Pedaliodes prytanis Hewitson

Abstract

Pedaliodes prytanis (Hewitson) (Figs. 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16) [Dasynympha aspaera Moritz, in litt.] nomen nudum; Viloria et al., 2001: 33. Pronophila prytanis Hewitson, 1862: 7 –8, pl. 3, fig. 24. 1 male, [Venezuela], HC, BMNH type No. Rh. 3983 [LECTOTYPE of P. p r y t a n i s Hew., herein designated]; 5 males, Venezuela, pur. from Dyson, 46–75, (2 genit. prep. ALV 107 - 96; ALV 276 - 97), [PARALECTOTYPES of P. prytanis Hew., herein designated]. Pedaliodes prytanis (Hewitson); Butler, 1867: 267. Pedaliodes cestia Thieme, 1905: 92, 94, pl. 1, fig. 8 [type locality: Colombia]. 1 male, Columb[ien]., Karsten, Thieme, (genit. vial No. 9002, L. D. Miller), with a red label saying lectotype of Pedaliodes cestia Thieme, designated by Lee D. Miller, 1989, [LECTOTYPE of P. cestia Thieme, herein designated], ZMHB, synonymy given by Lamas et al. (2004). Pedaliodes adamsi d’Abrera, 1988: 855, holotype male: BMNH [examined], [type locality: Ecuador, Piscourco (erroneous)], syn. nov. Geographic range: Species: CC (monotypic). Altitudinal range: 2000–2600 m. Remarks: This species can easily be confused with the sympatric P. piletha (Hewitson). The latter is, however, considerably smaller, particularly the females, and has a white HWV anal wedge, variable in P. prytanis between snow white, milky white and yellow. P. prytanis and P. piletha occur in similar habitats. P. prytanis is, however, more commonly met with at slightly higher elevations than P. piletha, above 2200 m. Moreover, P. piletha is much more common and largely outnumbers its bigger congener. P. p r y t a n i s is closely related to P. proerna fumaria Thieme, from the CM, which has the same size, wing shape and male androconia, but instead of a large HWV anal wedge it has only some diffuse white scales, rarely dense enough as to form a full wedge (Adams & Bernard, 1981). Two extreme expressions of individual forms of the males and four of the females were illustrated. Pedaliodes cestia Thieme is a junior synonym of P. prytanis. Its type locality, given by Thieme as Colombia, is erroneous. Pedaliodes adamsi d’Abrera described based on a single, historical male specimen in the BMNH from “ Ecuador is also considered as a junior synonym of P. prytanis. The type locality “Piscourco is considered erroneous. None of the lepidopterists who have extensively sampled the Andes of Ecuador in the recent period (T. Pyrcz, K. Willmott, A. Jasiński, P. Boyer, M. Bollino and others) have reported any species possibly matching the type of P. adamsi. The type of P. adamsi was found to be identical with an individual morph of P. p r y t a n i s occurring in the area of Colonia Tovar, characterised by particularly large HWV yellowish patches, illustrated herein. Material examined: DISTRITO FEDERAL: 1 male: P. N. Avila, Caracas, 1800 m, 05.VII. 1979, D. Baiocchi leg., MIZA; 1 male: Dto. Federal, Pico Naiguatá, 2700 m, 16.V. 1975, R. Dietz leg., MIZA; 1 male, Caracas; 1 male, Caracas, Berg Avila, 1000 m, x- 1936 / v- 1937, P. Corn. Vogl, (präparat Nr. SA 370), ZSBS; ARAGUA: 1 female: Colonia Tovar, Cuesta de Puerto Maya, 2000 m, 08.V. 2004, M. Costa leg., TWP; 1 male: Colonia Tovar, vía Capachal, 2100 m, 02.VIII. 2003, T. Pyrcz leg., TWP; 2 male and 1 female: Colonia Tovar, vía Capachal, 2100 m, 05.VIII. 2003, T. Pyrcz leg., TWP; 7 males and 1 female: Colonia Tovar, vía Naranjal, 2100 m, 06.VIII. 2003, T. Pyrcz leg., TWP; 1 male and 4 females: Colonia Tovar, vía Naranjal, 2100m, 01.XII. 2004, T. Pyrcz leg., TWP; 3 males: Colonia Tovar, Los Colonos, 2100–2150 m, 06.VIII. 2003, J. & T. Pyrcz leg., TWP; 2 males: Colonia Tovar, vía Cuesta Maya, 2000 m, 25–26.III. 1998, A. Chacón, Q. Arias and J. Chirinos leg., MIZA; 1 males: Colonia Tovar, 1800 m, 25.IX. 1953, F. Fernández Y. leg., MIZA; 4 males and 1 female: Colonia Tovar, Capachal, 2050 m, 22.I. 2010, T. Pyrcz leg., MZUJ; 1 male: Colonia Tovar, Los Colonos, 2100 m, 22.II. 2010, T. Pyrcz leg., MZUJ; 4 males and 1 female: Colonia Tovar, Los Colonos, 2200 m, 04.III. 2010, T. Pyrcz leg., TWP; 1 female: Aragua, Colonia Tovar, 19. VI. 1995, A. Chacón leg., MIZA; 3 males: Venezuela, Mor.[itz], Felder Colln., RB, BMNH; 1 male: Venezuela, Ex Musaeo Dris. Boisduval, OC, BMNH; 1 male: Druce Coll., Ex Kaden Coll., (genit. prep. ALV 106 - 96), G-S, BMNH; 2 males: Venezuela, Coll. v. Schenck, ZMHB; 7 males and 2 females: Colonia Tovar, 2100 m, IV. 1993, F. Romero leg., FRR; 6 males and 1 female: same data but 1900 m, FRR; 5 males and 3 females: same data but 2300 m, FRR; 2 males: same data but VI. 1975, FRR; 1 female: same data but X. 1995, FRR; 1 female: carretera Maracay-Choroní, La Cumbre, 1550 m, IX. 1969, F. Romero leg., FRR; 1 male: 3 kms N.W. of Colonia Tovar, W. of Caracas, 2100 m, 20.V 1.975, M. Adams leg., BMNH; 1 female: Portachuelo Pass, Rancho Grande, 1100 m, 26.V. 1975, M. Adams leg., BMNH; MIRANDA: 1 male: El Avila, Lagunazo, 14.XI. 1981, J. DeMarmels leg., MIZA; 1 male: Pico Naiguatá, N. of Caracas, 2700–2765 m, 17.V. 1975, M. Adams leg., BMNH; 1 male: same data but 1800 m, 18.V. 1975, M. Adams leg., BMNH; 3 males: same data but 2700 m, 16.V. 1975, M. Adams leg., BMNH; 1 female: same data, M. Adams leg., BMNH.Published as part of Viloria, Angel L., Pyrcz, Tomasz W. & Orellana, Andrés, 2010, A survey of the Neotropical montane butterflies of the subtribe Pronophilina (Lepidoptera, Nymphalidae) in the Venezuelan Cordillera de la Costa, pp. 1-41 in Zootaxa 2622 on pages 21-22, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.19811