Using Molecules and Morphology to Unravel the Systematics of Neotropical Preponine Butterflies (Lepidoptera: Charaxinae: Preponini)

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

“…The Charaxinae are a cosmopolitan subfamily of brush‐footed butterflies mostly distributed in the tropics, with about 400 species, arranged in 5 tribes and 29 genera (Lamas ; Ortiz‐Acevedo et al . ). This subfamily includes the Preponini, one of the most distinctive and sought‐after groups of butterflies because of the aesthetic beauty of its species.…”

“…Archaeoprepona currently comprises 30 taxa in 10 recognised species (Lamas ; Ortiz‐Acevedo et al . ). The genus was first proposed as a subgenus of Prepona as both genera are superficially alike and include large butterflies with similar iridescent blue or green vertical bands on the wing upperside.…”

“…Ortiz‐Acevedo et al . ). As there is consensus on the fact that information on immature stages is important in resolving the taxonomy of Charaxinae (Rydon ), the aims of this study are to describe the natural history and morphology of the immature stages of A. amphimachus pseudomeander , with a comparative discussion on the generic taxonomy of Preponini based on immature stages.…”

“…Nevertheless, in a molecular phylogeny carried out by Ortiz‐Acevedo and Willmott () and Ortiz‐Acevedo et al . (), species formerly included in Noreppa and Agrias were found to be deeply nested within Archaeoprepona and Prepona , respectively, and a new genus, Mesoprepona , was proposed for a species formerly in Prepona . However, despite this contrary evidence, some authors continue to recognise Noreppa and Agrias as valid taxa (e.g.…”

“…Ortiz‐Acevedo et al . ), the generic and species‐level taxonomy of Preponini is still controversial, chiefly because of a reliance on inconsistent superficial characters.…”