Rhamma oxida Hewitson 1870

Rhamma oxida (Hewitson, 1870)

(Figures 11, 12, 34, 46, 55, 72)

Thecla oxida Hewitson, 1870: 212, 445, plate LXXXV, figs. 719, 718, 720; Draudt 1917–1924: 759; pl. 153f. Rhamma disjuncta Johnson, 1992: 147, figs. 65, 160. Image of holotype examined.

Type material. Lectotype male, “ Ecuador. Hewitson Coll.79-69., Thecla oxida 3.”, “ Type ”, “B.M. Type No. Rh.606”, “Genitalia K. Johnson xi 1983 ”. Deposited in BMNH.

Taxonomic history and remarks. This species was described briefly by Hewitson (1870) from an indeterminate number of specimens from Ecuador. Johnson (1992) designated it as the type species of the genus Rhamma. The later author described R. disjuncta from the mountains of Costa Rican, a species subsequently synonymized by Robbins (2004) with R. oxida. Even though the holotype of R. disjuncta is most similar to the holotype of R. catamarca Johnson, 1992, we prefer to follow Robbins’ concept until new material of both species is available for study.

Distribution and variability. This species is widely distributed in Ecuador; some specimens have been collected in southern Colombia. We were unable to assess variability. This species has been reared on Lupinus mutabilis Sweet in Ecuador (Arregui-Garcia, 1985).

Diagnosis. This species can be distinguished from the mostly similar species, R. comstocki, by a conspicuous androconial brand on dorsal forewing that is faint in the upper margin of the discal cell of R. comstocki.

Material examined (6♂, 3♀). CAUCA: 5 ♂, 3 ♀, CP: Totoró, La Horqueta, 2800 m, 15/06/2013; C. Prieto. NARIÑO: 1 ♂, JFLC: Ipiales, 2400 m, x/1993, J.v. Benavides.