Notes on the genus <i>Calisto, </i>with descriptions of the<i> </i>immature stages (Part 1)<i> </i>(Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae: Satyrinae).

Abstract

Immature stages of eight species of the genus Calisto Hübner (Calisto grannus dilemma González, C. hysius Godart, C. obscura Michener, C. confusa confusa Lathy, C. confusa debarriera Clench, C. batesi Michener, C. archebates Ménétriès, C. sommeri Schwartz and Gali, and C. pulchella Lathy) are illustrated, described, and compared. Characters of immature stages, such as egg, larval, and pupal structures and color patterns, are found to be of taxonomic value. Correlations between these characters and ecological strategies employed by immature stages of different Calisto species are found. On the basis of these observations, taxon debarriera is synonymized with confusa and assigned a form status, while C. grannus grannus and C. grannus dilemma are confirmed to be conspecific. In contrast, C. batesi and C. hysius, as well as C. sommeri and C. grannus, are proved to be separate species. Immature stages of C. pulchella proved to be morphologically very distinct from the other Calisto species, supporting observations on the adults. Foodplant records and observations on egg and first instar larval morphology are provided for C. galii Schwartz, C. tasajera González, Schwartz & Wetherbee, C. schwartzi Gali, and C. areas Bates.