Matskási István (szerk.): A Magyar Természettudományi Múzeum évkönyve 94. (Budapest 2002)

Bálint, Zs.: Miscellaneous notes on Arcas Swainson, 1832 (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae, Eumaeini)

ANNALES HISTORICO-NATURALES MUSEI NATIONALIS HUNGARICI Volume 94 Budapest, 2002 pp. 141-161. Miscellaneous notes on Areas Swainson, 1832 (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae, Eumaeini) ZS. BÁLINT Department of Zoology, Hungarian Natural History Museum H-1088 Budapest, Baross u. 13, Hungary. E-mail: balint@zoo.zoo.nhmus.hu Abstract -Areas imperialis (CRAMER) and A. tuneta (HEWITSON) are recorded from Ecuador for the first time. Papilio imperialis CRAMER is the senior synonym of Areas magnifica AUSTIN et JOHNSON. Theritas cypria GEYER is the senior synonym of Thecla publica RUBER. Western and and southeastern phenotypes of Areas tuneta (HEWITSON) are recognized. The Areas tuneta superspecies concept of BROWN is restricted to these phenotypes recognized as an allopatric semispecies pair. Thecla tuneta represents the western phenotype; its lectotype is designated and the type locality is restricted as Amazon, Brazil. The allotype of Areas jivaro NlCOLAY proved to be misidentified since it represents A. (tuneta) tuneta. Thecla tuneta is the senior synonym of Areas viriditas AUSTIN et JOHNSON and A. marginata AUSTIN et JOHNSON. The southeastern phenotype as is described Areas arcadia sp. n. (type locality: Santa Catharina, SE Brazil). The holotype specimens of Areas delphia NlCOLAY and Thecla splendor DRUCE are documented for the first time. Areas alleluia sp. n. is described from NE Peru. With 32 figures. Key words - Lepidoptera, Lycaenidae, Areas, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru. INTRODUCTION The genus Arca^ SWAINSON, 1832 (type species Papilio imperialis CRAMER, 1775, by monotypy), a group of magnificent lycaenids, was reviewed by NlCOLAY (1971), who recognized seven species, five described between 1775 and 1901 and two described as new by him. Subsequently, further taxa were added, two described by AUSTIN & JOHNSON (1995) and again two by SALAZAR & CONSTANTINO (1995Û, b). Following the work on Neotropical lycaenid types at The Natural History Museum (London) in the summer of 2000,1 studied historical and new material of Areas in various European museums and private collections. From this extensive material, I was able to investigate certain older and some of the new taxa of Areas, resulting in new distributional data, new synonyms, proper documentation of two holotypes, designation of a lectotype and clarification of type localities. In addition, studying the taxonomic status of a long-standing taxon proved that another