Rhamma Johnson, 1992

Prieto, Carlos & Vargas, Maria A., 2016, Elfin butterflies of the genus Rhamma Johnson (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae: Theclinae): A review of the Colombian species, Zootaxa 4093 (3), pp. 323-342 : 324

Genus Rhamma Johnson, 1992

Pontirama Johnson, 1992: 40 ; type species: Pontirama brunea Johnson, 1992

Paralustrus Johnson, 1992: 153 ; type species: Thecla commodus Felder & Felder, 1865 Shapiroana Johnson, 1992: 148 ; type species: Shapiroana shapiroi Johnson, 1992

Type species: Thecla oxida Hewitson, 1870 .

Revised diagnosis. Rhamma is characterized by the following combination of characters: 1) androconial scent brand appearing as an elongate streak bordering the upper vein of the discal cell apex on DFW ( Fig. 51–59, 61, 62 ); 2) male genitalia with vinculum forming a 90 degree angle ( Fig. 33 b); 3) vinculum strut strongly developed ( Fig. 33 a); 4) ductus bursae short, robust and with strongly developed lamella postvaginalis, terminating in serrate, or multi-pronged configurations ( Fig. 42 a); 5) signa dendritic, fan shaped ( Fig. 42 c); 6) ductus bursae in dorsal or ventral aspect lightly sclerotized in the middle so that it appears to be transparent ( Fig. 42 b); and 7) a ventral element associated with the 8th tergite in female genitalia (figure 3:C, j in Johnson, 1992). The first character is unique within Eumaeini , but is lacking in R. anosma . Characters 2, 6 and 7 are either unique within the Eumaeini or highly unusual and will be the most useful in assigning species to Rhamma .

Figures

FIGURES 51 – 62. Androconial brands (arrows point the scent pad): 51. Rhamma hybla; 52. Rhamma adunca; 53. Rhamma arria; 54. Rhamma livida; 55. Rhamma oxida; 56. Rhamma comstocki; 57. Rhamma shapiroi; 58. Rhamma mishma; 59. Rhamma bilix; 60. Rhamma anosma; 61. Rhamma familiaris; 62. Rhamma commodus.

FIGURES 30 – 35. Male genitalia armatures in lateral (left) and ventral (right) views: 30. Rhamma hybla; 31. Rhamma adunca; 32. Rhamma arria; 33. Rhamma livida (arrows point a., vinculum strut strongly developed and b., vinculum forming a 90 degree angle); 34. Rhamma oxida; 35. Rhamma comstocki.

FIGURES 42 – 50. Female genitalia (ductus bursae and bursa copulatrix): 42. Rhamma hybla (arrows point a., strongly developed lamella postvaginalis, terminating in serrate configurations b., ductus bursae lightly sclerotized in the middle so that it appears to be transparent and c., dendritic, fan shaped signa) 43. Rhamma adunca; 44. Rhamma arria; 45. Rhamma livida; 46. Rhamma oxida; 47. Rhamma comstocki; 48. Rhamma shapiroi; 49. Rhamma bilix; 50. Rhamma anosma.