Deudorix calderon Kheil, 1884

Šumpich, Jan & Weidenhoffer, Zdeněk, 2025, A review of the types of Lycaenidae species (Lepidoptera) described by Napoleon Manuel Kheil deposited in the collection of the National Museum of the Czech Republic, Acta Entomologica Musei Nationalis Pragae 65 (1), pp. 177-195 : 192-193

Deudorix calderon Kheil, 1884 , stat. restit.

( Fig. 12)

Deudorix calderon Kheil, 1884: 33 , fig. 25 (original description).

Deudorix calderon : FRUHSTORÞER (1912): 264 (taxonomic review); BRlDGES (1988): VIII.87 (catalogue).

Deudorix staudingeri calderon : SElTZ (1912–1927): 998 (new combination).

Type material examined. HOLOTYPE: J ( NMPC), ‘Nias [p] // Coll. N. Kheil [p] // Orig. [p, pink label] // ex coll. N. M. Kheil / Coll. National / Museum Prague [p] // Holotype J / Deudorix calderon / Kheil, 1884 / labelled by J. Šumpich / & Z. Weidenhoffer, 2025 [p, red label] // Photo / Gen. prep. / J. Šumpich / 22/167 [p]’ ( Fig. 12A).

Current status. Deudorix calderon Kheil, 1884 , stat. restit., valid species.

Distribution. Indonesia (Nias) (KHElL 1884), Philippines (Palawan) ( SCHRÖDER & TREADAWAY 2013), Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, China (Yunnan, Hainan) (INAYOSHl 1996–2024).

Remarks. KHElL (1884) did not depict the underside of the holotype wings, which resulted in misplacement of the species as a subspecies of D. staudingeri Druce, 1895 by SElTZ (1912–1927). Paradoxically, D. staudingeri is 11 years younger than D. calderon . SAVELLA (2024) accepts this combination with a question mark; however, this mistake was already recognized by BRlDGES (1988) and perhaps that is why he listed D. calderon as a good species. SEKl et al. (1991) pointed out that D. calderon is likely conspecific with D. hypargyria ( Elwes, 1893) , but similarly as in the previous case, Kheil’s description is older (!). Unfortunately, we do not have comparative material of D. hypargyria , but adults of that taxon were depicted by ELWES (1893) and CORBET & PENDLEBURY (1992); the upper and underside of this species, and live butterflies from nature as well are depicted also by INAYOSHl (1996–2024). We see no difference in external appearance between D. hypargyria and the holotype of D. calderon , and especially in photos of live males from Thailand, the orange end of the abdomen, which is typical of D. calderon , is also very visible. We therefore have a good reason to follow the opinion of SEKl et al. (1991) and consider D. hypargyria to be a subspecies of D. calderon .

Deudorix strephanus Druce, 1896 was described as a separate species from Mt. Kinabalu, Borneo. In the original paper, the number of specimens of the type series is not specified and the description appears to have been based on a single male; therefore, TAKANAKl (1989) designated a lectotype, instead of holotype. SAVELLA (2024) considers strephanus to be a good species, but SEKl et al. (1991) classify it as a subspecies of D. hypargyria and point out a possible conspecificity with D. calderon . We agree with the opinion of SEKl et al. (1991) and transfer D. hypargyria strephanus as the subspecies of D. calderon .

Deudorix hypargyria annawarneckae Schröder & Treadaway, 2013 , described from the Palawan island in the Philippines, has so far been the only subspecies of D. hypargyria ( SCHRÖDER & TREADAWAY 2013, SAVELLA 2024). As a result of the change in taxonomic status of D. hypargyria , D. h. annawarneckae should be transferred to the subspecies level of D. calderon .

Updated list of subspecies of Deudorix calderon :

Deudorix calderon calderon Kheil, 1884 , stat. restit.

Deudorix calderon annawarneckae ( Schröder & Treadaway, 2013) , stat. nov.

Deudorix calderon hypargyria ( Elwes, 1893) , stat. nov.

Deudorix calderon strephanus (Druce, 1896) , stat. nov.