrande, Dolibaina & Medeiros leg., DZ 44.421, DZ 44.481, DZ 44.631, DZ 44.511 ( DZUP) . Santa Rosa do Purus (9.2 Km SE) , 6–8.VIII.2008, 2 males, Mielke & Carneiro leg., DZ 35.246, DZ 35.206 ( DZUP) . Rondônia: Cacaulândia (Fazenda Rancho Grande) , 180m, 13–16.IV.1989, 1 male, V. O. Becker leg., OM 63.965 ( OM) , 10–20.VII.1989, 2 males, Mielke & Miers leg., OM 61.659 , OM 61 . 715 ( OM) , no date, 1 malen B. Harris leg. (USNM), 3.I.1991, 2 males, no collector ( MGCL) , 5–15.XII.1990, 1 male, P. F. Milner leg. ( MGCL) , 9.IX.1990, 1 male, 18.II.1991, 1 male, 7.XI.1991, 1 male, 19.IV.1992, 1 male, 21.IX.1992, 1 male, 20.IX.1992, 1 male, 5.V.1995, 1 male, 17.III.1989, 1 male, 26.X.1989, 1 female, 7.XI.1990, 1 female, 10.XII.1990, 1 female, 11.X.1993, 1 female, G. T. Austin leg. ( MGCL) , 27.VI.1992, 1 male, 7.VII.1991, 1 female, G. Bongiolo leg. ( MGCL) , 10.IV.1990, 1 male, E. Furtado leg. ( USNM) , 14.IV.1990, 1 male ( USNM) , 18–26.IV.1991, 1 female, R. Leuschner leg. ( USNM) , 16.VIII.1995, 1 female, 15.V .1993 , 1 female, O. Gomes leg. (MGCL), 20.XI.1992, 1 female, T. Schmitz leg. ( MGCL) , 8.XII.1990, 1 female ( MGCL) .

Figures

FIGURES 96. Geographic distribution of Alesa lipara, A. hemiurga and A. thelydrias. Question mark indicates uncertain records.

FIGURES 30–39. Males of species of “amesis group”, in dorsal and ventral views (left to right). 30–31, A. amesis (DZ 35.219) Brazil, Acre, Mâncio Lima. 32–33, A. mariae sp. nov. Peru, Madre de Dios: Puerto Maldonado (holotype). 34–35, A. lipara Brazil, Acre: Santa Rosa do Purus (DZ 35.246). 36–37, A. hemiurga Brazil, Amazonas: Tefé (DZ 34.976). 38–39, A. thelydrias Brazil, Pará: rio Cupari (holotype, NHMUK). Scale bar: 1cm.

FIGURES 40–47. Females of species of “amesis group”, in dorsal and ventral views (left to right). 40–41. A. amesis Brazil, Amazonas: Novo Air„o (DZ 35.186). 42–45, A. lipara Brazil,Amazonas: Fonte Boa. 42–43 DZ 48.237, 44–45 (USMN). 46–47, Putative female of A. hemiurga Brazil, Maranh„o: Açailândia (DZ 35.226). Scale bar: 1cm.

FIGURES 48–55. Wings upper side pattern with the main diagnostic characters of males (top) and females (bottom) belonging to species of the “amesis group”. 48, 53, A. amesis (male DZ 48.287, female DZ 35.186). 49, A. mariae sp. nov. (holotype). 50, 54, A. lipara (male DZ 35.246, female DZ 48.237). 51, 55, A. hemiurga (male DZ 34.976, putative female DZ 35.226). 52, A. thelydrias (holotype).

FIGURES 56–60. Underside pattern with the main diagnostic characters of the hindwing underside of males belonging to the “amesis group”. 56, A. amesis (DZ 48.287). 57, A. mariae sp. nov. (holotype). 58, A. lipara (DZ 35.246). 59, A. hemiurga (DZ 34.976). 60, A. thelydrias (holotype).

FIGURES 67–70. Male genitalia of species of “amesis group”. 67, A. amesis Brazil, Pará: Paragominas (DZ 35.209). 68, A. mariae sp. nov. Brazil, Acre: Mâncio Lima (DZ 35.036). 69, A. lipara Brazil, Acre: Mâncio Lima (DZ 35.126). 70, A. hemiurga Brazil, Acre: Bujari (DZ 35.106). Left to right: dorsal view of tegumen and uncus, lateral and ventral views of genitalia, and dorsal view of valvae and transtilla. Scale bar: 1mm.

FIGURES 71–76. Female genitalia of Alesa species. 71, A. prema Brazil, Mato Grosso: Barra do Garça (DZ 35.254). 72, A. juliae sp. nov. Brazil, Mato Grosso: Rio Arinos (DZ 35.144). 73, A. telephae Brazil, Acre: Mâncio Lima (DZ 35.094). 74, A. amesis Brazil, Amazonas: Tefé (DZ 35.116). 75, A. lipara Brazil, Amazonas: Fonte Boa (DZ 48.237). 76, Putative female of A. hemiurga Brazil, Amazonas: Tefé (DZ 35.266). Up to bottom: lateral view of papilla analis and ventral view of sterigma and bursa copulatrix. Scale bar: 1mm.

FIGURES 77–81. Signum of species of Alesa. 77, A. prema Brazil, Mato Grosso: Barra do Garça (DZ 35.254). 78, A. telephae Brazil, Acre: Mâncio Lima (DZ 35.094). 79, A. amesis Brazil, amazonas: Tefé (DZ 35.116). 80, A. lipara Brazil, Amazonas: Fonte Boa (DZ 48.237). 81, Putative female of A. hemiurga Brazil, Amazonas: Tefé (DZ 35.266). Scale bars: 1mm.

FIGURES 86–91. Species of Alesa in situ, part II. 86–88, A. amesis, males (86–87) and female (88). 89–91, A. lipara. (89–90) two couples, note the shiny non metalic aspect of the male wings upper side (90), the same female of the latter couple, upsidedown (91). All images from Brazil, Mato Grosso, Alta Floresta, Cristalino Lodge. Figs 86–88, 90–91 by Sidnei Dantas https:// www.inaturalist.org/people/siddantas, Fig. 89 by Will Carter https://calydna.com/index.php/taxon/4375-alesa-lipara.