Phantos callidryas, (R. FELDER, 1869), 2019

Dias, Fernando Maia Silva, Janzen, Daniel, Hallwachs, Winnie, Chacón, Isidro, Willmott, Keith, Ortiz-Acevedo, Elena, Mielke, Olaf Hermann Hendrik & Casagrande, Mirna Martins, 2019, DNA barcodes uncover hidden taxonomic diversity behind the variable wing patterns in the Neotropical butterfly genus Zaretis (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae: Charaxinae), Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 185, pp. 132-192 : 184-185

PHANTOS CALLIDRYAS (R. FELDER, 1869) COMB. NOV.

( FIGS 24A–D, 25A, 26A, B, 27; SUPPORTING INFORMATION, APPENDIX S6)

Type material

Probable male syntype of Nymphalis callidryas R. Felder, 1869 with the following labels: / 214/ Hedemann Mexico 1870/ Nymphalis callidryas Type Feld[er]/ LECTOTYPE #m Nymphalis callidryas R. Felder, 1869 by G. Lamas ‘90/ (NHM).

Diagnosis

Phantos callidryas comb. nov. is similar to P. opalina comb. nov., stat. rev., but males ( Fig. 24A, B) can be distinguished by the shape of the outer margin of the FW, which is strongly sinuous, although the apex is only slightly projected and somewhat rounded in both sexes; in both sexes, outer margins smooth or only slightly crenulated; HW projections at M 3 and at the tornus at 2A comparatively less developed; colour of the wings paler, pearly white, greenish white or yellowish white; yellow or yellowish orange suffusion along the outer margins absent or very faint, especially in males; FWD markings reduced, restricted to the apex anterior to M 1; HWD markings reduced, especially in males; HW inner margin slightly emarginated near the tornus in both sexes ( Fig. 24A–D).

Discussion

Phantos callidryas comb. nov. was described based on an unstated number of specimens, but given the wording of the description, it was probably based on a single male specimen, collected in Córdoba, Veracruz, Mexico, by Mr Nieto, during the summer. One specimen that may represent this type is deposited at the NHM and was examined by Godman & Salvin ([1884]) in the second half of the 19th century. A specimen deposited in the above-cited collection with a ‘ Nymphalis callidryas Type Feld’ label in R. Felder’s handwriting was informally selected as the lectotype by Gerardo Lamas (unpublished data). However, another label in different handwriting indicates that the specimen was collected by Mr Hedemann in 1870, after the description date. This specimen, the single specimen of this species at the NHM, could have been collected by Mr Hedemann, but given to R. Felder by Mr Nieto. If Mr Hedemann is the true collector, then the date on the black script label is not the collecting date, as Mr Hedemann left Mexico after the execution of Emperor Maximilian in 1867. Perhaps the specimen was brought to the museum after the description of the species, and misleadingly labelled with the collector’s name and the date of receipt (S. Gaal-Haszler, personal communication). In view of this conflicting information, no specimen is designated as the lectotype at this time. Rudolf Felder (1869) named this species because of its resemblance to species of pierids of the genus Callidryas Boisduval & Le Conte, [1830] , now regarded as a junior subjective synonym of Phoebis Hübner, [1819] ( Pieridae ). This similarity was further recognized by Druce (1877), Röber (1916) and D’Abrera (1984), who acknowledged that this species could be mistaken for large pierids when in flight. Immature stages of P. callidryas comb. nov. were reared by Muyshondt (1976) on C. nitida and C. sylvestris and by Lichy (1976) on C. sylvestris .

Distribution

From Mexico (Campeche, Colima, Guerrero, Jalisco, Michoacán, Nayarit, Oaxaca, Puebla, Quintana Roo, San Luis Potosí, Sinaloa, Veracruz and Yucatán), Guatemala, Belize, El Salvador and northwestern Honduras, on both the Atlantic and Pacific slopes (‘Mesoamerican dominion’ sensu Morrone, 2014) ( Fig. 27). It is not known whether this species is sympatric with P. opalina comb. nov., stat. rev., which occurs further south. Detailed distributional data for Mexico was provided by Vargas et al. (2008).

Examined material

See Supporting Information, Appendix S1.

PHANTOS OPALINA (GODMAN & SALVIN, [1884])