Thereus genena ( Hewitson, 1867 )

Faynel, Christophe, Huertas, Blanca, Crom, Jean-François Le, O’Brien, Richard & Fåhraeus, Christer, 2025, Diagnostic male secondary sexual structures and wing patterns in the Thereus genena species group (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae: Theclinae) with the description of nine new species from Colombia, Peru, Brazil and French Guiana, Zootaxa 5728 (2), pp. 201-246 : 217

publication ID	https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5728.2.1
publication LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:pub:2E6171E0-E7A7-430E-BCC0-2C583209A94F
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/F8303331-AF02-EA30-ABEF-FE419ACAE8EF
treatment provided by	Plazi
scientific name	Thereus genena ( Hewitson, 1867 )
status

Treatment

Thereus genena ( Hewitson, 1867)

Figures 10, 11 View FIGURES 2–17 , 38 View FIGURES 34–49 , 54 View FIGURES 50–59 , 70 View FIGURES 66–77 , 89 View FIGURES 88–89

Thecla genena : Hewitson: 1867: (3): 111

Type material. Described from an unknown number of male specimens from the Bates collection collected in Amazons ( Pará), there is one syntype labelled in the NHMUK collections. We included in our study the COI extracted from a full genome analysis of this specimen. Given the large number of cryptic species recognized in this group and the reasonable possibility of discovering further syntypes , this specimen is designated as the lectotype.

LECTOTYPE ♂ ( Fig. 10 View FIGURES 2–17 ), designated here: “ SYN- // TYPE” (blue rimmed white circle label, printed); “Type” (orange rimmed white circle label, printed); “ Para, L. Amazons. H.W. Bates.” (brown rectangular label, printed); “ ♂ ” (brown rectangular label, printed); “458 // ♂ ” (brown rectangular label, printed and handwritten); “Genena ” (brown rectangular label, handwritten); “Godman-Salvin // Coll. 1911.-93.” (brown rectangular label, printed); “B.M. TYPE // No.Rh 726” (brown rectangular label, printed and handwritten); “NHMUK015200805” (white rectangular label, printed, with a flash code); “Gen. prep. K. Florczyk // NHMUK010402975” (green rectangular label, black printed); “ Thecla genena // Hewitson, 1867 // LECTOTYPE // Faynel, 2025 ” (white rectangular label, printed).

Other material examined ( 5♂, 8♀). BRAZIL. Pará . 1♂, 49 49, NHMUK015201044* ( NHMUK) ; 1♂, L. Amazons, H.W. Bates, Godman-Salvin Coll. 1911-93, NHMUK015203812* ( NHMUK) ; 1♂, 50-4, NHMUK015201048 ( NHMUK) ; 1♂, 49-49, 287, NHMUK015201053 ( NHMUK) ; 3♀, 1911-93, H. W. Bates, NHMUK015201065, NHMUK015201060, NHMUK015201056 ( NHMUK) ; 2♀, 1929-435, Ex. Coll. Smith. 1844-5, NHMUK015201059 & NHMUK015201046 ( NHMUK) . 1♀, 1947-453, A. M. Moss , NHMUK015201054 ( NHMUK) . Amazonas or Pará . 1♂, Amazons, 1911-93, H.W. Bates, NHMUK015201030 ( NHMUK) ; 1♀, Amaz [sic], Amazons. Saunders Coll., Godman-Salvin Coll. 1911-93, NHMUK015201058* ( NHMUK, illustrated on Fig. 11 View FIGURES 2–17 ). Locality unknown . 1♀, 1844-54, 572, 10, NHMUK015203800 ( NHMUK) .

Diagnosis and description. The phylogenetic tree ( Fig. 1 View FIGURE 1 ) shows that Thereus genena forms a clade with T. tiasa and T. angulus stat. rev. Morphologically, T. genena is clearly distinct from T. tiasa based on the male DFW androconia ( Figs 38, 39 View FIGURES 34–49 ). This distinction is corroborated by a mean genetic divergence of 2.75% ( Table 3). T. genena is distinguished from T. angulus stat. rev. by: (1) less dark ventral coloration; (2) VHW postmedian line outwardly curved near the apex (straight or inwardly curved in T. angulus stat. rev.); (3) bigger red-orange cubital spot on VHW with red scales joining it to the anal spot ( Figs 10-13 View FIGURES 2–17 ); (4) 2.98% mean genetic divergence ( Table 3). The fact that T. genena and T. tiasa are sister species in the ML tree argues for keeping T. angulus stat. rev. as distinct than T. genena . Male genitalia ( Fig. 54 View FIGURES 50–59 ). Three males dissected, including the male lectotype. Valvae triangular with elongated posterior ends; saccus narrow and pointed in ventral view; penis straight. Eighth tergite subrectangular, longer than in previous species with a cutout on each lateral edge, anterior border convex, posterior one almost straight. Female genitalia ( Fig. 70 View FIGURES 66–77 ). One female dissected. Ductus bursae in lateral view more curved than in previous species, with a similar lightly sclerotized part near the middle. No sclerotized element observed on the membrane in between the papillae anales. Eighth tergite subrectangular, anterior border convex, posterior one concave.

Sympatry. T. genena occurs in sympatry with T. tiasa in Pará, Brazil, and is allopatric with T. angulus stat. rev.

Known distribution ( Fig. 89 View FIGURES 88–89 ). Brazil (PA).

Remarks. The female NHMUK015201058 identified as T. genena thanks to its DNA, bears a handwritten label ‘tiasa’. It was considered as a potential syntype for T. tiasa . See paragraph under this species.