Phulia paranympha Staudinger 1894

Phulia paranympha Staudinger

For references see under the subspecies.

MALE (Figures 53, 73, photographs of lectotype of P. paranympha paranympha; 58, 78, photographs of allotype of P. paranympha ernesta).—This species is easily distinguished from Phulia nymphula by lacking the small and distinct white spot found in the latter species on the undersurface of hind wing at the end of the black stripe dividing the discal cell and by having the humeral angle of this wing not at all expanded and with its costal margin straight. In P. paranympha this black stripe runs to the end of the discal cell where it joins a small thin blackcross bar that delineates the end of that cell.

Length of forewing, 12.5–17 mm (average 14.3 mm).

FEMALE (Figures 56, 76, photographs of a topotype of P. paranympha paranympha; 57, 77, photographs of a specimen of P. paranympha paranympha from Sicasica, Bolivia; 59, 79, photographs of holotype of P. paranympha ernesta).—This sex differs from females of P. nymphula in the same ways that the male sex differs from that species. It differs from the male sex in having more and larger fuscous markings on the uppersurfaces of the wings.

VENATION (Figure 169).—Similar to the venation of P. nymphula (Figure 168), differing in having vein M2. of the forewing anastomosed with base of R3+4+5 + M1 for some distance. In the hind wing vein Sc+R1 terminates much farther from vein Rs than it does in P. nymphula.

TIBIA OF FORELEG.—Longer than the first tarsal subsegment. In P. nymphula this tibia is shorter than the first tarsal subsegment.

CLAW, PARONYCHIUM, AND PULVILLUS (Figure 188). —Paronychium longer than in P. nymphula, claw quite similar to that species.

MALE GENITALIA (Figure 133, drawn trom preparation WDF 6665, a specimen of P. paranympha paranympha).—As illustrated, similar to the genitalia of P. nymphula (Figure 132) with costal margin of valva evenly rounded.

FEMALE GENITALIA (Figure 151, drawn from preparation WDF 6686, a specimen of P. paranympha paranympha).—As illustrated, similar to the genitalia of P. nymphula (Figure 150).

ETYMOLOGY.—The name paranympha is a feminine noun in the nominative singular in apposition with the genus name and is derived from the Greek prefix para meaning “near or parallel” and the Latin nympha meaning “nymph.”

DISTRIBUTION (see Map 2).—This species occurs only in Bolivia, ranging from the Nevado de Sajama east to Oruro, northeast through the Sierra de Cochabamba, west from there through the Cordillera Real, and south to the Serannía de Sicasica. It flies at between 4000 and 5000 meters elevation.

SUBSPECIATION.—We recognize two subspecies: P. paranympha paranympha and P. paranympha ernesta, new subspecies. The former has the broader distribution, the latter appearing to be an isolated population found only on the Nevado de Sajama.