Siderus castelain Faynel, Fåhraeus & Robbins, 2024

Faynel, Christophe, Fåhraeus, Christer, Ramirez, Juan-Jose & Robbins, Robert K., 2024, The genus Siderus (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae) in French Guiana: four newly discovered species and conspicuous male genitalia polymorphism, Zootaxa 5519 (1), pp. 38-58 : 49-52

Siderus castelain Faynel, Fåhraeus & Robbins sp. nov.

( Figures 15, 16 , 20 , 26 , 31 )

Diagnosis and description. Male mean FW length: 13.6 mm (n = 7). Siderus castelain sp. nov. is morphologically similar to S. guapila , with which it was first confused (Faynel 2003). It differs from the latter by more restricted blue dorsally, the androconial spot in the cell larger, and the absence of black-pupiled orange spot in Cu1–Cu2. Compared to the other Siderus species, it has a darker ventral ground colour with a characteristic black spot in Cu1–Cu2 surrounded by dark orange scales. Males ( Fig. 15 ) are light blue dorsally with a large black apex looking like S. diringeri sp. nov. (which is darker blue) but the discal cell scent patch is larger. Male genitalia ( Fig. 20 ) are the smallest in the genus with rounded valvae at base and elongate extension, one cornutus at the penis end, a short pointed saccus. Females ( Fig. 16 ) are dull blue dorsally with the same ventral wing pattern as the males. Female genitalia ( Fig. 26 ) look like S. leucophaeus and S. diringeri sp. nov. ( Figs 23, 25 ) with ductus seminalis arising dorsally; ostium bursae short and circular; two thorn-shaped signa in the middle of the corpus bursae.

Type material. Holotype ♂ ( Fig. 15 ): “ GUYANE FRANCAISE // Saül Roche Bateau // 11. 11. 2008 // Coll. Christian Castelain ” [white rectangular label, printed in black], “CF-LYC-181” [orange rectangular label, printed in black], “prep. gen. CF n°667” [white rectangular label, printed in black], “Holotype ♂ // Siderus castelain // Faynel, Fåhraeus & Robbins, 2024” [red rectangular label, printed in black]. Will be deposited in MNHN. The approximative GPS data of the type locality are 3°37′ N, 53°12′ W.

Paratypes: VENEZUELA. Bolivar. 1♂,ElDorado, AndrewNeildleg.,BritMus.1989.167( NHMUK015203857 ) ; 1♂, Rio Surukum, Carretera Elena Icabaru , 850m, 19–31.I.1985, Fernandez leg., RKR Genitalia 1990:66 ( MIZA) . GUYANA. 1♂, Acarai Mountains, Sipu R., 1°23.2’N, 58°56.8’W, 270–760m, 29.X–12.XI.2000, Fratello leg., RKR Genitalia 1999:155 ( USNM) ; 1♂, New River Triangle, Berbice River , 150m, 05.XI.1980, Steinhauser leg. ( MGCL) ; 1♂, Iwokrama Rainforest Reserve (Darwin Butterfly Project). FRENCH GUIANA. 1♂, Saül, Roche Bateau , 3°37’ N 53°12’ W, 8.I.2018, Sonzogni leg., DNA CF-LYC-939 ( CF) ; 1♂: Piste de Bélizon , I.2014 ( CF) ; 1♂, Cacao , 6.VIII.2014 (Coll. Diringer) ; 1♂, Bonaventure , rte de Bélizon, 29.X.2019 (Coll. Diringer) ; 1♂, Saül , 8.XI.2010 (Coll. Diringer) ; 1♂, Cacao , Piste de la Source, 23.XII.2018, N. Page leg., L258 (coll. Leroy & Page) ; 1♂, Crique Maripas , RN 2 — PK 70, 31.IV. 2019, M. Leroy & N. Page leg., L271 (coll. Leroy & Page) ; 1♂, RN2 PK70, Piste et Crique Maripas , 9.IV.2019, N. Page & M. Leroy leg., L235 (coll. Leroy & Page) ; 1♂, Route de Kaw, Carrefour de Fourgassier , 14.I.2019, N. Page & M. Leroy leg., L357 (coll. Leroy & Page) ; 1♀, Papaïchton , 15.X.2001, J.Y. Gallard leg., C. Faynel n° 1163, DNA CF-LYC-528 ( Fig. 16 , CF) ; 1♀, Papaïchton , 15.X.2001, J.Y. Gallard leg., C. Faynel n° 1162, DNA BC-MNHN-LEP01313 (ex. CF, leg. to MNHN) ; 5♂, piste du Camp Bonaventure à Bélizon , 04°19′41.54″N 52°20′21.9″W, 24.IV.2024, H. Le Menn leg. ( CF) . ECUADOR. Napo. 1♂, 14 km Tena-Puyo Road, 1°06.7′S, 77°46.9′W, 600 m, 13.I.2015, Busby leg. ( RCB) . Morona Santiago. 2♂, 54.6 km Santiago-Puerto Morona Rd, 2°54.7′S, 77°42.4′W, 205m, 08& 09.I.2016, Aldas & Busby leg. ( RCB) ; 2♀, 53.1 km Santiago-Puerto Morona Rd, 2°55.0′S, 77°42.7′W, 210m, XI & XII.2020, Aldas & Busby leg. ( RCB) . PERU. Loreto. 1♂, Iquitos, Rio Momón , 100 m, XI.2005, Coll. C.F. n° 15661, DNA CF-LYC-174 ( CF) ; 1♂, alto Río Contaya , camp I, 300–400 m, 0719/7448, 20.X.2004, Ramírez leg., DNA MHNLXPL1D09 ( MUSM) . San Martín. 1♀, Km 7, Pongo del Cainarache, Barranquita , 6°18’S, 76°14’W, 250m, 15.XI.1998, Robbins leg. ( USNM) . Ucayali. 1♂, Contamana , VII.2007, Coll. C.F. n° 15420 ( CF) . Madre de Dios. 1♂, 1♀, San Lorenzo , X. 1995 ( CF) ; 1♂, Boca Rio Torre , 300m, 18.X.1985, Lamas leg., RKR Genitalia 1990:37 ( MUSM) . BRAZIL. Amazonas. 1♂, Maués , X–XI. 2008, Coll. C.F. n° 10621 ( CF) . BOLIVIA. Chapare. 1♂, Chapare, Villa Tunari , 28.IV.2006, C. Faynel n° 20010, J.Y. Gallard leg. ( CF) .

Other material examined. PANAMA. Veraguas. 1♀, Calovebora, 8°48’N, 81°13’W, 17.I.1982, Small leg., DNA USNMENT00233077 ( USNM). The identification of this specimen is uncertain. It is geographically intermediate between the ranges of S. guapila and S. castelain sp. nov. Its wing pattern is also intermediate between both species; thus, it could represent a hybrid, a geographical connecting form, or yet another distinct species.

Distribution. Venezuela, Guyana, French Guiana, Ecuador, Peru (LO, SM, UC, MD), Brazil (AM), Bolivia.

Natural history. This species is associated with lowland rainforests.

Etymology. This new species is dedicated to our colleague Christian Castelain who regularly explores French Guiana and who collected the first Guianese specimens. It is a name in apposition.

Remarks. The females have been associated with males because they have a similar size and the same ventral wing pattern, not shared with any other French Guiana Eumaeini . Unfortunately, the barcoding on the two different female specimens from French Guiana did not give a sequence that could have collaborated this (samples ID CF-LYC-528 and BC-MNHN-LEP01313). In 2017, as part of a work on butterflies from Guyana, Sambhu Hemchandranauth (Queensland, Australia) sent the first author a picture of a male from Iwokrama Rainforest Reserve ( Darwin Butterfly Project 2010), presumably S. castelain sp. nov. He did not report it in his Guyana list ( Sambhu & Nankishore 2018).

Systematic Placement. We note that this species is paraphyletic on our best ML analysis ( Fig. 34 ), although with very low branch support. From a distance perspective the specimens are close to each other in all trees analyzed, maximum likelihood as well as neighbor joining.

Figures

FIGURE 34. Siderus phylogenetic tree generated with IQ-Tree using 52 COI sequences. Each specimen has the following information: scientific name, sample ID, sex, country and department, elevation. Method of construction of the tree: Maximum- Likelihood.

FIGURES 6–16. Siderus adults from French Guiana, dorsal face at left. 6. S. leucophaeus ♂. 7. S. parvinotus ♂. 8. S. diringeri sp. nov., HT ♂. 9. S. diringeri sp. nov., PT ♀. 10. S. bisignatus sp. nov., HT ♂. 11. S. toussaint sp. nov., HT ♂. 12. S. toussaint sp. nov., PT ♀. 13. S. athymbra ♂. 14. S. athymbra ♀. 15. S. castelain sp. nov., HT ♂. 16. S. castelain sp. nov., PT ♀.

FIGURES 17–21. Siderus male genitalia (new species). Posterior part on top, left lateral view with penis (on the left), ventral view with setae drawn only on right uncus and right valva and penis removed (on the right). 17. Siderus bisignatus sp. nov., HT (French Guiana). 18. Siderus bisignatus sp. nov., PT (Peru, LO). 19. Siderus diringeri sp. nov., HT (French Guiana). 20. Siderus castelain sp. nov., HT (French Guiana). 21. Siderus toussaint sp. nov., HT (French Guiana).

FIGURES 23–26. Siderus female genitalia showing very similar aspect. Posterior part on top, left lateral view on the left, ventral view on the right. 23. Siderus leucophaeus. 24. S. toussaint sp. nov., PT (French Guiana). 25. Siderus diringeri sp. nov., PT (French Guiana). 26. Siderus castelain sp. nov., PT (French Guiana).

FIGURES 29–32. Distribution map of the new Siderus new species. 29. Siderus diringeri sp. nov. 30. Siderus bisignatus sp. nov. 31. Siderus castelain sp. nov. 32. Siderus toussaint sp. nov.