Male Genitalia of Neotropical Charaxinae: A Comparative Analysis of Character Variation

Abstract

Charaxinae (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) has a worldwide distribution, although it occurs mainly between the tropics. Most species occur in the Neotropics, where three tribes, Preponini, Anaeomorphini, and Anaenini, can be found. Collectively, these three tribes encompass 109 species. Because of its relevance to systematics and taxonomy, the male genitalia of Lepidoptera have been extensively studied. The male genitalia are composed of the last two abdominal segments and their modifications for mating, known as claspers of the bodies. In order to improve upon the systematic classification of the subfamily, 31 species of 13 genera of Neotropical Charaxinae were analyzed. All characters relevant to species and generic taxonomy were analyzed. Most structures showed morphological variations among tribes, genera, and species. These variations demonstrated to be important to Preponini, because the structural patterns of the genitalia allow the separation in two groups, Prepona Boisduval and Archaeoprepona Fruhstorfer, and are in accord with the recent taxonomic classification proposed by Ortiz-Acevado and Willmott (2013), wherein Agrias Doubleday is synonymized in Prepona and Noreppa Rydon within Archaeoprepona. In the same way, Anaeomorpha splendida Rothschild showed considerable differences from Preponini's genera, the tribe in which it was included, confirming the revalidation of the tribe Anaeomorphini (Ortiz-Acevado and Willmott 2013). Substantial variation was found in the genital structures of Anaeini, making it difficult to establish structural patterns for this group. Such structural variation, however, may be very efficient to diagnose species, such as some species of Memphis Hübner and Fountainea Rydon, which can be easily identified through the presence and location of spines on the valva.

Exoskeleton Morphology of Three Species of Preponini, with Discussion of Morphological Similarities among Neotropical Charaxinae (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae)—I. Head, Cephalic Appendages, and Cervix

“…The importance of this is indicated by the number of characters or character sets that are synapomorphies of Charaxinae (Ehrlich, 1958b;Ackery, 1984), or the character set that diagnoses species of this subfamily (Mielke et al, 2004a, b, c;Dias et al, 2012;Bonfantti et al, 2013). In any event, this is the first study focused on analyzing a poorly known part of the body, and also indicated some potentially useful characteristics for taxonomy, phylogeny or meriting further exploration in other kinds of studies.…”

Immature stages of the turquoise‐banded shoemaker Archaeoprepona amphimachus pseudomeander (Fruhstorfer, 1906) and a comparative review of the Preponini (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae)

“…These characters are also present in taxa formerly included in Noreppa , supporting synonymy with Archaeoprepona as indicated by Ortiz‐Acevedo and Willmott (), Bonfantti et al . () and Ortiz‐Acevedo et al . ().…”

“…Molecular and morphological evidence suggests that Anaeomorpha is a distinct tribe, although more closely related to Anaeini than to Preponini (Ortiz‐Acevedo & Willmott ; Bonfantti et al . ).…”

“…A number of characters of the adults of M. pheridamas are shared with Archaeoprepona or transitional between that genus and Prepona , such as the absence of eyespots on the hind wing underside and the striate structure of the gnathos of the male genitalia (Bonfantti et al . ; Ortiz‐Acevedo et al . ).…”

Aspectos biológicos de Archaeoprepona demophon muson (Fruhstorfer, 1905) (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae, Charaxinae) en la Amazonía peruana

“…Su subespecie Archaeoprepona demophon muson (Fruhstorfer, 1905) ocurre desde el norte de Venezuela hasta Bolivia y el oeste de Brasil (Robbins et al 1996, Campos & Ramírez 2005, Henao 2006, Bonfantti et al 2013, Calero-Mejía et al 2014 González (2006) estudió su preferencia alimenticia en Tarapoto, indicando la variación de su ciclo biológico de acuerdo a dos dietas vegetales. Esta mariposa posee un buen potencial para los bionegocios (confección de artesanías), siendo comercializada en países como Estados Unidos, Bélgica y Austria con precios que oscilan entre los 3 a 7 dólares por unidad y el par de calidad A1 (hembra y macho) a 19.20 dólares.…”