Thereus genena (Hewitson, 1867)

Figures 10, 11, 38, 54, 70, 89

Thecla genena: Hewitson: 1867: (3): 111

Type material. Described from an unknown number of male specimens from the Bates collection collected in Amazons (Pará), there is one syntype labelled in the NHMUK collections. We included in our study the COI extracted from a full genome analysis of this specimen. Given the large number of cryptic species recognized in this group and the reasonable possibility of discovering further syntypes, this specimen is designated as the lectotype.

LECTOTYPE ♂ (Fig. 10), designated here: “ SYN- // TYPE” (blue rimmed white circle label, printed); “Type” (orange rimmed white circle label, printed); “ Para, L. Amazons. H.W. Bates.” (brown rectangular label, printed); “ ♂ ” (brown rectangular label, printed); “458 // ♂ ” (brown rectangular label, printed and handwritten); “Genena ” (brown rectangular label, handwritten); “Godman-Salvin // Coll. 1911.-93.” (brown rectangular label, printed); “B.M. TYPE // No.Rh 726” (brown rectangular label, printed and handwritten); “ NHMUK 015200805” (white rectangular label, printed, with a flash code); “Gen. prep. K. Florczyk // NHMUK 010402975” (green rectangular label, black printed); “ Thecla genena // Hewitson, 1867 // LECTOTYPE // Faynel, 2025 ” (white rectangular label, printed).

Other material examined (5♂, 8♀). BRAZIL. Pará. 1♂, 49 49, NHMUK 015201044 * (NHMUK); 1♂, L. Amazons, H.W. Bates, Godman-Salvin Coll. 1911-93, NHMUK015203812 * (NHMUK) ; 1♂, 50-4, NHMUK 015201048 (NHMUK); 1♂, 49-49, 287, NHMUK 015201053 (NHMUK); 3♀, 1911-93, H. W. Bates, NHMUK 015201065, NHMUK 015201060, NHMUK 015201056 (NHMUK); 2♀, 1929-435, Ex. Coll. Smith. 1844-5, NHMUK 015201059 & NHMUK 015201046 (NHMUK) . 1♀, 1947-453, A. M. Moss, NHMUK 015201054 (NHMUK) . Amazonas or Pará . 1♂, Amazons, 1911-93, H.W. Bates, NHMUK 015201030 (NHMUK) ; 1♀, Amaz [sic], Amazons. Saunders Coll., Godman-Salvin Coll. 1911-93, NHMUK 015201058 * (NHMUK, illustrated on Fig. 11). Locality unknown. 1♀, 1844-54, 572, 10, NHMUK 015203800 (NHMUK) .

Diagnosis and description. The phylogenetic tree (Fig. 1) shows that Thereus genena forms a clade with T. tiasa and T. angulus stat. rev. Morphologically, T. genena is clearly distinct from T. tiasa based on the male DFW androconia (Figs 38, 39). This distinction is corroborated by a mean genetic divergence of 2.75% (Table 3). T. genena is distinguished from T. angulus stat. rev. by: (1) less dark ventral coloration; (2) VHW postmedian line outwardly curved near the apex (straight or inwardly curved in T. angulus stat. rev.); (3) bigger red-orange cubital spot on VHW with red scales joining it to the anal spot (Figs 10-13); (4) 2.98% mean genetic divergence (Table 3). The fact that T. genena and T. tiasa are sister species in the ML tree argues for keeping T. angulus stat. rev. as distinct than T. genena . Male genitalia (Fig. 54). Three males dissected, including the male lectotype. Valvae triangular with elongated posterior ends; saccus narrow and pointed in ventral view; penis straight. Eighth tergite subrectangular, longer than in previous species with a cutout on each lateral edge, anterior border convex, posterior one almost straight. Female genitalia (Fig. 70). One female dissected. Ductus bursae in lateral view more curved than in previous species, with a similar lightly sclerotized part near the middle. No sclerotized element observed on the membrane in between the papillae anales. Eighth tergite subrectangular, anterior border convex, posterior one concave.

Sympatry. T. genena occurs in sympatry with T. tiasa in Pará, Brazil, and is allopatric with T. angulus stat. rev.

Known distribution (Fig. 89). Brazil (PA).

Remarks. The female NHMUK 015201058 identified as T. genena thanks to its DNA, bears a handwritten label ‘tiasa’. It was considered as a potential syntype for T. tiasa . See paragraph under this species.