Oenomaus ortygnus (Cramer)

Faynel, Christophe, Busby, Robert C. & Robbins, Robert K., 2012, Review of the species level taxonomy of the neotropical butterfly genus Oenomaus (Lycaenidae, Theclinae, Eumaeini), ZooKeys 222, pp. 11-45 : 29-30

Oenomaus ortygnus (Cramer)

Distribution, habitat, and remarks.

This species occurs in many different habitats from sea level up to 1000 m. It is unique in the genus in that it is often found in highly disturbed habitats. It is the most common Oenomaus species in collections and has been recorded from the United States, Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, French Guiana, Surinam, Guyana, Trinidad, Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and many states throughout Brazil. As noted in the introduction, this species is a well-known pest of commercial Annonaceae .

Intraspecific variation.

The blacks spots on ventral wings vary in size and the blue on the dorsal wings vary from light cyan to dark purple. The " Thecla lauta Draudt" phenotype from western Mexico is smaller and duller than individuals from the remainder of its range.

Behavior/biology.

Males were territorial on hilltops between 14:00-15:15 hours in Panama (Canal Area, hilltops in Paraíso, 7 males during June and August, 6 vouchers in USNM) and between 14:29 and 15:15 on Serrinha in Brazil (hilltop in Santa Catarina, Villa Nova, 200 m, 3 males in March, vouchers in USNM).

Female.

Both sexes are recognized by their ventral wing pattern, which is unique in the genus.

COI DNA sequence.

Sequences from a Peruvian male (CF-LYC-147) and a Mexican male (CF-LYC-146) diverge 1.5%.