A new species of Splendeuptychia from the Magdalena Valley in Colombia (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae: Satyrinae)

Abstract

A new butterfly species Splendeuptychia ackeryi n. sp., is described from dry habitats in the Magdalena valley of Colombia. It most closely resembles the Ecuadorian east slope endemic S. toynei Willmott & Hall, 1995. Aspects of the morphology, ecology, distribution and conservation of the new species are discussed.

Biogeographic history of the butterfly subtribe Euptychiina (Lepidoptera, Nymphalidae, Satyrinae)

“…Even though our sampling of Euptychiina is incomplete, it is evident that the subtribe is plagued by polyphyletic genera and needs a great deal of taxonomic work. Although recent studies have begun to tackle this problem (Freitas 2003, 2004a, 2007; Peña & Lamas 2005; Freitas & Peña 2006; Pulido & Andrade 2008; Huertas et al. 2009), the current classification of genera in Euptychiina remains basically unchanged since the work of Forster (1964).…”

“…This may account for the lack of basic evolutionary studies on the group. Their taxonomy is in urgent need of revision, plagued by unnatural genera and many undescribed species (Lamas 2004; Murray & Prowell 2005; Peña & Lamas 2005; Freitas & Peña 2006; Freitas 2007; Pulido & Andrade 2008; Huertas et al. 2009).…”

“…This may account for the lack of basic evolutionary studies on the group. Their taxonomy is in urgent need of revision, plagued by unnatural genera and many undescribed species (Lamas 2004;Murray & Prowell 2005;Peñ a & Lamas 2005;Freitas 2007;Pulido & Andrade 2008;Huertas et al 2009). Forster (1964) created many of the genera that currently form Euptychiina based on morphological characters of the male genitalia of species from Bolivia, but failed to provide clear diagnoses for his new genera.…”

Rhynchotermes armatus, a new mandibulate nasute termite (Isoptera, Termitidae, Syntermitinae) from Colombia

“…The Magdalena River Valley lies between the central and eastern ranges of the Colombian Andes and is host to various endemic faunas including birds (Cracraft 1985), fishes (Anderson and Maldonado‐Ocampo 2011), frogs (Ospina-Sarria et al 2015), lizards (Velasco and Hurtado-Gómez 2014), and insects (Huertas et al 2009; Padilla-Gil 2015). Rhynchotermes armatus is apparently another endemic species from the Magdalena River Valley.…”

Distribution and conservation status of nominate Euptychia cesarense in the East Andes of Colombia

“…Various other new taxa have been described or have descriptions underway following expeditions in Serranía de los Yariguíes (e.g. Donegan & Huertas 2006;Huertas & Arias 2007;Huertas et al 2009;Huertas & Fagua MS). Four other specimens of E. cesarense were found at MPUJ, collected in 2004.…”