Heteropsis exocellata

C, Lees David, 2016, Heteropsis (Nymphalidae: Satyrinae: Satyrini: Mycalesina): 19 new species from Madagascar and interim revision, Zootaxa 4118 (1), pp. 1-97 : 11

Heteropsis exocellata group

A small clade supported by multiple genes (Aduse-Poku et al., 2015, Fig 1 ; Suppl. S4) for two sampled species, Ht. exocellata and Ht. cowani (Butler, 1880) , with an intriguing published topology (albeit with moderate bootstrap support) as sister to all other Malagasy Region Heteropsis . This clade is also morphologically characterised ( Lees, 1997) by the following combination of features: HW ocellus strongly expressed in dorsal space-M3 as well as space-CuA1; spatulate valves, toothed mesad near the slightly folded tip which projects beyond the uncus; gnathos with basal curved projection which is unique among Malagasy Heteropsis and developed (at least in Ht. exocellata and Ht. cowani ) with its main arm downward arching over the uncus ( Lees, 1997: 106). The vinculum is strongly bowed proximad from LV. See Paulian (1951) for variation in the ♂ genitalia of Ht. exocellata (under its synonyms Henotesia aberrans Paulian, 1951 and He. benedicta Paulian, 1951), but see also the phylogeography of Linares et al., (2009: 488–489), who include representatives from the type localities of both nominal taxa and find no evidence for reciprocal monophyly among the respective populations. The biology of the H. exocellata group is unknown, but these are low flying forest interior butterflies likely to be associated with low grasses, which seem rarely attracted to fruit. They tend to occur in localised and bright forest pockets with a very humid aspect such as near streams, up to around 1800 m elevation. Ht. exocellata has been observed hilltopping on a ridge (pers. obs.).

Figures

FIGURE 1. Venation and wing patterning diagram of a fairly typical species of Heteropsis from Madagascar (Heteropis antahala group; ♂), DV. Sdbp = Supra-discocellular brush and patch. Cub = Cubital brush. Ventral banding: Cb = Costal bars. Mf = Median fleck (pale highlight). Mb = Median band. PMb = Premedian band. Ore = Ocellus ring extension. Pml = Premarginal line. Sml = Submarginal line.