Eretris encycla encycla (C. & R. Felder)

(Figs. 44, 45, 56)

Pronophila encycla C. & R. Felder, 1867: 472. Syntype (male) in BMNH, Lectotype designated by Pyrcz & Viloria (2007) [examined].

Eretris rubricaria Thieme, 1905: 134, pl. 3, fig. 40. Whereabouts of types unknown. Synonymy to be established by Pyrcz et al. (in prep.).

Geographic range: Species: CC, CM, SP [?], WC, CCC [?] and northern EC; Subspecies: SL southern slopes.

Altitudinal range: 1850–2000 as E. calisto (Pyrcz & Wojtusiak, 1999); 1700–2400 m in CC; 1700–2200 m.

Remarks: This is a polytypic species with several subspecies distributed in the CM, western Colombia and Ecuador. It was previously confused with E. calisto (C. & R. Felder) (Adams & Bernard, 1981), which occurs on the eastern slopes of the Andes in Colombia, Ecuador and northern Peru (Pyrcz, 2004). E. encycla and E. calisto are not known to be sympatric. The two have closely similar color patterns, but E. calisto is recognized by the usually wide brick-red or orange suffusion of the HWV, whereas in E. encycla the HWV is all shades of brown. E. encycla is also similar to E. agata Pyrcz described recently from the Guyana Shield (Pyrcz & Fratello, 2005). The generic taxonomy of Eretris has been discussed in more detail recently in a paper dedicated to the description of E. julieta Pyrcz & Gareca, another related species found in Bolivia (Pyrcz & Gareca, 2009). E. encycla is a common species in the SL, and similarly to S. bega, it is very fond of hot, sandy places on forest trails and road.

Material examined: DISTRITO FEDERAL: 1 male: P. N. Avila, Río Catuche, 1200 m, 07.XI.1993, TWP; MIRANDA: 2 males: Pico Naiguatá, N. of Caracas, 1900 m, 15.V.1975, M. Adams leg., BMNH; ARAGUA: 1 male: Rancho Grande, VIII.1985, T. Pyrcz leg., TWP; 2 males: Colonia Tovar, vía Gavantes, 1900–1950 m, 25.IV.2004, M. Costa leg., TWP; 1 male and 1 female: Colonia Tovar, Los Colonos, 2050– 2100 m, 05.VIII.2003, T. Pyrcz leg., TWP; 6 males: Colonia Tovar, vía Naranjal, 1700–1800 m, 30.XI.2004, T. Pyrcz leg., TWP; 1 male: Colonia Tovar, Capachal, 2050–2100 m, 02.VIII.2003, T. Pyrcz leg., TWP; 10 males and 1 female: Colonia Tovar, Los Colonos, 2050–2100 m, 05.VIII.2003, T. Pyrcz leg., TWP; 6 males: same data but 06.VIII.2003, TWP; 1 female: Colonia Tovar, 2100 m, 11.XI.1997, P. Boyer leg., TWP; 2 females: Colonia Tovar, Los Colonos, 2100 m, 22.II.2010, T. Pyrcz leg., MZUJ; 1 male: carretera Maracay- Choroní, 1510 m, VIII.1975, F. Romero leg., FRR; 1 male: same data but 1450 m, II.1978, FRR; 1 male: same data but 1550 m, XI.1978, FRR; 1 female: Road to Choroni, N. of Maracay, 1600 m, 25.V.1975, M. Adams leg., BMNH.