Faunula dubii Pyrcz

Pyrcz, Tomasz W., 2012, A new species of satyrine butterfly from Patagonia in more than a century and revisional notes on the genus Faunula C. Felder & R. Felder (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae: Satyrinae), Zootaxa 3342, pp. 60-68 : 61-65

Faunula dubii Pyrcz , n. sp.

(figs 1 A–B; 2 A1–A5, 3B1)

Material examined. HOLOTYPE (male): Chile, Magallanes, 6 km south of Gallegos Chico (between Retén Teniente Merino and Estancia Lucre), 52o04’71'S’’/ 70o44’49’’W, 184 m, 04.XII.2011, D. Benyamini leg., MZUJ; PARATYPES (3 males and 6 females): 3 males and 1 female: Chile, Magallanes, Gallegos Chico, D. Benyamini leg., 2 DBI, 2 MZUJ; 1 female: Chile, Aysen, Chile Chico, 1000 m, 19.I.1956, G. Kuschel coll., MHNS; 1 female: Chile, no data, MHNS; 2 females: Argentina, Chubut, Andes, Lago Blanco, 1904-26, BMNH; 1 female: Patagonie, Cerro Castillo, 300 m, 02.XII.1991, P. Boyer leg., PBF.

Diagnosis. The new species belongs to the genus Faunula as determined by its elongate wings with gently rounded FW apex and distal margins, single FWV subapical ocellus and male genitalia characterized by a short and massive uncus, stout gnathos, and elongate, roughly rectangular valva with a smooth dorsum and rounded distal extremity. It can be recognized from F. leucoglene C. & R. Felder ( Fig. 1 F) which has a considerably larger white pupil and no HWV white ocelli. These appear also in Chillanella stelligera (Butler) (fig. 1C) which however has a double FWV subapical ocellus and more acute FW apex. Also all other congeners have some orange or red pattern, on either upper or underside, never apparent in F. dubii . Male genitalia very similar to other congeners, especially to F. patagonica (Mabille) (2E) from which it can be recognized only by the even slender valva.

Description. MALE (figs 1A, 3B1): Head: Eyes golden-brown, lustrous, naked; antennae to two-thirds the length of costa, slender, entirely covered with sparse white scales, club strongly flattened and spoon-like, composed of 10 segments; palpi short (damaged in all examined specimens). Thorax: dorsally black, ventrally black, tibiae and femora blackish-brown, sparsely covered with scales, tibiae dark brown. Abdomen: dorsally and ventrally blackish-brown. Wings: FW (length: 19, n=3) elongated, apex rounded, outer margin convex. HW elongated,

outer margin smoothly rounded. FWD and HWD uniform chestnut brown; some faint shades of rusty red in fresh specimens in distal half; fringes lighter, beige. FWV chestnut brown thinly dusted with black and yellow and milky white scales over most of the wing surface except for basal part of cell Cu1-Cu2 and most of Cu2-1Al, becoming progressively denser towards costa and apex; a black oval subapical ocellus in M1-M2 with white pupil and yellow ring. HWV chestnut heavily overcast with black and brown scales of various shades forming a ripple-like pattern covering the entire wing surface, with a concentration in postdiscal area where forming up a zigzagging black line; a row of five, white, roughly oval, submarginal dots in cells Rs-M1 to Cu1-Cu2. Male genitalia (figs 2A1–A5): Tegumen wide and flattened dorsally; uncus massive, one-fourth longer than dorsum of tegumen, almost straight except for the gently bent downwards tip; gnathos stout, teeth-like, one-third the length of uncus; pedunculus prominent, roughly triangular, pointing downwards; saccus as shallow as in F. euripides (fig 2D), shallower than in other congeners; valvae elongated and slightly narrowing in narrow one-third, slender than in F. eleates (fig 2B) and F. leucoglene (fig 2C), with and smooth dorsal surface; aedeagus the length of valvae, gently s-curved, without any apparent cornuti, proximal opening nearly half the length of aedeagus.

FEMALE (fig 1B): Sexual dimorphism slight. FW length: 19–19.5 mm (n=2). The female differs only in the lighter, sandy yellow ground color of the HWV. Female genitalia (figs 3 A1–A4): Papillae anales rounded, apohyphyses posteriores short, half the width of papillae; von Siebold organ prominent, roughly triangular in lateral view; lamella antevaginalis well sclerotized, simple plate with smooth surface, about the width of bursa; ductus bursae short, one-fourth the length of bursa, and wide, arched upwards; bursa copulatrix pear-like with two wide signa, one-fourth its length, merging distally.

Bionomics. F. dubii occurs in dry windswept subantarctic steppe (fig 3B2) alongside its congener Faunula patagonica and other few species restricted to this kind of inhospitable habitat Argyrophorus williamsianus Butler , Cosmosatyrus leptoneuroides C. & R. Felder and Homeonympha boisduvali (Blanchard). Contrary to C. leptoneuroides and F. patagonica it has not been found so far in somewhat more humid coastal areas. Although biology data are not available, its host plants are most probably among Stipa or Poa grasses. Chusquea bamboo, which is the host of most Satyrinae associated with forest habitats, does occurs only sporadically in the subantarctic steppe and is not known from the localities where F. dubii was collected. F. dubii is apparently not threatened currently because its habitat is sparsely populated but extensive sheep grazing can reduce its potential breeding zones. D. Benyamini observed abundant Scoliidae parasitoid wasps in the type locality of F. dubii , and suggested they could have a limiting factor on its population. This supposition however needs confirmation by further field studies. Scoliids are rather known to feed upon beetles.

Etymology. This species is dedicated to Dubi Benyamini, eminent Israeli lepidopterist, in recognition for his significant contributions to the knowledge of Patagonian Lycaenidae , especially in the field of their larval stages biology, excellent books dedicated to Middle East butterfly fauna, valuable cooperation with the Zoological Museum of the Jagiellonian University and friendship.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Adults (left: dorsum; right: venter). A. Faunula dubii: male Holotype; B. Faunula dubii: female Paratype; C. Chillanella stelligera male; D. Faunula patagonica male; E. Faunula eleates male; F. Faunula leucoglene male; G. Faunula euripides male, individual form; H. Faunula euripides male, individual form.