Matskási István (szerk.): A Magyar Természettudományi Múzeum évkönyve 90. (Budapest 1998)

Bálint, Zs., Johnson, K. ; Austin, G. T.: New species of Eumaeini (Lycaenidae) from Southeastern Brazil II. Review of regional Ministrymon and descriptions of new species (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae)

prominent black spot with white slash at base; "Thecla-spot" unapparent. Length of FW: 12.0 mm. Female. Unknown. Male genitalia (Fig. 25). Genital capsule with anterior showing extremely prominent, asymmetrical saccus, length just slightly less than valvae; valvae with elongate, narrowly tapering caudal extensions terminating bilobes with prominent distal Haps (similar to but much wider and more basally oriented than in M. gagarini described herein). Aedeagus extremely elongate, length exceeding rest of genitalia by more than caecum length; shaft undulate and terminating with sharp dorsal hood marked by four bundles of microtrichia; caecum narrow and displaced some 60° from plane of the shaft. Type - Holotype male, Brazil, Icatu, 7 Jan. 1961, deposited MPM. Remarks - It is particularly of interest that external similarities between this species and M. gamma are borne out in the genitalia. This strongly supports JOHNSON & AUSTIN'S (1998) view that species of Ministrymon can be reliably characterized by consiliences of wing, secondary sexual, and morphological characters. Previously, M. gamma has been of uncertain affinity in the genus. The species is not readily recognized as a Ministrymon species by its dorsum, mostly because of the concolorous brown wings and the angulate FW. Close examination of the ventral pattern shows it cryptic, patched appearance to be formed by remnants of the postbasal and medial bands typical of the genus; dissection readily confirms the association. Etymology - The name refers to the cryptic pattern of the venter. DISCUSSION With regard to the diversity of new species described herein, it is important to note that type specimens of nearly all previously described species of Ministrymon relevant to this paper are from Mexico or Central America. Study of type material, and additional specimens (particularly with regard to genitalia, secondary sexual marks, and sexual dimorphism), reveals that the old northern names are seldom applicable to specimens from south of the Amazon basin in South America. JOHNSON and AUSTIN designated the lectotypes and neotypes necessary for this distinction. Previous wide use of old Mexican and Central American names for Southeastern Brazilian material mostly reflected (i) availability and (ii) very general similarities in wing pattern. Like numerous species described in the recent study of Rondônian Ministrymon, males of several new species from the present paper show extraordinary conditions of the FW scent brands. Occurrence of these in both the "white" and "blue" species groups of Ministrymon confirms that significant undescribed diversity has pervaded the genus hitherto. The existence of such "supralimital taxa" (sensu ELIOT 1973) also supports our view of specific characters in such complexes as the "phrutus'''' group in southeastern Brazil. In order to consider all "phrutus'''' group taxa in southeastern Brazil synonymous, one has to not only dismiss the pattern and genitalic distinctions of M. gagarini and M. cruor but also the huge FW brands of M. arthuri. The "white" group of Ministrymon in southeastern Brazil shows similar diversity, with some species also distinguished by supralimital characters. In this context, dis-