Bia pucallpa Casagrande & Penz

Penz, Carla M., Casagrande, Mirna M., Devries, Phil & Simonsen, Thomas J., 2017, Documenting diversity in the Amazonian butterfly genus Bia (Lepidoptera, Nymphalidae), Zootaxa 4258 (3), pp. 201-237 : 221-223

Bia pucallpa Casagrande & Penz , NEW SP.

( Figs 8 e, 10l, 11f, 12)

Diagnosis. Defined by the following combination of characters: (1) M DFW white apical ocelli large, proportionately larger than in other species. (2) M DFW orange band extremely diffuse and narrow, barely visible in some specimens. (3) M DFW iridescent band from anal margin to M2 or above, decreasing in width and intensity from posterior to anterior end, and blending with the orange band. (4) M DFW androconial organ on the CuA- CuA1-CuA2 intersection dark. (5) M DHW discal androconial pad nearly black, darker than the hairpencil. (6) M DHW discal hairpencil dark light to brown. Female unknown.

Description. Male FW length 28–29 mm, n=3. HEAD: As described for the genus. THORAX: Vestiture, wing venation and shape as described for the genus. M DFW and DHW mostly brown. DFW with two large white apical ocelli below R3 and R4; one dark brown, diffuse ocellus below M1; a thin and highly diffuse orange crescent band (similar to caelestis ); and an iridescent blue patch from DFW tornus to cell M3, wide at tornus and becoming narrower and more diffuse in cells above. DHW plain brown, anal region pale. VFW with ripple pattern that fades posteriorly; oceli mirror the dorsal side, with ocellus below M1 being the most conspicuous, and having a purple pupil. VHW with widespread ripple pattern, some of which in silvery white color; distal wing edge with a yelloworange line followed by a brown line; one simple, yellow-orange ocellus always present below Sc+R, others may be present below Rs and M1, irregular ocellus with linear pupil below CuA1 always present; tail darkening towards tip. Androconial organ on the DFW CuA-CuA1-CuA2 intersection dark, and a sparse cluster of modified, hair-like scales is located posteriorly to it. DHW with a nearly black androconial pad and brown associated hairpencil inside the discal cell; posterior hairpencil between 1A+2A and 3A cream-colored. Legs as described for the genus. ABDOMEN: General morphology as described for the genus. Male genitalia ( Fig. 11 f): general morphology as described for the genus; tegumen short; uncus long; valva tip narrowing to a round point distally and with a medium-long spiny projection (lateral view), tip straight (ventral view); gnathos medium-wide, evenly arched (lateral view).

Etymology. This species is named after Pucallpa (Ucayali, Peru), the collecting locality of the first specimen to be recognized as a new taxon.

Type material. Holotype M ( Fig. 8 e), deposited in the MHNL collection, three labels separated by // and transcribed verbatim: HOLOTYPUS // PERU, PA[SCO], Rio Palcazu , Santa Rosa, 500m, 12.IX. [19] 88 P. Hocking // Holotypus Bia pucallpa Casagrande & Penz, 2017 . Paratypes are listed in Appendix.

Distribution and examined specimens. Fig. 12 and Appendix.

Remarks. Although few specimens of B. pucallpa were available for study, this taxon is sufficiently distinct from others to warrant species status. We hope that the recognition of this new species will lead to the collection of additional specimens in the near future, including females.

Figures

FIGURE 8. Adults in dorsal and ventral views. Taxon names appear below each set. Bia caelestis Penz & DeVries, new sp.: a, male holotype, Brazil, Acre, Mâncio Lima (DZUP); b, male paratype, Brazil, Amazonas, São Paulo de Olivença (MfN); c, male paratype, Brazil, Amazonas, São Paulo de Olivença (CMNH); d, female paratype, Brazil, Amazonas, São Paulo de Olivença (CMNH). Bia pucallpa Casagrande & Penz, new sp.: e, male holotype, Peru, Peru, Pasco, Rio Palcazu, Santa Rosa (MHNL). Intermediate between caelestis and actorion: f, male, Colombia, Amazonas, Puerto Nariño (LACM).

FIGURE 11. Genitalia. a, male actorion, Guyana (dissection Penz 12 - 01, CMNH); b, female actorion, Guyana (dissection Penz 10 - 02, LACM; scale bar different from male illustrations); c, male decaerulea, Lectotype, Brazil, Pará, Faro, (dissection Miller 9047, MfN); d, male rebeli, Peru, San Martín (dissection Penz 10 - 08, USNM); e, male caelestis, paratype, Brazil, Amazonas, São Paulo de Olivença (dissection Penz 10 - 29, CMNH); f, male pucallpa, Peru, Pucallpa (USUSNM 2041410); g, male peruana, Peru, Huanuco, Rio Pichis (dissection Penz 09 - 06, FLMNH).

FIGURE 12. Map showing collection localities of Bia species and subspecies (see Appendix). Some close localities are represented by one single dot. Dubious label data, localities that could not be accurately identified or were incomplete (e. g., Brazil, Pará) were not placed on map.