Philaethria romeroi Constantino & Salazar

Constantino, Luis Miguel & Salazar, Julian A., 2010, A review of the Philaethria dido species complex (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae: Heliconiinae) and description of three new sibling species from Colombia and Venezuela, Zootaxa 2720, pp. 1-27 : 23-24

Philaethria romeroi Constantino & Salazar , n. sp.

(Fig. 28,29)

Diagnosis. P. ro m e ro i is recognized by the shape of the FW and HW which are wider than the other Philaethria species, FW postmedial green area large, FW medial green band extended, FW tornus between veins 1A- Cu2 with three spots, HW with very large postcellular spots, and with unike row of 8 small marginal dots on the dorsal side of the hind wing not seen in any other Philaethria species, medial postdiscal band bone white with inner postdiscal band dark brown.

Description. Forewing length 50–52 mm. Dorsal side of thorax and abdomen black, ventral side of abdomen and thorax white. Dorsal forewing ground color black with green-lemon bands like in P. dido . Dorsal surface of hindwings with four pairs of small marginal green dots between veins M2-M3, M3-Cu1, Cu1-Cu2, Cu2 -1A ( P. browni , P. neildi , P. ostara and P. dido without marginal green dots), ventral surface of hindwings with submarginal band light brown, HW inner postdiscal band dark brown, VHW medial postdiscal band beige with scattered white scales, VHW postcellular spots large, VFW medial cell bar black, VHW marginal cellular spots brown (black in P. dido and P. n e i l d i), DFW tornus with three small green dots on dorsum (two in P. browni and two in P. neildi ).

Haploid chromosome number: n= 21 (voucher specimen fig.28) from Venezuela (Aragua) Although this species has 21 chromosomes, the pattern and shape of the wing is different from P. o s t a r a.

Male genitalia ( Fig. 41 ): As illustrated. Saccus long, straight and thin, vinculum stout, slightly curved and swollen, tegumen rounded distally with seta at the base of the uncus; uncus short and slighlty curved; gnathos long and curved distally; valvae with basal hook, reaching the tip of the uncus; aedeagus long and straight, pointing distally.

Type material. Holotype male: VENEZUELA: Aragua, Rancho Grande, Cordillera de La Costa, 1100m, August 1970, F. Romero leg. Deposited in MIZA. Paratypes: 1 male, VENEZUELA: Aragua, Rancho Grande, Cordillera de La Costa, 1100 m, June 1975, F. Romero leg. (CFR)

Etymology. This species is named for Francisco Romero (Maracay, Venezuela) who collected the holotype specimen and whose collection supplied important information on the distribution of Philaethria species from Venezuela.

Distribution and habitat. P. romeroi is only known from Rancho Grande in the state of Aragua in N. Venezuela at 1100 m above sea level in montane forest habitats. It is probable that P. romeroi may occur along the Cordillera de La Costa. P. romeroi flies sympatrically with P. o s t a r a and P. n e il di.

Hostplant and immature stages. unknown.

Figures

FIGURES 32 – 41. Male genitalia, with aedeagus removed in lateral view. 32. P. diatonica. 33. P. dido 34. P. constantinoi. 35. P. wernickei. 36. P. pygmalion. 37. P. neildi. 38. P. andrei. 39. P. o s t a r a. 40. P. browni. 41. P. romeroi. Scale line 1 mm.