A butterfly with olive green eyes discovered in the United States and the Neotropics (Lepidoptera, Lycaenidae, Eumaeini)

Abstract

We describe Ministrymon janevicroy Glassberg, sp. n., from the United States (Texas). Its wing pattern closely resembles that of the widespread and well-known lycaenid, Ministrymon azia (Hewitson). The new species is distinguished by the structure of its male and female genitalia, by the patterning of the ground color on the basal half of the ventral hindwing surface, and by the color of its eyes. Adults of Ministrymon janevicroy in nature have olive green eyes in contrast to the dark brown/black eyes of Ministrymon azia. Ministrymon janevicroy occurs in dry deciduous forest and scrub from the United States (Texas) to Costa Rica (Guanacaste) with disjunct populations on Curaçao and Isla Margarita (Venezuela). In contrast, Ministrymon azia occurs from the United States to southern Brazil and Chile in both dry and wet lowland habitats. Nomenclaturally, we remove the name Electrostrymon grumus K. Johnson & Kroenlein, 1993, from the synonymy of Ministrymon azia (where it had been listed as a synonym of Ministrymon hernandezi Schwartz & K. Johnson, 1992). We accord priority to Angulopis hernandezi K. Johnson & Kroenlein, 1993 over Electrostrymon grumus K. Johnson & Kroenlein, 1993, syn. n., which currently is placed in Ziegleria K. Johnson, 1993. The English name Vicroy’s Ministreak is proposed for Ministrymon janevicroy. We update biological records of dispersal and caterpillar food plants, previously attributed to Ministrymon azia, in light of the new taxonomy.

Genomics‐based higher classification of the species‐rich hairstreaks (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae: Eumaeini)

“…Dorsal forewing scent pads and patches occur widely in the Strephonotina, but not all. In Tmolus , Ministrymon and some Nicolaea , a discal cell dorsal forewing scent patch is covered by regular wing scales (Robbins & Glassberg, 2013), as in the genus Strymon (Strymonina). A conspicuous ventral forewing scent patch occurs in Strephonota strephon (Fabricius) and relatives accompanied by an enlarged hindwing costa.…”

“…Dorsal forewing scent pads and patches occur widely in the Strephonotina, but not all. In Tmolus, Ministrymon and some Nicolaea, a discal cell dorsal forewing scent patch is covered by regular wing scales (Robbins & Glassberg, 2013) (Faynel & Robbins, 2014).…”

Lycaenid caterpillars (Lepidoptera, Lycaenidae) eating flowers of Dalea pennellii var. chilensis (Fabaceae) in the northern Chilean Andes

“…For instance, Lycaenidae was mentioned as the third most important lepidopteran family in number of flower-feeding species in an area of the Brazilian cerrado near Brasilia (Morais et al 2009). This specialized feeding behaviour is apparently widespread among the larvae of Neotropical Eumaeini (Badenes-Pérez et al 2010;Kaminski & Freitas 2010;Kaminski et al , 2012Kaminski et al , 2013Silva et al 2011;Bächtold et al 2013;Robbins & Glassberg 2013;Vargas & Duarte 2014) and Polyommatini (Benyamini 1995;Duarte et al 2001;Vargas & Parra 2009). Higher concentrations of proteins and amino acids and lower levels of alkaloids have been mentioned as possible causes underlying the specialization of lycaenid larvae to feed on rapidly differentiating plant tissue, as flowers or developing fruits (Chew & Robbins 1984).…”