A new subspecies of Napeogenes sylphis (Guérin-Méneville, [1844]) (Nymphalidae: Danainae: Ithomiini) from the Brazilian Atlantic Forest

Abstract

A new clearwing butterfly, Napeogenes sylphis camacan Freitas & Dolibaina ssp. nov., is described from the Atlantic Forest of Camacan, Bahia, northeastern Brazil, based on morphology and molecular evidence. The discovery of this new subspecies represents the first record of Napeogenes sylphis (Guérin-Méneville, [1844]) outside the Amazon Basin. The wing pattern of N. sylphis camacan ssp. nov. is distinct from the two other congeneric sympatric species, N. inachia sulphurina H. Bates, 1862 and N. rhezia rhezia (Geyer, [1834]), and is most similar to a dozen “transparent blue” sympatric ithomiines, with which it is hypothesized to be a new co-mimic.