Matskási István (szerk.): A Magyar Természettudományi Múzeum évkönyve 93. (Budapest 2001)

Bálint, Zs. ; Benyamini, D.: Taxonomic notes, faunistics and species descriptions of the austral South American polyommatine lycaenid genus Pseudolucia (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae): the chilensis and collina species-groups

author soon found out that only few people knew the actual location of Cespedes. Following LuCHO's directions he left Caren, travelling northeast along upper Rio lllapel, first through tiny Santa Virginia village and then paying "entrance fee" at the gate to the private valley of Cespedes. It is an isolated valley along the Rio lllapel in the foothills of the Andes. The elevation near the river is 1300 m (GPS reading). The sandy slopes around it are dominated by several species of Adesmia bushes, mostly less than one meter high and "shaped" by the heavy overgrazing. Two abandoned old mines are situated to the north and northeast of the valley. The junior author surveyed the areas thoroughly, even ascending the sandy slopes to the west of Cespedes. Here, at "La Olla" (2600-2900 m); on a green "vega" he collected the first specimens of Pseudolucia asafi (BENYAMINI, BÁLINT et JOHNSON, 1995). However, P. scintilla was not to be found. Between 1995 and 2000 a terrible drought affected most of central Coquimbo and this may account for the initial failures to relocate P scintilla at Cespedes. Other Pseudolucia spp. recorded from Cespedes and surrounding slopes, however, included P. chilensis, P. dubi, P. asafi and P. annamaria. Six years passed after the initial "confirmed" records of P. scintilla from Cespedes (13.X.1994, leg. PENA) and led the junior author to believe that the extreme drought (including even the Rio lllapel itself) had led to extinction of the species. However, the winter of 2000 broke all previous weather records for precipitation in the region; ample rain and snow occurred, even in coastal Coquimbo, surpassing recorded "El Nino" years. The six year "absence" of the species may be explainable by either a) we did not come in the right time (our visits were in mid summer months, whereas the species Hies earlier, in the spring) or b) the species can stay in diapause several years. The biology of P. scintilla - Available confirmed records suggest a single brood from October-November. The junior author recorded Chorizanthe aff. densa as the host plant of P. dubi'm Cespedes (BENYAMINI 1995: 5); the possibility that it may also be the host for P. scintilla should be investigated. Pseudolucia oraria BÁLINT et BENYAMINI, sp. n. (Figs 33-36) Types - Holotype male, deposited in CUC: Pan de Azucar, Atacama Pacific coast, Chile, 28.1. 1946, leg. Wagenknecht; gen. prep. No. 632, Zs. Bálint. Paratype ("Allotype") female, deposited in CUC, with the data of holotype but collecting date 26.1.1946 and gen. prep. No. 631, Zs. Bálint. Paratype male, deposited in MHNS, with the data of holotype but collecting date 8.1.1949 and gen. prep. No. 617, Zs. Bálint. Paratype female, deposited in MHNS, with the data of holotype but collecting date 25.III.1949 and gen. prep. No. 618, Zs. Bálint. Paratype male and female, in coll. PEDRO