Lymanopoda obsoleta (Westwood)

Viloria, Angel L., Pyrcz, Tomasz W. & Orellana, Andrés, 2010, A survey of the Neotropical montane butterflies of the subtribe Pronophilina (Lepidoptera, Nymphalidae) in the Venezuelan Cordillera de la Costa, Zootaxa 2622, pp. 1-41 : 11-12

Lymanopoda obsoleta (Westwood)

( Figs. 49, 50 )

Sarromia obsoleta Westwood, [1851] : 402. Syntype (male) in BMNH [examined].

Lymanopoda larunda Hopffer, 1874: 361 . Whereabouts of types unknown. Synonymy given by Weymer, 1912: 248.

Geographic range: Species (monotypic): CC, CM, throughout Colombia, north-western, south-western and eastern Ecuador, eastern Peru and Bolivia.

Altitudinal range: 2250–2900 m ( Adams, 1986; Pyrcz & Wojtusiak, 2002); 1800–2600 m, exceptionally at 1200 m (Pyrcz, 2004); 1700–2400 m.

Remarks: L. obsoleta is the most widespread species of the genus Lymanopoda but shows little geographic variation; thus, no subspecies have been described. However, a comparison between the population found in the CC and various specimens from the CM reveal some morphological differences. Adults in the CC are consistently smaller (FW length 20–21 mm, compared to 22–24 mm). HWV ground color is lighter, sandy orange-brown. There are some observable differences in the male genitalia, particularly in the amount, size and position of the spines on distal valval process and the width and depth of saccus. The population inhabiting the CC belongs to the nominate subspecies; hence, any future descriptions of new subspecies would concern the Andean populations of L. obsoleta . Only two species of Lymanopoda of a total of approximately 60 species (Lamas et al., 2004) are found in the CC. L. obsoleta is recognized from its congener, L. caucana , by having an acute FW apex, and somewhat squarish HW. L. obsoleta flies at considerably higher elevations than L. caucana , and their elevational ranges do not overlap. L. obsoleta is a fairly common species in the CC.

Material examined: DISTRITO FEDERAL: 5 males: Pico Naiguatá, 2765 m, 16.V.1975, R. Dietz leg. MIZA; MIRANDA: 1 male: El Jarillo, 29.VI.1970, F. Fernández Y. leg. MIZA; 2 males: Avila, Lagunazo, 14.XI.1981, J. DeMarmels leg. MIZA; 1 male: Pico Naiguatá, N. of Caracas, 1900 m, 15.V.1975, M. Adams leg., BMNH; 1 male: same data but 2000 m, M. Adams leg., BMNH; 5 males: same data but 2700–2765 m, 16.V.1975, M. Adams leg., BMNH; 1 male: same data but 17.V.1975, M. Adams leg., BMNH; 1 male: same data but 1800 m, 18.V.1975, M. Adams leg., BMNH; 1 male: same data but 2200 m, M. Adams leg., BMNH; 1 male: same data but 1500–1900 m, 15.V.1975, M. Adams leg., BMNH; 1 male: same data but 2650 m, M. Adams leg., BMNH; 1 male: same data but 2700 m, 16.V.1975, M. Adams leg., BMNH; 1 male: same data but 17.V.1975, M. Adams leg., BMNH; 1 male: same data but 1900 m, 18.V.1975, M. Adams leg., BMNH; 1 female: same data but 2700 m, 16.V.1975, M. Adams leg., BMNH; 1 female: same data but 2700–2765 m, 16.V.1975, M. Adams leg., BMNH; ARAGUA: 1 male: Colonia Tovar, 1800 m, 25.IX.1953, P. Guagliumi leg. MIZA; 1 male: Colonia Tovar, 1800 m, 25.IX.1953, F. Fernández Y. leg. MIZA; 1 male and 1 female: Colonia Tovar, vía Buenos Aires, 2100 m, 14.V.1996, J. DeMarmels and A. Chacón leg. MIZA; 1 female: Rancho Grande, 1100 m, 13.IX.1976, F.Fernández Y. and J. Clavijo leg. MIZA; 8 males and 1 female: Colonia Tovar, Los Colonos, 2100–2150 m, 06.VIII.2003, T. Pyrcz leg., TWP; 1 males and 2 females: Colonia Tovar, Los Colonos, 2100–2150 m, 06.VIII.2003, T. Pyrcz leg., TWP; 1 male: Colonia Tovar, 2100 m, VI.1982, F. Romero leg., FRR; 1 male and 2 females: same data but X.1986, FRR; 2 males: same data but VI.1991, FRR; 4 males: same data but 2200 m, VII.1993, FRR; 4 females: same data but IV.2003, FRR; 1 female: carretera Maracay – Choroní, 1300 m, V.1975, FRR; 1 female: same data but VIII.1989, FRR.

Figures

FIGURES 45 – 54. Adult satyrine butterflies from the Cordillera de La Costa, Venezuela (left: dorsal, right: ventral); 45. Eretris encycla encycla (C. & R. Felder) (male, vía Capachal); 46. E. encycla encycla (C. & R. Felder) (female, vía Capachal); 47. Eretris neocycla Pyrcz & Viloria n. sp., HOLOTYPE (male, vía Naranjal); 48. E. neocycla Pyrcz & Viloria n. sp., PARATYPE (female, Cuesta Puerto Maya); 49. Lymanopoda obsoleta (Westwood) (male, Colonia Tovar); 50. L. obsoleta (Westwood) (female, Colonia Tovar); 51. Lymanopoda caucana Weymer (male, Cerro San Isidro); 52. L. caucana Weymer (female, Cerro San Isidro); 53. Steroma bega bega Westwood (male, Colonia Tovar); 54. S. bega bega Westwood (female, Colonia Tovar).