Alesa humilis Brevignon 2015

Alesa humilis Brévignon, 2015

Figs 20–21, 94

Alesa humilis Brévignon, 2015. Bull. Soc. ent. France 120 (4): 453, figs 1, 2 (male d, v), 5–8 (male gen.); holotype male, French Guyana, Roura, RN 2, PK 35, 14-X-1989, collection L. & C. Brévignon.— Gallard, 2017. Riodinidae Guyane, p. 56.

Diagnosis. Male of A. humilis is distinguished from A. suzana by the reddish spots on the wings upper side. Alesa humilis is distinguished from A. telephae and A. negra by their smaller red spots and absence of intervenal iridescent rays on the wings upper side. Wings underside with reduced dark brown. Female unknown.

Type material. Alesa humilis Brévignon, 2015 was described based on a male holotype deposited at the LCB, with the following labels: / HOLOTYPE ♁ / Guiana Francesa, Roura, RN 2, PK 35, 14-X-1989, coleção L. & C. Brévignon. /.

Distribution. Alesa humilis is only known from its type locality in French Guiana (Fig. 94).

Comments. The atypical phenotype of this species was interpreted as an individual variation or an aberration of A. telephae for a long time (Brévignon 2015, Gallard 2017). The wing pattern of A. humilis is quite similar A. telephae and A. negra, except by the smaller red spots on the wings upper side, and the absence of the iridescent rays in the spaces between cells. Nevertheless, the male genitalia of A. telephae is quite distinct, with a long inner distal process of the valva, longer than the central projection of transtilla distally. In A. negra and A. humilis the process of valva is shorter, although longer than the central projection of transtilla in A. negra, and shorter than the central projection of transtilla in A. humilis. Brévignon (2015) considered the longer tegumen and uncus, and the smaller anterior projection of saccus of A. humilis when compared with A. telephae as additional characters supporting the specific status of A. humilis. It is not possible to fully evaluate the specific status of A. humilis based on the limited information available; nevertheless, A. humilis is here recognized as a valid species until more material is available.

The holotype male Alesa humilis was captured at 13:30h., flying close to the ground and perching on the underside of a leaf (Brévignon 2015).

Examined material. FRENCH GUIANA — Cayenne: Roura (RN 2, PK 35), 14.X.1989, holotype male, L. Brévignon leg. (LCB) (examined from images).