Author(s): Bálint, Zs., Dahners, H. W., Salazar-Escobar, J. A. & Kertész, K.
Title: Comments on the systematics and natural history of Aveexcrenota, a genus of rare Andean eumaeine Lycaenidae (Lepidoptera)
Year: 2006
Volume: 52
Pages: 331-352.
Abstract: The original description and type material of the nominal taxon Thecla anna Druce, 1907 has been investigated. The specimen which served as the basis for the original description is holotype by monotypy. The figure accompanying the original description is partly hypothetical, and actually resembles the female phenotype, which has been discovered almost one century later. The nominal taxon Aveexcrenota mimianna Salazar et Johnson, 1997 proved to be a junior synonym of A. anna, which has been hitherto reported only from the Colombian Andes. Recently Aveexrenota has been found also in Ecuador and Peru. The only known Peruvian specimen (from departament Amazonas, Pomachocha) is diagnosed on the basis on qualitative and quantitative wing characters. The genus Aveexcrenota Salazar et Johnson, 1997 (type species: Thecla anna Druce, 1907, by original designation) seems to be most closely related to the monotypic Pan-American Evenus Hübner 1818 based on wing spectral and internal structural characters. Previous placements in "Thecla" or "Theritas" are considered unsupported by current evidence. The hypothetical cladogram for the Evenus genus group is given on the basis of wing androconia, color, pattern and shape characters considered apomorphies or synapomorphies. The clade of Thecla coronata Hewitson, 1865 is diagnosed as Suneve Bálint, gen. n. The males of A. anna are hilltoppers, where females may be also found. They are reported from virgin cloud forests between 1800–2300 m in the Cordillera Occidental (Cali) and the Cordillera Central (Manizales) of Colombia throughout the year having one flight peak in temporal distribution.
Keywords: genera, Evenus genus group, spectral reflectance, Eumaeini, Andes
Journal: Acta Zoologica Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae
Journal abbreviation:
ISSN: 1217-8837
Publisher: Hungarian Natural History Museum, Budapest
Editor(s): Bakonyi, G., Mahunka, S., Papp, L., Báldi, A., Csuzdi, Cs. & Forró, L.
