Niconiades derisor ( Mabille, 1891 ) Zhang & Cong & Shen & Grishin, 2022

Zhang, Jing, Cong, Qian, Shen, Jinhui & Grishin, Nick V., 2022, Taxonomic changes suggested by the genomic analysis of Hesperiidae (Lepidoptera), Insecta Mundi 2022 (921), pp. 1-135 : 46

Niconiades derisor ( Mabille, 1891) , new combination

Genomic sequencing of a syntype of Pamphila derisor Mabille, 1891 (type locality Venezuela) from the ZMHB collection, currently in Decinea Evans, 1955 (type species Hesperia decinea Hewitson, 1876 ) in subtribe Hesperiina Latreille, 1809 , reveals that it originates within Niconiades Hübner, [1821] (type species Niconiades xanthaphes Hübner, [1821] ) in the subtribe Moncina A. Warren, 2008 ( Fig. 11 ). Phenotypic assessment agrees with this placement. For instance, the syntype of P. derisor has brands characteristic of Niconiades and lacking in Decinea . Therefore, we propose Niconiades derisor ( Mabille, 1891) , new combination.

Niconiades viridis vista Evans, 1955 is a junior subjective synonym of Niconiades derisor ( Mabille, 1891)

Using Evans (1955), the syntype of Pamphila derisor Mabille, 1891 (type locality Venezuela) that we sequenced, keys to Niconiades viridis vista Evans, 1955 (type locality Colombia), the northern subspecies of Thoon viridis Bell, 1930 (type locality Bolivia). In the genomic tree, Niconiades derisor is indeed sister to Niconiades viridis ( Fig. 11 ), but they are not conspecific: their COI barcodes differ by 2.3% (15 bp) in the presence of definitive phenotypic differences listed by Evans (1955: 435). Therefore, we propose that Niconiades viridis vista Evans, 1955 is a junior subjective synonym of Niconiades derisor ( Mabille, 1891) .

Decinea huasteca (H. Freeman, 1969) , Decinea denta Evans, 1955 and Decinea antus (Mabille, 1895) are species distinct from Decinea decinea (Hewitson, 1876) , and Decinea denta pruda Evans, 1955 , new combination

Evans (1955) described genitalic differences in the presence and shape of side process of aedeagus in subspecies of Decinea decinea (Hewitson, 1876) (type locality Brazil) that are more indicative of species-level differences. Our genomic tree reveals the most prominent separation of the nominotypical D. decinea from other taxa ( Fig. 11 ), as reflected in the largest genitalic difference: long slender aedeagus process, instead of short process or no process. In COI barcodes, it translates to 5.5% (36 bp) between D. decinea and Tirynthia huasteca H. Freeman, 1969 (type locality Mexico: San Luis Potosi). Other taxa also reveal significant differences, for example, while Proteides antus Mabille, 1895 (type locality Brazil: Santa Catarina ), which is sympatric with D. decinea in Southeast Brazil and lacks the aedeagus process as T. huasteca , differs from the latter by 3.2% (21 bp) and the former by 5.6% (37 bp). Decinea decinea denta Evans, 1955 (type locality Peru: La Merced) and Decinea denta pruda Evans, 1955 (type locality Paraguay: Sapucay) possess a short process and are more similar to each other. For these reasons, we propose that Decinea decinea (Hewitson, 1876) is a monotypic species without subspecies, Decinea huasteca (H. Freeman, 1969) , revised status (already used as a species in several more recent publications since Miller (1992), but not in others ( Mielke 2005)), Decinea denta Evans, 1955 , new status, and Decinea antus (Mabille, 1895) , reinstated status are species-level taxa, but Decinea denta pruda Evans, 1955 , new combination, is a subspecies, pending further studies. The names denta and pruda were published in the same work issued on the same date ( Evans 1955), and here we gave priority to the name denta because of larger known distribution of this taxon that is also more common in collections.

Figures

Figure 11. Genomic tree of Hesperiina and relatives. See Fig. 1 legend for notations.