A new subspecies of Mechanitis lysimnia from southern Amazonia (Nymphalidae: Danainae: Ithomiini)

Abstract

A new ithomiine butterfly, Mechanitis lysimnia tapajona Freitas & Mota ssp. nov., is described from four localities in southern Amazonia. This taxon is very similar to the subspecies Mechanitis lysimnia nesaea, but can be distinguished by the orange hindwing discal cell (which is yellow in M. l. nesaea). The recognition of Mechanitis lysimnia tapajona ssp. nov. is significant since it represents a subspecies of Mechanitis lysimnia occupying the ‘Tapajós center of endemism’, filling the largest distribution gap for this species in South America.