Rhamma livida Torres & Johnson, 1997

Prieto, Carlos & Vargas, Maria A., 2016, Elfin butterflies of the genus Rhamma Johnson (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae: Theclinae): A review of the Colombian species, Zootaxa 4093 (3), pp. 323-342 : 327-328

Rhamma livida Torres & Johnson, 1997

( Figures 9, 10 , 33 , 45 , 54 , 70 )

Rhamma livida Torres & Johnson, 1997: 2 , photoplate 9f, num.12. D.

Type material. Holotype male, Colombia, Cundinamarca, Mosquera, “Zabrisky”, Cerro Mondoñado, 14 february 1995. Deposited in MHN-UPN.

Taxonomic history and remarks. This species was described from a single male specimen from the eastern cordillera. We were not able to examine the holotype, but good photographic images of this specimen allowed us to associate a large series of specimens from the three Colombian cordilleras with R. livida .

Distribution and variability. Widely distributed in Colombia, this species can be found in the western, central, and eastern cordilleras from 2500 m to 3000 m. Specimens from the Eastern cordillera (Cundinamarca and Serrania del Perijá, Cesar) have shorter anal lobes than individuals from central Colombia. Variation in size and wing color is almost non-existent, but the length of the anal lobe in females can vary markedly.

Diagnosis. This species can be confused with R. comstocki , R. oxida , and the Peruvian R. inexpectata . Even when large series of specimens were available for comparative purposes and identification, the following combination of characters were found in Colombian specimens of R. livida and they seem to be dependable: a) androconial brand on the apical end of the discal cell composed of silver scales; b) ventral pattern composed mainly of zigzagged reddish and brown lines; and c) anal lobe of hindwing quite elongate in males and females (similar to R. adunca ).

Material examined (16♂, 7♀). CAUCA: 1 ♂, CP: Popayán, 1800 m, 09/08/2009, C. Prieto; 2 ♂, 2 ♀, CP: Totoró, La Horqueta, 2700 m, 01/06/2011, 26/04/2013; 1 ♂, CP: Sant/der. de Quilichao, Los tigres, 2500 m, 15/09/ 2009, C. Prieto; 1 ♂, 3 ♀, CP: PNN Munchique, La Romelia, 2750 m, 19/09/2005, 12/06/2006, C. Prieto. VALLE: 1 ♂, CP: PNN Farallones, Pico de Loro, 2800 m, 13/12/2008, C. Prieto. ANTIOQUIA: 9 ♂, 1 ♀, CP: Yarumal, La Marconia, 2700 m, 27 – 28/07/2015, C. Prieto; 1 ♀, CP: Santa Rosa de Osos, Llanos de Cuiva, 3000 m, 09/07/2009, C. Prieto. BOYACA: 1 ♂, CP: Villadeleyva, PNN Iguaque, 2950 m, 31/08/2006, C. Prieto.

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 10. Adults depicted in dorsal (left) and ventral (right) aspect: 1. Rhamma hybla male (Antioquia); 2. Rhamma hybla female (Antioquia); 3. Rhamma adunca male (Cauca); 4. Rhamma adunca female (Cauca); 5. Rhamma adunca male (Belmira, Antioquia); 6. Rhamma adunca female (Cauca); 7. Rhamma arria male (Valle); 8. Rhamma arria female (Valle); 9. Rhamma livida male (Cauca); 10. Rhamma livida female (Cauca).

FIGURES 30 – 35. Male genitalia armatures in lateral (left) and ventral (right) views: 30. Rhamma hybla; 31. Rhamma adunca; 32. Rhamma arria; 33. Rhamma livida (arrows point a., vinculum strut strongly developed and b., vinculum forming a 90 degree angle); 34. Rhamma oxida; 35. Rhamma comstocki.

FIGURES 42 – 50. Female genitalia (ductus bursae and bursa copulatrix): 42. Rhamma hybla (arrows point a., strongly developed lamella postvaginalis, terminating in serrate configurations b., ductus bursae lightly sclerotized in the middle so that it appears to be transparent and c., dendritic, fan shaped signa) 43. Rhamma adunca; 44. Rhamma arria; 45. Rhamma livida; 46. Rhamma oxida; 47. Rhamma comstocki; 48. Rhamma shapiroi; 49. Rhamma bilix; 50. Rhamma anosma.

FIGURES 51 – 62. Androconial brands (arrows point the scent pad): 51. Rhamma hybla; 52. Rhamma adunca; 53. Rhamma arria; 54. Rhamma livida; 55. Rhamma oxida; 56. Rhamma comstocki; 57. Rhamma shapiroi; 58. Rhamma mishma; 59. Rhamma bilix; 60. Rhamma anosma; 61. Rhamma familiaris; 62. Rhamma commodus.

FIGURES 67 – 70. Distributional maps of Colombian Rhamma. 67. Rhamma commodus, Rhamma familiaris; 68. Rhamma comstocki; 69. Rhamma hybla; 70. Rhamma livida.