Thereus angulus (Le Crom & K. Johnson, 1997), stat. rev.

Figures 12, 13, 40, 56, 87

Strymon angulus: Le Crom & Johnson: 1997: 35-36; 13

Thereus angulus: Robbins & Nicolay: 2002: 95

Type material. Described from a unique male collected in Meta, Colombia, this species was originally considered as belonging to the genus Strymon Hübner. It was transferred soon after to Thereus Hübner (Robbins & Nicolay 2002), where it was treated as a junior synonym of Thecla endera Hewitson. The holotype specimen (Fig. 12) held in the collections at ICN-MHN, has been barcoded for this study (DNA sample ID ICN-MHN 15991, project FAHAA).

HOLOTYPE ♂: “ICN-L//15991” (rectangular label, handwritten); “HOLOTIPO” (red square label, printed); “244 // L137” (rectangular label, handwritten); “Tipo // Strymon // angulus” (red square label, handwritten); “J.F. LECROM // Remolinos Meta // 5/1/94 // leg: J.F. Le Crom” (white rectangular label, printed and handwritten).

Other specimens examined (6♂). ECUADOR. Sucumbios. 2♂, 30 km Puerto El Carmen-Tarapoa Rd, 0°07.5' S, 76°16.5' W, 250m, 9.i.2017, I. Aldas & R.C. Busby leg., RCB05603 & RCB05604 (RCB). Morona Santiago. 1♂, 53.1 km Santiago-Puerto Morona Rd, 2°54.9' S, 77°42.7' W, 200m, 3.ix.2024, R.C. Busby, leg., RCB16243 (RCB). PERU. Loreto. 1♂, Contamana, Rio Ucayali, vii.2007, CF-LYC-452 * (RCCF); 1♂, Palo Seco, Rio Itaya, ix.2016, J.J. Ramírez leg., CF-LYC-837 *, gen. prep. K. Florczyk CFCF035, illustrated on Fig. 13 (RCCF); 1♂, Picuruyacu, v.2016 - ii.2017, local collector, HNHM-NEOLYC-B02 * (HNHM).

Diagnosis and description. Based on the phylogenetic tree (Fig. 1), T. angulus stat. rev. forms a clade with T. tiasa and T. genena. T. angulus stat. rev. differs from T. tiasa by: (1) absence of triangular scent patch in male DFW; (2) 2.97% mean genetic divergence (Table 3). T. angulus stat. rev. differs from T. genena by: (1) smaller wingspan; (2) darker underside; (3) straighter VHW postmedian line that does not go outward near the apex; (4) longer valvae and narrower saccus; (5) 2.98% mean genetic divergence (Table 3). Barcoded specimens of Thereus angulus stat. rev. (n=4) and T. endera (n=12), including type material, have 4.49% mean divergence, in addition to the wing differences observed (different shades of blue dorsally, ventral postmedian line of more regular shape...), confirming our choice to refute the previously established synonymy. Male genitalia (Fig. 56). One male dissected and original drawings of holotype consulted. Similar to T. genena with valvae more elongated and narrower saccus. Penis straight. Eighth tergite subrectangular with convex anterior border and posterior one almost straight. Female genitalia: unknown.

Sympatry. Thereus angulus is sympatric with T. endera and T. tiasa.

Known distribution (Fig. 87). Colombia (MET). Ecuador (SU, MS). Peru (LOR).

Remarks. The males T. angulus stat. rev. from Peru and the holotype from Colombia show intraspecific variability on ventral wing pattern, especially the VHW postmedian line (Figs 12, 13).