Matskási István (szerk.): A Magyar Természettudományi Múzeum évkönyve 89. (Budapest 1997)

Bálint, Zs. ; Johnson, K.: New species of Cyanophrys sensu lato from the Andean region of Argentina (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae)

cyanophrys species are quite similar externally, with deep iridescent blue dorsa in males (violaceous gray in females) and green venters with a white medial HW spotband. However, there are differences in wing size and shape which are paralleled by subtile differences in the appearance of the white VHW spotband and other features. P. runa is moderate in size (FW 13.5 mm), dorsally bright azure blue, with HW anal lobes not greatly distended, and the VHW medial spots all with pronounced distal white and basal red-brown. By contrast, P. argentinensis (CLENCH 1946), from the "frost-free island" in Tucumán Province (JOHNSON 1995), is small (FW 10-13 mm [see Remarks]), deep navy blue above, with distended HW anal lobes giving more triangular shape to the HW, and VHW spots limited to small specks of white. There are undescribed Plesiocyanophrys populations from Jujuy, Argentina and adjacent Bolivian lowland tropical forests which are far larger (FW 15-16 mm) with greatly distended HW's and profuse VHW spotbands. The genitalia of the Plesiocyanophrys differ markedly between species, P. runa being unique with a sculptured ductus bursae in females and terminal lamellae (typically paired spatulate lobes in congeners) appearing as a highly sculptured "arrowhead"-like structure. Description. Male. Unknown. Female. Head frons green. DFW, DHW basal one-third of DFW and basal two thirds of DHW dull shiny gray, rest of wing fuscous. HW anal lobe moderatly distended, colored centrally brown distally black; no hairlike tails along HW limbal arca. VFW, VHW ground bright green except for blackish FW base, HW with nearly complete medial line of white dots bordered faintly basad by red-brown, becoming slightly more obsolescent costally. Anal lobe maroon with white slash at base. FW length: 13.5 mm (holotype). Female genitalia: Fig. 18. Ductus bursae robust, somewhat swollen centrally, and sculptured throughout; structure of terminal lamellae high sculptured into a unipartite "arrowhead"-like configuration (not appearing as paired, spatulate, superior and inferior lamellae as in congeners). Type material. Holotype female (Fig. 7), Argentina, Catamarca Province, no other data, deposited BMNH. Remarks. Butterfly specimens from the small subtropical forest remnants of Catamarca Province are found in old BMNH collections and also in some Argentine collections by HAYWARD and WILLINK (IML). JOHNSON (1992) described several endemic elfin butterflies (Eumaeini: Thecloxurina, Rhamma) from the region. These and P. runa suggest an insular, perhaps relict, upland forest fauna. Unfortunately, the region has been too far south for regular visits by recent resident lepidopterists monitoring northern Argentina (JOHNSON et al. 1990). JOHNSON (1980) originally included a wider variety of specimens in his treatment of P. argentinensis from Tucumán Province. Considering what is now known of the group, and their habitats, it is more likely that only smaller, diminutively marked, specimens from the Tucumán "frost-free island" represent typical P. argentinensis. Etymology. The Latin name means "javelin" which refers to the unique shape of the female genitalia.