Ocaria arpoxais (Godman & Salvin)

(Figures 1–3, 14, 20, 28, 33)

Diagnosis. Ocaria arpoxais can be identified by: (1) the curved VFW white postmedian line, (2) the VFW white suffusion, dense and limited to the apex, and (3) a more developed VHW black and orange cubital spot (Fig. 14).

Type material. Thecla arpoxais Godman & Salvin was described based on a single male specimen [holotype], from Chitra, Panama, deposited at the NHMUK with the following labels: Type // Chitra, Panama.Arcé. // T. arpoxais G. & S. [reverse: Type. Sp. figured.] // Godman-Salvin Coll. 1911.–93. B.C.A.Lep. Rhop. Thecla arpoxais, G. & S. // B.M. TYPE no. Rh. 710 // Thecla arpoxais Godman & Salvin, 1887 HOLOTYPE // NHMUK 015203053 .

Distribution. This species flies from Mexico to western Ecuador (Fig. 28).

Remarks. Since its description, O. arpoxais has been associated with the species O. ocrisia and O. thales (Godman & Salvin 1887) . Draudt (1920) expanded this concept by considering it a senior synonym of the South American Andean species, O. clepsydra . He also placed O. arpoxais in the thales group of Thecla Fabricius which was closely related to the ocrisia group. Comstock & Huntington (1959) questioned the relationships proposed by Draudt suggesting that O. arpoxais and O. clepsydra should be interpreted as distinct taxa. d’Abrera (1995) and Robbins (2004a) reached the same conclusion as Draudt, placing the species within the genus Ocaria . Here, we confirm that O. arpoxais is a species endemic to Central America and the Trans-Andean region, the only member of the arpoxais group with this distribution.

Natural history. There are no records of O. arpoxais attracted to fish bait in sampling made in western Ecuador. However, there are records of males and females feeding on flowers between 0830 and 1220 hours (Busby, pers. obs.).

Material examined. MEXICO. Veracruz. 1♂, Los Tuxtlas, vii–viii.2009, CF-LYC-1105*, gen. prep. K. Florczyk CFCF015, illustrated on Fig. 2 (CF); 1 ♀, Catemaco, 23.vii.1985, R. C. Busby leg., illustrated on Fig. 3 (RCB); 1♀, Volcan San Martin, 1200m, 20.viii.2023, B. Lopez leg. (collection Lopez, Mexico). Oaxaca. 1♂, Metates, 15.iv.2018, B. Lopez leg. (CF). PANAMA. 1♂, HOLOTYPE Thecla arpoxais, Chitra, Arcé, Godman & Salvin coll., NHMUK015203053 * (NHMUK). ECUADOR. Esmeraldas. 2♂, 12 km Lita-San Lorenzo Road, Rio Chuchuvi, 850m, 0° 53.1’ N, 78° 30.9’ W, 26.iii.2011 & 14.vii.2011, Aldas & R. C. Busby leg. (RCB); 1♂, 12 km Lita-San Lorenzo Road, Rio Chuchuvi, 800m, 0° 53.1’ N, 78° 30.9’ W, 26.iii.2003, I. Aldas & R. C. Busby leg. (RCB); 2♂, Alto Tambo, 850m, viii.2000, I. Aldas & R. C. Busby leg. (RCB); 1♂, 8 km Lita-Alto Tambo Road, Rio Chuchuvi, 800m, v.2002, I. Aldas & R. C. Busby leg. (RCB); 1 ♀, Guimbicito, 140 m, 0° 57.2’ N, 78° 45.9’ W, v.2016, I. Aldas & R. C. Busby leg. (RCB). Carchi. 1♂, El Babozo, 950m, 0° 53.1’ N. 78° 26.5’ W, 17.vi.2011, I. Aldas & R. C. Busby leg. (RCB). Pichincha. 3♂, 5 km Nanegal-Garcia Moreno Rd, 1375–1700m, 00° 09.2’ N, 78° 39.4’ W, 29.v.2007, 11.ix.2009, 11.ix.2009, R. C. Busby leg. (RCB); 6♂, 5 km Nanegal-Garcia Moreno Rd, 1375–1700m, 00° 09.2’ N, 78° 39.4’ W, 17.vi.2012, 12.vi.2013, 3.vi.2014, 19.vi.2014, 19.vi.2014, 27.vi.2014, I. Aldas & R. C. Busby leg. (RCB); 1♂, 12 km Nanegal-La Perla Rd, La Perla, 1300m, 27.v.2007 (RCB); 5 ♀, 5 km Nanegal-Garcia Moreno Rd, 1375–1700m, 0° 09.2’ N, 78° 39.4’ W, 29.xii.2006, 25.v.2007, 10.vi.2007, 29.v.2008, 6.vi.2008, R. C. Busby leg. (RCB).