Pedaliodes manneja Thieme

(Figs. 9, 10)

[ Pronophila pisonia Hewitson var.; Hewitson, 1862: 7, pl. 3, fig. 20].

Pedaliodes manneja Thieme, 1905: 72, 76. 2 males, Columb.[ia], Moritz, Coll. Sommer [LECTOTYPE & PARALECTOTYPE of Pedaliodes manneja Thieme, herein designated]; 1 male, Venezuela, Moritz, Coll. Sommer [PARALECTOTYPE of P. manneja Thieme, herein designated], ZMHB.

Geographic range: Species: CC (monotypic).

Altitudinal range: 1900–2600 m.

Remarks: This species resembles closely P. manis and the two are difficult to sort out wherever they occur together. Main differences are in size, the shape of the androconial patch, and male genitalia. In the Cordillera de la Costa, however, P. m a n i s is much scarcer and flies at considerably lower elevations so that their altitudinal ranges do not overlap. P. manneja is very common everywhere in the Serranía del Litoral within the band 1800–2400 m. Individuals fly along forest trails, and feed on moisture on the ground or decomposing organic matter. They are very active and can be seen on the wing even when the sun is overcast. P. manneja occurs in the same habitats as P. p l o t i n a (Hewitson) and P. piletha (Hewitson) . It is replaced in the Andes by a closely related, possibly even conspecific P. montagna Adams & Bernard.

Material examined: DISTRITO FEDERAL: 1 male: El Junquito, 20.X.1957, C. J. Rosales leg., MIZA; ARAGUA: 11 males and 2 females: Colonia Tovar, vía Capachal, 2100 m, 02.VIII.2003, T. Pyrcz leg., TWP; 3 males: Colonia Tovar, vía Capachal, 2200 m, 04.VIII.2003, T. Pyrcz leg., TWP; 10 males: Colonia Tovar, vía Capachal, 2100 m, 05.VIII.2003, T. Pyrcz leg., TWP; 3 males: Colonia Tovar, Los Colonos, 2100 m, 06.VIII.2003, T. Pyrcz leg., TWP; 3 males: Colonia Tovar, Los Colonos, 2100 m, 01.XII.2004, T. Pyrcz leg., TWP; 4 males: Colonia Tovar, vía Cuesta Maya, 2100 m, 21.XI.1996, J. DeMarmels leg., MIZA; 1 male: same locality but 2000 m, 25–26.III.1998, A. Chacón, Q. Arias and J. Chirinos leg., MIZA; 1 male: Capachal, vía Colonia Tovar, 2150 m, 11.VIII.1984, J. Lattke leg., MIZA; 1 male: Colonia Tovar, 1800 m, 25.IX.1953, F. Fernández Y. leg., MIZA; 2 males, Venezuela, pur. from Dyson, 47-9; 1 male: Col.[onia] Tovar, 8-ii-1962, Brit. Mus. 1963-769, BMNH; 1 male: S. America, Caracas, Colonia Tovar, 18.II.1962, R. Feige, Brit. Mus. 1962-571, BMNH; 4 males: Colonia Tovar, VI.1975, F. Romero leg., FRR; 1 female: same data but IV.1970, FRR; 1 female: same data but VII.1970, FRR; 1 female: same data but IV.1982, FRR; MIRANDA: 2 males: Pico Naiguatá, N. of Caracas, 1800 m, 15.V.1975, M. Adams leg., BMNH.