Fahraeusia Pyrcz, 2023

Pyrcz, Tomasz W., Willmott, Keith R., Lachowska-Cierlik, Dorota & Mrozek, Artur, 2023, Phylogeny and systematics of the " Pronophila clade, ″ with 2 new genera to resolve the formerly polyphyletic genus Pseudomaniola (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae:, Insect Systematics and Diversity 7 (5), pp. 1-20 : 14-17

Fahraeusia Pyrcz n. gen.

Type species. Catargynnis asuba Thieme, 1907: 157 , pl. 1, fig. 3.

Diagnosis and description: Adults of Fahraeusia n. gen. ( Fig. 3A–D ) have particularly long antennae, approximately three-fifths the length of the forewing, approximately the same length as in Boyeriana n. gen. but longer than in Pseudomaniola stat. rev. or

Oxeoschistus and other genera of the Pronophila clade, whose antennae reach only half the length of the forewing costa. The forewing is triangular with only slightly produced outer margins below the apex, less so than in Pseudomaniola stat. rev., Boyeriana n. gen. or Oxeoschistus , and the hindwings are sub-triangular, similar to Boyeriana ilsa n. comb. The wing upperside is uniform brown. The Forewing dorsum androconial patch is large, covering the median one-third of the wing, not differing from Boyeriana n. gen. The Forewing venter subapical ocelli are obsolete, as in Pseudomaniola stat. rev. or Oxeoschistus . The Hindwing venter median band is well-marked, darker than the ground color, wide, with a straight basal and nearly straight outer edge, following the outline of the discal-cell, similar in this respect to most species of Oxeoschistus but sharply differing from the sinuate band of Boyeriana n. sp. or the barely noticeable median band in Pseudomaniola stat. rev. The hindwing underside submarginal ocellar elements are rudimentary, obsolete in M2-M3 and M3-CuA1, compared to the fully-developed ocelli in Boyeriana n. gen. or Oxeoschistus .

The venation pattern does not differ from that of Boyeriana n. gen., Pseudomaniola and other genera of the Pronophila clade discussed here.

The more important diagnostic characters are in the male genitalia ( Fig. 5A ), which are marked by a massive tegumen, considerably larger and more elongated than in Boyeriana n. gen., and much larger than in Pseudomaniola gen. rev. and Oxeoschistus . On the other hand, in Fahraeusia the uncus is slender and nearly straight, not arched as in Pseudomaniola gen. rev. or stout and swollen as in Boyeriana n. gen.; the subuncus is characteristic, unlike any other genus of the Pronophila clade (or, indeed, other Pronophilina ), being very short, triangular in lateral view, with a very short tip, and strongly appressed to the ventral surface of the tegumen; and the valva are massive in the basal half, larger than even the valva of Boyeriana , strongly constricted in the apical two-thirds, terminating with a sharp, bifurcate process, unlike the large, blunt club-like apex of Pseudomaniola gen. rev. or the thin and elongated apical part of the valva in Boyeriana n. gen. and other related genera, Oxeoschistus or Junea ; the ampulla is strongly dentate, contrasting with a serrate ampulla in some Boyeriana n. gen. or the smooth ampulla of Pseudomaniola gen. rev., Junea and other related genera; the aedeagus is tubular, slightly flattened dorsoventrally, and thin, one-third longer than in Pseudomaniola gen. rev., similar to Boyeriana n. gen.

The female genitalia ( Fig. 6A ) are similar to Pseudomaniola except for longer hair-like projections on the papillae anales; a longer posterior apophysis; a strongly sclerotized and wider lamella postvaginalis, ripple patterned with jagged edges; a longer ductus bursae; and long signa, not converging, approximately two-thirds the length of corpus bursae, considerably longer than in Boyeriana n. gen. and most Pseudomaniola stat. rev. (except P. rogersi ).

So far only one species of this genus is known, and it is currently considered to be monotypic. Fahraeusia asuba is strictly Andean and is found only on the eastern slopes of the Cordillera from south-central Ecuador (Napo and Morona-Santiago) to northern Bolivia (Yungas de La Paz). Its presence further north, possibly into southern Colombia, or south, cannot be ruled out considering that it is a rare and extremely localized species, associated exclusively with well-preserved forests at low to mid elevation, from 1,600 to 2,400 m a.s.l. Its flight is rather slow, similar to Pseudomaniola . Fahraeusia asuba is attracted to several kinds of baits, including rotting fish, dung, urine, and decomposing fruits.

Etymology. This new genus is dedicated to the Swedish lepidopterist and biochemist Christer Fahråeus, in recognition for his important contributions to the knowledge of Neotropical Lepidoptera systematics and phylogenies, and for his relentless support for the study of the Neotropical butterflies.

Check-list of species and subspecies of Fahraeusia n. gen. with references to genus level nomenclatorial changes in chronological order.

Fahraeusia asuba (Thieme) n. comb.

Catargynnis asuba Thieme, 1907: 157 , pl. 1, fig. 3.

Pseudomaniola asuba (Thieme) ; Pyrcz, 2004: 534.

Figures

Fig. 3. Adults (ventral view, except A and C—dorsal view): A) Fahraeusia asuba male (S Ecuador, Morona-Santiago), B) Fahraeusia asuba male (S Ecuador, Morona-Santiago), C) Fahraeusia asuba female (S Ecuador, Zamora-Chinchipe),D) Fahraeusia asuba female (S Ecuador, Zamora-Chinchipe), E) Pseudomaniola gigas male (S Mexico,Oaxaca),F) Pseudomaniola rogersi male (Costa Rica,Talamanca),G)Pseudomaniola phaselis male (NVenezuela,Vargas),H) Pseudomaniola pholoe male (W Colombia,Valle).

Fig. 5. Male genitalia (lateral view), aedeagus (lateral and dorsal view): A) Fahraeusia asuba (prep. genit. H367), B) Pseudomaniola gigas (prep. genit. n/n), C) Pseudomaniola macasica (prep. genit. H361), D) Pseudomaniola phaselis (prep. genit. H359), E) Pseudomaniola pholoe (prep. genit. H362), F) Pseudomaniola argyritis (prep. genit. H7742).

Fig. 6. Female genitalia (top: lateral view), lamellae (bottom:ventral view):A) Fahraeusia asuba (prep. genit. H368),B) Pseudomaniola gigas (prep. genit. H380), C) Pseudomaniola phaselis (prep. genit.H376), D) Pseudomaniola rogersi (prep. genit.H377), E) Boyeriana extrema (prep. genit.H370), F) Boyeriana loxo (prep. genit. H364).