Calisto muripetens Bates, 1939

Aguila, Rayner Nunez, Plasencia, Edelquis Oliva, Maravi, Pavel F. Matos & Wahlberg, Niklas, 2012, Cuban Calisto (Lepidoptera, Nymphalidae, Satyrinae), a review based on morphological and DNA data, ZooKeys 165, pp. 57-105 : 76-77

Calisto muripetens Bates, 1939 stat. n. Figs 13-1536445256, 5866

Calisto smintheus muripetens Bates 1939: 3, Michener 1943: 6, Munroe 1950: 226, Torre 1952: 62, Torre 1954: 120, Torre 1968: 20

Calisto sibylla muripetens Fontenla and Rodríguez 1990: 8, Smith et al. 1994: 57, Lamas 2004: 207

Diagnosis.

Calisto muripentens is similar to several Cuban congeners. From the more similar Calisto bradleyi and Calisto occulta , both with three white dots at the UNHW with the middle one distinctly larger, Calisto muripetens differs by its androconial patch, without the apical lobe present in the first and occupying a larger area of wing than in the second. Their female genitalia are also different, being the corpus bursae smaller in Calisto muripetens than in Calisto occulta , and the dorsal crown taller in the first than in Calisto bradleyi .It differs from Calisto smintheus , Calisto brochei ,and Calisto herophile , which have four white dots at the UNHW, by having only three white dots at that part of wings with the one at M2-M3 interspace distinctly larger. Other differences with Calisto smintheus and Calisto brochei are detailed in their respective Diagnosis sections. From Calisto herophile , it also differs by the larger area occupied by its androconial patch and its size, larger on the average, 18-22 mm of FWL versus 14-19 mm in males, and 20-23 mm versus 17-21 mm in females. The Hispaniolan Calisto confusa , Calisto hysius , Calisto obscura ,and Calisto pauli are superficially similar but are smaller,and have four white dots at the UNHW.

Description.

FWL: 18-22 mm ♂, 20-23 mm ♀. Male UPFW uniform grayish brown except androconial patch, dark brown almost black (Fig. 13). Androconial patch distinct from surrounding areas, about one half the length of FW, approximately triangular in shape with apex and outer margin rounded, anterior margin entering into cell (Fig. 36). Male UPHW dark grayish brown, paler at outer third. Female UP of wings uniform grayish brown, paler than male (Fig. 14). UNFW cell red patch variable in size, occupying from apical third to entire cell. Pdl edged by scarce pale yellow scaling. HW background brown mixed with pale yellow and, in less extent, ochre scales (Fig. 15). Post discal area on UNHW with three white dots at M1-M2, M2-M3, M3-Cu1, with that on M2-M3 larger, smaller dots can gone in rubbed specimens. Male genitalia with tegumen about two thirds the length of uncus, dorsally flat and posteriorly rounded (Fig. 44); uncus gradually tapering and curved from base to apex, base rounded; valvae base broad; digitiform projection of valvae short and stout with ventral margin slightly concave; aedeagus straight at basal two thirds with a left curve at apical third in dorsal view. Female genitalia with dorsal crown tall (Fig. 52); corpus bursae somewhat broad, near equal in length to ductus bursae.

Type material.

Holotype♂: Trinidad Mountains, Buenos Aires 2500-3500 ft, 21°59'13"N, 80°11'20"W, 8-14 May 1936, P. J. Darlington. MCZ, not examined. Paratypes 1 ♂, 2 ♀: same locality as for holotype, 4 May 1932, S. C. Bruner & A. Otero. MCZ, not examined.

Additional material.

11 ♂, 4 ♀. Cienfuegos: same locality as for holotype, 16/VI/1967, slide RNA272(wings) (1 ♀); carretera a Pico San Juan, V/1986, J. L. Fontenla, slide RNA268(wings)/284 (legs & labial palpus) (3 ♂); Pico San Juan 1140 m, 21°59'25"N, 80°08'50"W, V/2006, R. Núñez, DNA voucher PM15-02 (M048) (3 ♂); Carso de Buenos Aires 725 m, 21°59'13"N, 80°11'20"W, V/2006, R. Núñez, genitalia ♀ in glycerin, slides RNA197/236(wings), DNA vouchers PM07-08 (M009), PM07-11 (M018) (1 ♂, 1 ♀); ladera norte de Pico Cuevita 900 m, 21°59'13"N, 80°10'18"W, V/2006, R. Núñez, genitalia ♂ in glycerin, slides RNA193(androconial scales)/200(legs & labial palpus)/235 (wings) (1 ♂). Sancti Spiritus: Topes de Collantes, Mi Retiro 800 m, 21°53'41"N, 80°01'02"W, V/2002, R. Núñez, genitalia ♂ & ♀ in glycerin, slides RNA166/199/241(wings) /209/210(legs & labial palpus), DNA voucher PM15-01 (M047) (3♂, 2♀). CZACC.

Distribution.

Calisto muripetens is restricted to a few localities in the central Cuban mountains: the Guamuhaya massif, above 750 m and up to 1140 m on Pico San Juan, the highest peak (Figs 56, 58).

Immature stages.

Unknown.

Habitat and biology.

The species inhabits evergreen forests of the mogotes vegetation complex, limestone hills of vertical slopes, and rainforests, flying mostly in shady places.

Remarks.

Calisto smintheus muripetens type series was not available for study. Online pictures of MCZ insect type material, last accessed in 9th October 2011, do not include them. However, examination of original description leaves no doubt of its identity. Calisto muripetens differs from Calisto herophile , the only other species in its range, by its larger size, darker color pattern and structure of the genitalia of both sexes.

Calisto muripetens is closest to Calisto occulta , a new species described below from NSB, the northeastern Cuban mountain range. Besides differences noted at the Diagnosis section, Calisto muripetens has other differences with Calisto occulta . These include the proportionally larger genitalia of the latter with the aedeagus with an enlarged base, swollen both in dorsal and lateral view.

As with Calisto brochei , two individuals of Calisto muripetens (PM07-08 and PM07-11) did not group together in both the nuclear and the mitochondrial data analyses (Fig. 66). A third individual, PM15-02, groups together with PM07-08 in the COI tree in a clade sister to Calisto occulta . The relationships of PM07-11 are unresolved in the mitochondrial data set being located in an unresolved clade containing Calisto herophile s.l. and Calisto bradleyi ; however, this individual is sister to Calisto bradleyi based on the nuclear markers (Fig. 66B). This pattern suggests either hybridization or retained ancestral polymorphisms (see Discussion for further discussion on the potential causes of polyphyletic multiple haplotypes in Calisto ).