Alesa amesis (Cramer, 1777)

Santos, Wildio Ikaro Da Graça, Dolibaina, Diego Rodrigo, Dias, Fernando Maia Silva, Mielke, Olaf Hermann Hendrik & Casagrande, Mirna Martins, 2023, A review of the South American metalmark genus Alesa Doubleday, 1847 (Lepidoptera: Riodinidae: Eurybiini) with the description of two new species, Zootaxa 5284 (1), pp. 77-120 : 98-102

Alesa amesis (Cramer, 1777)

Figs 30–31 , 40–41 , 48, 53 , 56 , 67 , 74 , 79 , 86–88 , 95

Papilio amesis Cramer, 1777 . Pap. Exot. 2, p. 13, 147, pl. 104F ([female] d); Surinam; collection B. Vriends.—Goeze, 1780, Ent. Beytr. 3 (2), p. 93.—Schneider, 1785, Nomencl. Entom., p. 39.—Jung, 1791. Alphab. Verz. Schmett. 1, p. 29.

Papilio amasis [sic]; Herbst, 1804, in Jablonsky. Natursyst. Ins. Schmett. 11, p. 340, pl. 327, fig. 6 ([female] d).

Lemonias amesis ; Hoffmansegg, 1818. Zool. Mag. (Wiedemann’s) 1 (2): 100.

Actinote amesis ; Ḩbner, [1819]. Verz. bek. Schmett., p. 27.

Erycina amesis ; Godart, [1824], in Latreille & Godart. Enc. Méth. 9, p. 584.—Verloren, 1837. Cat. syst. Lep. Cramer, p. 50, 207.

Erycina priolas Godart, [1824] , in Latreille & Godart. Enc. Méth. 9, p. 555, 569; males, Brazil.— Callaghan, 1995. Bull. Soc. ent. France 100 (2): 155.

Alesa priolas ; Westwood, 1851, in Doubleday. Gen. diurn. Lep. 2, p. 418.—Ménétriés, 1855. Enum. Corp. Anim. Mus. Petrop., Lep. 1, p. 50.

Alesa amesis ; Herrich-Schäffer, [1853], Samml. aussereur. Schmett. 1, [pl. 13], figs 45, 46.—Herrich-Schäffer, [1858], Samml. aussereur. Schmett. 1, p. 55.—Bates, 1868. Journ. Linn. Soc. London, Zool. 9 (39): 415.—Herrich-Schäffer, 1868. Corr.-Blatt. zool.-min. Ver. Regensburg 22: 122.—Kirby, 1879. Cat. Coll. diurn. Lep. Hewitson, p. 186.— Sharpe, 1890. Proc. Zool. Soc. London: 575.— Stichel, 1910, in Wytsman. Gen. Ins. 112A, p. 4, figs 12b (palp), 12e (leg), 12h (male gen.), 12i, 12k (venation).— Seitz, 1916. Gross-Schmett. Erde 5, p. 652, pl. 127 (v, male d, female d); syn.: amosis , priolas .—Stichel, 1926. Dtsch. ent. Ztschr. 1926: 92.—Dalla Torre, 1927. Ent. Nachr.-Bl., Troppau, 1: 3.— Stichel, 1930. Lep. Cat. 40, p. 294.—Kaye, 1940. Trans. ent. Soc. London 90: 558.—Barcant, 1970 Butt. Trinidad and Tobago, p. 227, pl. 23, fig. 27.—Callaghan, 1983. Jour. Res. Lep. 21 (3): 164.—T. Emmel & G. Austin, 1990. Trop. Lep. 1 (1): 8.—Lamas et al., 1991. Publ. Mus. Hist. nat. UNMSM(A) 40: 14.—Brown, 1993. Occas. Paper IUCN Sp. Surv. Comm. 8: 48.—Brown, 1993. Occas. Paper IUCN Sp. Surv. Comm. 8: 151.— d’Abrera, 1994. Butt. Neotrop. Region 6, Riodinidae , p. 933, figs (male, female d).—Lamas, 1994. RAP Work. Pap. 6: 167.— Robbins et al., 1996, in Wilson & Sandoval. Manu, p. 235.— Brévignon, 1997. Lambillionea 97 (3)(1): 331, 334.—Lamas et al., [1997]. Rev. per. Ent. 39: 66.— DeVries & Penz, 2000. Biotropica 32 (4): 713, figs 1 (egg, larva), 2 (larva).—Murray, 2000. Jour. Res. Lep. 35: 58.—DeVries & Penz, 2001, in Kritsky (ed.) Amer. Ent. 47 (2): 119.—Andrade, 2002, in Costa et al. (eds.) Proyecto de Red Iberoamericana de Biogeografía y Entomología Sistemática 2: 170.—Hall & Harvey, 2002. Cladistics 18: 560.— DeVries & Penz, 2002. Jour. Lep. Soc. 56 (4): 265, figs 1 (egg), 2 (larva), 3 (pupa), 5–11 (larva), 12–17 (larva).—DeVries, Cabral & Penz, 2004. Milw. Publ. Mus. Contr. Biol. Geol. 102: 3.— Callaghan & Lamas, 2004, Riodinidae , p. 148, in Lamas (ed.). Checklist: Part 4A. Hesperioidea—Papilionoidea, in Heppner (ed.) Atlas of Neotropical Lepidoptera 5A; syn.: priolas .—Hall, 2004, in Capinera (ed.). Enc. Ent. 2, p. 1384, fig. 627E (female d).—Pinzón-C., 2008. Mariposas Bajo Rio Caquetá y Apaporis (Amaz. Colom.), p. 2, figs (male, female d, v).— Hall & Ahrenholz, 2010. Trop. Lep. Res. 20 (1): 21.—O. Mielke, Carneiro & Casagrande, 2010. Biota Neotr. 4 (10): 292).—Salazar et al., 2010. Bol. Cient. Mus. Hist. Nat. U. Caldas 14(1): 170.—Dinesh & Venkatesha, 2012. Jour. Etho. 31: 75.—Nielsen & Salazar, 2014. Bol. Cient. Mus. Hist. Nat. U. Caldas 18 (2): 218).—Gonzalo-Andrade et al., 2015. Rev. Colomb. Amaz. 8: 107.—Salazar et al., 2017. Bol. Cient. Mus. Hist. Nat. U. Caldas 21 (2), p. 159.— Gallard, 2017. Riodinidae Guyane, p. 55, pl. 10, f. 3F.

Alesa amosis [sic]; Kirby, 1871. Syn. Cat. diurn. Lep., p. 287.—M̂schler, 1877. Verh. zool.-bot. Ges. Wien 26: 303.—Kirby, 1880. Proc. roy. Dublin Soc. 2 (2): 312.—Staudinger, 1888, in Staudinger & Schatz. Exot. Schmett. 1, p. 242; 2, pl. 88 (male d, v).—Weeks, 1911. Illustr. diurn. Lep. 2, p. 12.

Erycina amosis [sic]; Mengel, 1905. Cat. Erycinidae , p. 55.

Alesa amesis amesis ; Stichel, 1910, in Wytsman. Gen. Ins. 112A, p. 81; syn.: amosis , priolas .—Stichel, 1923. Ztschr. wiss. Insektenbiol. 18: 275.

Alesa fournierae Lathy, 1958 , in Rebillard. Mém. nat. Mus. d’Hist. nat., n. s., sér. A, Zoologie 15 (2): 169, pl. 2, fig. 15 (male d, v); holotype male, Uypiranga [14 km N Manaus], Amazonas, [ Brazil]; collection Fournier de Horrack.—Brown, 1993. Occas. Paper IUCN Sp. Surv. Comm. 8: 151.— Callaghan & Lamas, 2004, Riodinidae , p. 148, in Lamas (ed.). Checklist: Part 4A. Hesperioidea—Papilionoidea, in Heppner (ed.) Atlas of Neotropical Lepidoptera 5A. — Hall & Ahrenholz, 2010. Trop. Lep. Res. 20 (1), p. 21. Syn. nov.

Diagnosis. Alesa amesis can be distinguished from A. lipara , A. hemiurga and A. thelydrias by the forewing upper side intervenal rays with dark blue iridescence; forewing upper side areas around rays light silvery gray, reaching the end of discal cell between M 1 and M 3; hindwing upper side submarginal ocelli with dark blue iridescence at the center; wings underside ground color dark brown; hindwing underside discal band more or less straight. Alesa amesis is distinguished from A. mariae sp. nov. by the absence of reddish markings on the wings upper side; forewing upper side intervenal rays wide, usually forming a continuous patch between M 3 and 2A; hindwing apex projected; hindwing upper side dark blue iridescence extending beyond the center of the submarginal ocelli. Females of A. amesis are recognized by the both sides of the hindwing with the area between discal and postdiscal bands directed towards the ocellus in Rs–M 1; hindwing underside submarginal ocelli with a dark blue iridescence at the center.

Type material. Papilio amesis Cramer, 1777 was described from an unknown number of specimens from Suriname that included at least one female specimen, illustrated in the original description and belonging to the Bernhardus Vriends collection. Vriend’s collection was later bought by Cornelis van Lennep and sold by his son to van Eyndhoven ( Chainey 2005). According to Chainey (2005), some type specimens of species described by Cramer are lost, mostly because van Eyndhoven’s collection was dismantled and sold for many collectors, and passed by many hands over time. Considering that the syntype female was not found in any of the collections where at least some of the type specimens of species described by Cramer are known to be deposited at, such as the NHMUK, and the high similarity among species in the “ amesis group”, a neotype for P. amesis is here designated to avoid future uncertainty. The selected female agrees with the current usage of the name A. amesis and has the following labels: / NEOTYPUS / Brasil, Amazonas (2km S [de] Novo Air„o, 28–29-VIII-2010, S 2º 39’ W 60º 56’, Dias & Bonfantti leg., / DZ 35.186 / Neotypus Papilio amesis Cramer, 1777 W. Santos, Dolibaina, Dias, O. Mielke & Casagrande des. 2021 / DZUP.

Erycina priolas Godart, [1824] was described based on an unstated number of male specimens from Brazil, currently deposited at the MNHN. To avoid future uncertainty, a male syntype deposited at the MNHN with the following labels is here designated lectotype of Erycina priolas Godart, [1824] : / A. Amesis, Cr. Priolas God. / amesis, Cr. ♁ priolas, God. / Erycina priolas God. Encyc. Method. 7, 1821, p. 569 (P. Viette XII-1952). / TYPE / MUSÉUM PARIS ANCIENNE COLLECTION /, and the following labels will be added: / LECTOTYPUS / Lectotypus Erycina priolas Godart, [1824] W. Santos, Dolibaina, Dias, O. Mielke & Casagrande des. 2021 /.

Alesa fournierae Lathy, 1958 was described from a male holotype from Uypiranga (14km N of Manaus), Amazonas, Brazil, deposited at the Fournier collection, currently deposited at the MNHN, with the following labels: / HOLOTYPE ♁ Alesa fournierae Lathy, 1958 / Alesa lipara ? sp. ♁ 33 Uypiranga XI.29 /.

Distribution. Alesa amesis extends throughout the Amazon basin occurring in Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia and Brazil (Amazonas, Acre, Pará, Rondônia, Mato Grosso, Goiás and Maranh„o) ( Fig. 95 ).

Comments. Alesa amesis is the most commom species of the genus. It is the only species in the “ amesis group” with a broad dark blue iridescence on the submarginal area of the wings upper side of males, most evident between M 3 and 2A of the forewing and on the apical area of hindwing. The center of the hindwing submarginal ocelli of females are also iridescent, most evident between M 1 and M 3, and CuA 2 and 2A. Despite to the dark wings upper side similar to other members of the group, A. amesis closest relative probably is A. mariae sp. nov.. Both species share some exclusive characters in the “ amesis group”, such as the dark blue iridescence on both wings upper side and on submarginal ocelli of hindwing underside, the light silvery area around the intervenalrays on the forewing upper side, reaching the end of discal cell, discal and postdiscal bands of the hindwing underside more or less straight, ground color of both wings underside dark brown, anterior projection of saccus broader, outer dorsal process of valva dorsally continuous with the dorsal base of valva, tip of the inner process of valva smooth, and the central projection of transtilla shorter than their lateral projections.

Alesa amesis is one of the only two species of the genus with known immatures stages. Larvae of A. amesis are tended by the ant, Camponotus femoratus (Fabricius, 1804) , and have morphological and behavioral adaptations for feeding on homopteran prey ( DeVries & Penz 2000, 2002).

Lathy (1958) described A. fournierae based on a single male holotype from the Amazon region, Brazil. He considered it distinct from A. amesis by the light blue iridescence on the wings upper side. Hall & Ahrenholz (2010) suggested that A. fournierae could be only a variation of A. amesis . After the examination of the original description, habitus and the genitalia of the holotype, A. fournierae (syn. nov.) is here recognized as a junior subjective synonym of A. amesis . The light blue iridescence on the wings upper side mentioned by Lathy (1958) in the original description as a diagnostic character of A. fournierae probably is due to the grease of the abdomen and it is also observed in specimens of A. amesis .

Alesa amesis is commonly found throughout the year, although in smaller numbers during the driest season ( DeVries & Penz 2000, 2002). In eastern Ecuador, DeVries & Penz (2000, 2002) observed adults of A. amesis perching in forest gaps along streams and trails, 0.5– 3m above the ground, between 8:00h and 16:20h, particularly between 10:00h and 15:00h. Females are active between 9:00h and 14:20h, laying eggs on sunny days between 11:30h and 14:20h. DeVries & Penz (2000, 2002) also observed males and females visiting only flowers of Psiguria sp. (Cucurbitaceae) between 8:00h and 10:00h, even though there were other flowering plants available. Males of A. amesis hilltop between 13:00h and 16:00h, in small shaded patches, flying fast between one to two meters above the ground, and resting on leaves of small bushes and lianas with wings almost fully open, with the head and thorax raised and antennae lifted and open at a 45 degrees angle (Dolibaina pers. comm.; Gallard 2017).

Examined material. TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO — I.1934, 1 male, no collector ( MGCL) , XI.1933 – III.1934, 2 males, Hall leg. ( MGCL) . Sangre Grande: Sangre Grande ( Sans Souci ), 2 males, C. Urich leg. ( MGCL, USNM) . VENEZUELA — Amazonas: Yavita , 128m, 13.VIII.1947, 1 male, 20.VIII.1947, 1 female, 13.IX.1947, 1 female, R. Lichy leg. ( MGCL) . Bolívar: El Dourado (80 Km S), 26. VI.1984, 1 female, no collector ( USNM) . SURINAME — no date, 1 male, M. Berol leg. ( MGCL) . Suriname River , no date, 2 females, no collector ( USNM) . GUIANA — Acaraí Mountain , 31.X–10.XI.2000, 9 males and 2 females, S. Fratello leg. ( USNM) . Cuyuni-Mazaruni (Middle E of Mazaruni), X.1992, 1 male, Fratello leg. ( USNM), ( Lower Mazaruni ) , 100m, 16.IX.–24.XI.1989, 2 males, Fratello leg. ( USNM) . Essequibo ( Wokanung ), 2.250m, XI.1993, 1 male, S. Fratello leg. ( MGCL) . Iwokrama , 27.III–1.IV.2001, 1 male, 20–26.IV.2001, 1 female, S. Fratello leg. ( USNM) . Kaieteur Falls , 500m, IV.1993, 2 males, S. Fratello leg. ( MGCL) . Rockstone ( Rio Essequibo ), no date, 1 female, no collector ( MGCL) . Potaro River , no date, 1 male, W. J. Kaye leg. ( USNM) , XI–XII.1901, 1 male, C. B. Roberts leg. ( MGCL) . Tapakuma (Pomeroon-Supenaam, Dawa ), 2.IV.1970, 1 male, T. E. Pliske leg. ( MGCL) . FRENCH GUIANA — San-Laurentdu-Maroni: Maroni River , no date, 2 females, no collector ( USNM) . San-Jean-du-Maroni, no date, 2 males, no collector ( USNM) . Cayenne: Matoury ( Lac Americain ), 4.VIII.1999, 1 female, W. H. Russell leg. ( MGCL) . Monsinéry 5.VIII.1989, 1 female, 21.XI.1988, 1 male, Harvey leg. ( USNM) . Rémire , 28.XII.1985, 1 male, IX-1982, 1 female, Gallard leg. ( USNM) ; Rocacao , 100m, 17.XI.1988, 1 female, D. Harvey leg. ( USNM) ; Saint Elie ( Camp. Saint Elie ), 6.XI.1991, 7 males, 12.XI.1988, 2 males, 16.XI.1988, 2 males, 5.XI.1988, 1 male, Harvey leg. ( USNM). (10 Km E of Charvein) , 10–100m, no date, 1 female, D. J. Harvey leg. ( USNM) ; Roura (10 Km W of Utrecht), 29.VII.1999, 1 female, 3.VIII.1998, 1 female, W. H. Russel leg. ( MGCL) . Route du Galion , IX-1986, 2 males, Gallard leg. ( USNM) . COLOMBIA — Caquetá: Florencia , 1390m, 23.I.1969, 2 males and 1 female, Nicolay leg. ( USNM) . Meta: Rio Negro , 800m, 6.II.1969, 1 male, Nicolay leg. ( USNM) . Vaupes: Mitú , 8.XI.1980, 1 male, no collector ( MGCL), (W of Mitu) , 22.IX.1985, 1 male, no collector ( MGCL); (S of Mitu ) , 28.IX.1985, 1 male, no collector ( MGCL) . ECUADOR — Napo: Limoncocha ( Rio Napo), 800m, 9.II.1970, 1 male and 2 females, Nicolay leg. ( USNM) . Porto Napo (4 Km E), 500m, 6–10.XI.1988, 1 male, D. H.Ahrenholz leg. ( USNM) . Puerto Misahuallí (Jatun, Rio Napo), 366 m, 6–8.IX.1988, 1 male and 1 female ( USNM) . Tena (650m), II.1908, 1 male, Simon leg. ( MGCL) , 23.I.1985, 2 males, D. Jenkins leg. ( MGCL) , II.1909, 1 male, no collector ( MGCL) . Misahuallí , 6.IX.1998, 2 males, 8.IX.1998, 1 male, 13.IX.1998, 1 male, 14.IX.1998, 1 male, 16.IX.1998, 1 male, 17.IX.1998, 1 male, 18. IX.1998, 1 male, J. Bourn leg. ( MGCL) , 6–12.X.2001, 1 male, P. F. Milner leg. ( MGCL) , 30.VIII.2000, 2 females, 17.IX.1998, 1 male, no collector ( MGCL), (Lagoa Taracoa, Rio Napo) , 800m, 26. VI.1980, 1 male C. M. Stevens leg. ( MGCL) ; 13.VII.1983, 1 male, G. J. Harges leg. ( MGCL) . Sucumbíos: Lumbaqui , 700m, XII.2005, 1 male, M. Simon leg. ( MGCL) , 16–22.IX.1994, 1 male, L. Garzadocha leg. ( MGCL) . Pastaza: 7.IX.1999, 1 male, Robbins leg. ( USNM) . PERU — Loreto: 17.VII.1979, 2 females, no collector ( MGCL) . Madre de Dios: Alto Rio Madre de Dios (Salvación —1 Km NE of Atalaya, Cuzco), 7–11.XI.2012, 1 female, O. Mielke leg., OM 73.551 ( OM) . Puerto Maldonado ( Comunidad Infierno ), 300m, 16–17.X.1983, 2 males and 1 female, Mielke & Casagrande leg., DZ 34.869, DZ 34.839, DZ 35.236 ( DZUP) . Tambopata (30 Km S of Puerto Maldonado), 22.X.1983, 2 males, C. V. Covell Jr. leg. ( MGCL) . San Martin: Juanjui , 350–400m, 1 male, J. A. Tafur Novoa leg., OM 68.346 ( OM) . Tarapoto ( Santa Rosa ), 730m, 21.X.2015, 1 female, O. Mielke leg., OM 78.848 ( OM) . Loreto: Iquitos , 7 males, 1 female, ex. coll. Le Moult ( MGCL) , XII.1929, 1 female, DZ 35.166 ( DZUP), (E of San Roque ) , 4 males, ex. coll. Le Moult ( MGCL), ( Cavalo Cocho ) , 2 males ( MGCL) . Castaña , 150m, 2.IX.1993, 1 male, 22.X.1993, 1 male, 1 male, 24.X.1993, 26.X.1993, 1 male, Robbins leg. ( USNM) , 3.IX.1993, 1 male, 5.IX.1993, 1 male, 31.X.1993, 1 male, Lamas leg. ( USNM) . Puerto Almendra ( Rio Nanay ), 120m, 3.IX.1995, 1 male, Robbins leg., 1 male, Harvey leg., ( USNM) . Huánuco: Tingo Maria , XII.1985, 1 male, Simon leg. ( MGCL) , 7.VIII.1979, 1 male ( MGCL) . Ucayali: Pucallpa , 28. VI.1960, 1 male, 4.VII.1960, 1 male, 5.VII.1960, 2 males, 22.VII.1936, 1 male, Joe leg. ( MGCL) . BRAZIL — Acre: Mâncio Lima (Parque Nacional da Serra do Divisor, Porç „o Norte ), 10–21.IX.2011, 2 males, D. Dolibaina & D. Moura leg., DZ 35.177, DZ 35.197, ( DZUP) , 20–27. VI.2013, 12 males, Mielke, Casagrande, Carneiro, Dias & Dolibaina leg., DZ 35.179, DZ 35.167, DZ 35.157, DZ 35.237, DZ 35.127, DZ 35.107, DZ 35.147, DZ 35.097, DZ 35.207, DZ 35.219, DZ 35.199, DZ 35.217 ( DZUP) , 23–30.VIII.2014, 27 males, Mielke, Casagrande, Carneiro, Dias, Dolibaina, Siewert & Salik leg., DZ 35.169, DZ 35.117, DZ 35.239, DZ 35.249, DZ 35.129, DZ 35.189, DZ 35.149, DZ 35.137, DZ 35.187, DZ 34.949, DZ 35.267, DZ 34.987, DZ 34.997, DZ 35.227, DZ 35.247, DZ 34.809, DZ 34.799, DZ 34.899, DZ 35.269, DZ 35.259, DZ 35.229, DZ 34.909, DZ 34.859, DZ 34.829, DZ 34.819, DZ 35.067, DZ 35.159 ( DZUP) , 7–10,13. X.2018, 11 males, O. Mielke, Casagrande, Dolibaina & Medeiros leg., DZ 48.177, DZ 48.027, DZ 48.117, DZ 48.297, DZ 48.207, DZ 48.987, DZ 48.307, DZ 48.257, DZ 48.227, DZ 48.197, DZ 48.017 ( DZUP) . Santa Rosa do Purus (6,8 Km SE), 14.VIII.2008, 1 male, Mielke & Carneiro leg., DZ 34.907, (9,2 Km SE), 6–8.VIII.2008, 15.VIII.2008, 2 males, Mielke & Carneiro leg., DZ 34.817, DZ 34.897, (11,9 Km W), 13.VIII.2008, 2 males, Mielke & Carneiro leg., DZ 35.257, DZ 34.972 ( DZUP) . Amazonas: (Ipiranga, Rio Purus ), 2 females, ex. coll. Le Moult ( MGCL). ( Rio Negro ) , 1–15.II.2008, 1 male, 15–30.VII.2008, 1 male, no collector, OM 70.777 , OM 70.649 ( OM) . No municipality ( Rio Purus ), 12 males, Le Moult leg. ( MGCL) , 1 male, 2 females, ex. coll. Le Moult ( MGCL) , 1 male, XI.1998 ( MGCL) . Fonte Boa , 80m, 11–23.VIII.2011, 2 males and 1 female, E. Emery leg., DZ 48.107, DZ 48.267, DZ 48.047, ex. coll. E. Emery ( DZUP) . Manacapuru (10 Km NW), 26.VIII.2010, 1 male, Dias & Bonfantti leg., DZ 34.877 ( DZUP) . Manaus , 11–20.VIII.2010, 1 male, Dias & Bonfantti leg., DZ 34.937 ( DZUP) . Novo Airão (2 Km S), 28–29.VIII.2010, 1 female, Dias & Bonfantti leg., DZ 35.186 ( DZUP) . Maués , VII.1940, 1 male, DZ 34.849, no date, 1 female DZ 34.947, 1 male, DZ 34.919 ( DZUP) . Presidente Figueiredo (Estrada de Balbina, 24 Km ), 28–29.VIII.2010, 1 male, Dias & Bonfantti leg., DZ 34.837 ( DZUP) . Tefé, 4–6.XII.1987, 1 female, Mielke & Casagrande leg., DZ 35.116 ( DZUP), ( Rio Solimıes ) , IX.1930, 6 males, 2 females, X.1930, 2 females, ex. coll. Le Moult ( MGCL) . Rondônia: Cacaulândia ( Fazenda Rancho Grande ), 5.X.1987, 1 male, OM 61.960 , 10–20.VII.1989, 2 males, 1 female, OM 61.953 , OM 61.946 , OM 61.784 , Mielke & Miers leg. ( OM) , 10–22.VII.1991, 3 males and 2 females, C. Mielke & Miers leg., OM 61.869 , OM 61.890 , OM 61.967 , OM 61.729 , OM 61.722 ( OM) , 18–20.II.1987, 1 male, Mielke leg., OM 14.663 ( OM) , 2.XI.1989, 1 male, J. P. Brock leg., 25.III.1990, 1 female, T. Schmitz leg., 7.VII.1991, 1 female, G. Bongiolo leg. ( MGCL) , 30.VII.1991, 1 male, ( MGCL) , 22.XI.1991, 1 female, OM 28.186 , 4.X.1987, 1 male, H. Miers leg. OM 67.151 ( OM) , 14.X.1991, 1 male, 23.X.1991, 1 male, 24.X.1991, 1 male, 10.X.1991, 1 male, 19.X.1991, 1 male, 27.X.1991, 1 male, 17.X.1991, 1 male, 20.X.1991, 1 male, 15.X.1991, 1 male, 8.X.1991, 2 females, 09.X.1991, 1 female, 21.X.1991, 1 female, 30.X.1991, 1 female, Kemner leg. ( USNM) , 9.X.1991, 1 male, 16.X.1991, 1 male, J. Macdonald leg. ( USNM) , 19–29.IX.1996, 1 male, 1 female, B. Harris leg. ( USNM) , 29.IX–10.X.1991, 1 female, Kemner leg. ( USNM) , 10.IV.1990, 1 female, 12.IV.1990, 1 female, E. Furtado leg. ( USNM) , 23.X.1998, 1 male J. P. Brock leg. ( MGCL) , 23.X.1998, 1 male, J. T. Austin leg. ( MGCL) , 3.XI.1989, 1 male, T. C. Emnel leg. ( MGCL) , 5.II.1991, 1 male, 7.II.1991, 1 male, 16.II.1991, 1 male, 18.XII.1990, 1 male, 18. II.1991, 2 males, G. Ross leg. ( MGCL) , 22.III.1989, 1 female, 5.IX.1989, 1 male, 7.IX.1989, 1 female, 26.X.1989, 2 males, 1 female, 29.X.1989, 1 female, 1.IX.1990, 2 males, 8.IX.1990, 1 male, 10.IX.1990, 2 males, 26.X.1990, 3 males, 27.X.1990, 1 female, 29.X.1990, 1 male, 7.XI.1990, 1 female, 14.XI.1990, 1 female, 8.XII.1990, 1 female, 10.XII.1990, 1 female, 26.IV.1991, 1 male, 10.IX.1991, 1 female, 15.IV.1991, 1 male, 26.IV.1991, 1 male, 5.IX.1991, 1 male, 7.IX.1991, 1 male, 12.IX.1991, 1 male, 13.IX.1991, 1 male, 16.IX.1992, 1 male, 19.IV.1992, 1 male, 23. IV.1992, 1 male, 21. V.1992, 1 male, 15.IX.1992, 1 female, 22.IX.1992, 1 male, 10.IX.1992, 1 male, 22.X.1992, 1 female, 17. VI.1993, 1 female, 13.VIII.1993, 1 male, 17.VIII.1993, 1 male, 11.X.1993, 2 females, 30.VII.1996, 1 male, 4.XI.1995, 1 male, G. T. Austin leg. ( MGCL) , L. C. Harris leg., 2 males ( MGCL) , 20.XI.1992, 1 male, 24. XI.1991, 1 male, 20.XI.1992, 1 female, T. Schmitz leg. ( MGCL) , 7.VII.1991, 1 female, 31. V.1992, 1 male, 5.IX.1992, 1 male, 10.X.1992, 1 male, G. Bongiolo leg. ( MGCL) , 15. V.1993, 1 female, 29.VIII.1993, 1 male, 12.XII.1993, 1 male, 10.VII.1994, 1 male, 16.X.1994, 1 male, 1 female, 19.X.1994, 1 male, 26.X.1994, 1 male, 4.XI.1994, 1 male, 14.XI.1994, 1 male, 30.VII.1995, 1 male, 16.VIII.1995, 1 female, 18.X.1996, 1 male, 14.XI.1997, 1 female, O. Gomes leg. ( MGCL) . Candeias do Jamari (Balneário Rio Preto), 31.VIII–6.IX.2011, 1 male, Mielke & Casagrande leg., OM 54.820 ( OM), ( Cachoeira do Samuel ) , II.1944, 1 male, DZ 34.929 ( DZUP) . Vilhena , 10.III.1972, 1 male, Mielke leg., DZ 34.879 ( DZUP) . Porto Velho (Jaci-Paraná, 35 Km ), 9.IX.2001, 1 female, Mielke & Casagrande leg., OM 53.880 ( OM) . Mato Grosso: Brasnorte ( Fazenda Paraná), 5–20.VII.1990, 1 female, C. Mielke leg., OM 61.743 ( OM) . Chapada dos Guimarães , 8.I.1987, 1 female, C. Elias leg., DZ 35.196 ( DZUP) . Diamantino (Alto Rio Arinos, Fazenda S „o Jo „o), 12.IX.1978, 2 males, Mielke & Furtado leg., DZ 34.939, DZ 34.889 ( DZUP) , 25.IV.1968, 1 male, Gifford leg., DZ 34.867 ( DZUP) . Pará: Paragominas ( Água Azul ), 16.VIII.1974, 6 males, Mielke leg., DZ 34.789, DZ 34.787, DZ 34.807, DZ 34.787, DZ 34.857, DZ 35.209 ( DZUP) . Belém , VIII.1960, 2 males and 3 females, Joe leg. ( MGCL), (Utinga) , 31.VII.1936, R. 2 males, F. d’Almeida leg., DZ 34.959, DZ 34.969 ( DZUP) , 30.VII.1936, 1 male, R. F. d’Almeida leg., DZ 35.077 ( DZUP) . Porteira ( Rio Trombetas ), 13.XI.1936, 1 male, R. F. d’Almeida leg., DZ 34.967 ( DZUP) . Itaituba (15 Km S), 23.VII.1978, 1 male, 23.VII.1978, 1 female, S. Nicolay leg. ( USNM); (W of Rio Tapajós) , 25.VII.1978, 1 male, Callaghan leg. ( MGCL), ( Rio Cuminá ) , 29.IX.1996, 2 males, Almeida leg., DZ 35.037, DZ 35.057 ( DZUP); ( Rio Xingu ) , 8–16.X.1986, 1 female, P. Spangler & O. Flint leg. ( USNM) , I.1960, 1 male, Joe leg. ( MGCL) . Santarém, 2 males, ex. coll. Le Moult ( MGCL), ( Rio Curim „) , 1 male, ex. coll. Le Moult ( MGCL); (Km 1666 of Cuiabá ) , 26.VII.1978, 2 males, C. J. Callaghan leg. ( MGCL) . Santo Antônio do Tauá , 29.XI.2004, 1 female, Mielke, Casagrande & Jauffret leg., DZ 35,027 ( DZUP) , 22.IX.2004, 3 males, P. Jauffret leg., DZ 34.957, DZ 35.017, DZ 34.977 ( DZUP) . Maranhão: Açailândia , 23.VIII.1974, 3 females, O. Mielke leg., DZ 35.136, DZ 35.226, DZ 35.156 ( DZUP) .

Figures

FIGURES 95. Geographic distribution of Alesa amesis and A. mariae sp. nov.

FIGURES 30–39. Males of species of “amesis group”, in dorsal and ventral views (left to right). 30–31, A. amesis (DZ 35.219) Brazil, Acre, Mâncio Lima. 32–33, A. mariae sp. nov. Peru, Madre de Dios: Puerto Maldonado (holotype). 34–35, A. lipara Brazil, Acre: Santa Rosa do Purus (DZ 35.246). 36–37, A. hemiurga Brazil, Amazonas: Tefé (DZ 34.976). 38–39, A. thelydrias Brazil, Pará: rio Cupari (holotype, NHMUK). Scale bar: 1cm.

FIGURES 40–47. Females of species of “amesis group”, in dorsal and ventral views (left to right). 40–41. A. amesis Brazil, Amazonas: Novo Air„o (DZ 35.186). 42–45, A. lipara Brazil,Amazonas: Fonte Boa. 42–43 DZ 48.237, 44–45 (USMN). 46–47, Putative female of A. hemiurga Brazil, Maranh„o: Açailândia (DZ 35.226). Scale bar: 1cm.

FIGURES 48–55. Wings upper side pattern with the main diagnostic characters of males (top) and females (bottom) belonging to species of the “amesis group”. 48, 53, A. amesis (male DZ 48.287, female DZ 35.186). 49, A. mariae sp. nov. (holotype). 50, 54, A. lipara (male DZ 35.246, female DZ 48.237). 51, 55, A. hemiurga (male DZ 34.976, putative female DZ 35.226). 52, A. thelydrias (holotype).

FIGURES 56–60. Underside pattern with the main diagnostic characters of the hindwing underside of males belonging to the “amesis group”. 56, A. amesis (DZ 48.287). 57, A. mariae sp. nov. (holotype). 58, A. lipara (DZ 35.246). 59, A. hemiurga (DZ 34.976). 60, A. thelydrias (holotype).

FIGURES 67–70. Male genitalia of species of “amesis group”. 67, A. amesis Brazil, Pará: Paragominas (DZ 35.209). 68, A. mariae sp. nov. Brazil, Acre: Mâncio Lima (DZ 35.036). 69, A. lipara Brazil, Acre: Mâncio Lima (DZ 35.126). 70, A. hemiurga Brazil, Acre: Bujari (DZ 35.106). Left to right: dorsal view of tegumen and uncus, lateral and ventral views of genitalia, and dorsal view of valvae and transtilla. Scale bar: 1mm.

FIGURES 71–76. Female genitalia of Alesa species. 71, A. prema Brazil, Mato Grosso: Barra do Garça (DZ 35.254). 72, A. juliae sp. nov. Brazil, Mato Grosso: Rio Arinos (DZ 35.144). 73, A. telephae Brazil, Acre: Mâncio Lima (DZ 35.094). 74, A. amesis Brazil, Amazonas: Tefé (DZ 35.116). 75, A. lipara Brazil, Amazonas: Fonte Boa (DZ 48.237). 76, Putative female of A. hemiurga Brazil, Amazonas: Tefé (DZ 35.266). Up to bottom: lateral view of papilla analis and ventral view of sterigma and bursa copulatrix. Scale bar: 1mm.

FIGURES 77–81. Signum of species of Alesa. 77, A. prema Brazil, Mato Grosso: Barra do Garça (DZ 35.254). 78, A. telephae Brazil, Acre: Mâncio Lima (DZ 35.094). 79, A. amesis Brazil, amazonas: Tefé (DZ 35.116). 80, A. lipara Brazil, Amazonas: Fonte Boa (DZ 48.237). 81, Putative female of A. hemiurga Brazil, Amazonas: Tefé (DZ 35.266). Scale bars: 1mm.

FIGURES 86–91. Species of Alesa in situ, part II. 86–88, A. amesis, males (86–87) and female (88). 89–91, A. lipara. (89–90) two couples, note the shiny non metalic aspect of the male wings upper side (90), the same female of the latter couple, upsidedown (91). All images from Brazil, Mato Grosso, Alta Floresta, Cristalino Lodge. Figs 86–88, 90–91 by Sidnei Dantas https:// www.inaturalist.org/people/siddantas, Fig. 89 by Will Carter https://calydna.com/index.php/taxon/4375-alesa-lipara.