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Review of Australian Philiris Röber (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae), with notes on variation and descriptions of two new subspecies from cape York peninsula
Abstract
The taxonomic status of the Australian species of Philiris Röber and variation in their adult morphology are reviewed. P. diana Waterhouse & Lyell is shown to be a species distinct from P. papuana Wind & Clench, P. lucina Waterhouse & Lyell is shown to be a species distinct from P. nitens (Grose-Smith) and P. innotata evinculis Wind & Clench is formally synonymised with P. innotata (Miskin). Two new subspecies from Cape York Peninsula, P. papuana kerri subsp. n. and P. azula johnsoni subsp. a, are described, figured and compared with the nominotypical subspecies from mainland Papua New Guinea. Nine species or subspecies of Philiris are recognised as occurring in Australia: P. diana, P. nitens and P. lucina, all with Lectotypes newly designated, plus P. fulgens kurandae Waterhouse, P. papuana kerri subsp. n., P. sappheira manskiei Ring & Olive, P. ziska titeus d'Abrera, P. azula johnsoni subsp. n. and P. innotata.
... Since then, eight more species have been described or recognized, mainly from New Guinea and nearby islands (Müller, 2014;Sands, 2015;Tennent, 2016). Only nine species are currently recognized from Australia (Sands, 2015;Braby, 2016), most of which are restricted to eastern and northeastern Queensland. ...
... Since then, eight more species have been described or recognized, mainly from New Guinea and nearby islands (Müller, 2014;Sands, 2015;Tennent, 2016). Only nine species are currently recognized from Australia (Sands, 2015;Braby, 2016), most of which are restricted to eastern and northeastern Queensland. The majority of species are associated with tropical rainforest or rainforest regrowth (pioneer vegetation). ...
... Philiris diana has also been recorded further south in montane areas at Paluma (Common & Waterhouse, 1981) and the Bluewater State Forest (Dunn & Dunn, 1991). However, apart from an anomalous specimen from Lake Eacham (Braby, 2000;Sands, 2015), which we discuss later, we know of no intervening records between the Cairns-Kuranda district and the Paluma Range. ...
Philiris diana Waterhouse & Lyell, 1914 from the Wet Tropics of northeastern Queensland was previously thought to be monotypic, being most closely related to Philiris papuanus Wind & Clench, 1947 from Cape York Peninsula, Australia, and mainland New Guinea. However, a new subspecies was recently discovered on the Atherton Tableland, which we illustrate, diagnose and describe as Philiris diana fortuna ssp. nov. It appears to be a narrow-range endemic, restricted to montane forest (750–1,090 m asl) and allopatric or parapatric from the nominotypical subspecies Philiris diana diana Waterhouse & Lyell, 1914, which is largely restricted to low to mid-altitude forests in the coastal escarpment in the Cairns-Kuranda district. Despite being separated by a minimum distance of only 20–25 km, the two taxa show substantial phenotypic differences in wing pattern elements, but negligeable differences according to the mitochondrial COI barcode region (mean p-distance = 0.28%). The habitat and biology of the new taxon are summarized, and likely historical processes driving divergence between upland and lowland populations of this species hypothesized.
Taxonomic investigations of the Eirmocides helenita (Semper, 1879) complex from north-eastern Australia and mainland New Guinea based on adult morphology (male genitalia and wing colour pattern elements), together with a phylogenetic hypothesis of the genus (18 or 69% of the recognised species) based on molecular data (1 mitochondrial and 12 nuclear genes), and examination of type material, indicate that there are five species within this monophyletic lineage, here referred to as the E. helenita species-group. Four of the species, previously classified under the name Eirmocides helenita (Semper, 1879) sensu lato and characterised by iridescent
turquoise dorsal colouration in the male, are predominantly allopatric, as follows: Eirmocides callainus Braby & Müller, sp. nov., is endemic to the Wet Tropics biome of north-eastern Queensland; Eirmocides helenita (Semper, 1879) sensu stricto is restricted to Cape York Peninsula of northern Queensland; Eirmocides rouku Braby & Müller, sp. nov., is endemic to the Western Province of southern Papua New Guinea; and Eirmocides dimorphus (Röber, 1886), stat. rev., occurs more widely throughout mainland New Guinea and its adjacent islands. The fifth member of the group, Eirmocides cupreus (Röber, 1886), is sympatric with E. dimorphus on mainland New Guinea. The taxonomic revision brings to 26 the
total number of species recognised in Eirmocides and within the tribe Candalidini to 40 species. Lectotypes are designated for Plebeius dimorphus Röber, 1886, Plebeius dimorphus var. cupreus Röber, 1886, and Holochila subargentea Grose-Smith & Kirby, 1896.
Considers the identity and origins of Australian rain forest insects, which probably derived from pre-Tertiary ancestral stocks. Herbivores have different effects on plants, some encouraging growth, others having damaging effects. In undisturbed rain forests there is a balance between plant growth, reproduction, competition, climate and herbivory. Competition for food resources may influence the abundance of different herbivorous species sharing the same food plant. Specific symbiotic insect-plant associations are described from N Queensland. Many unrelated factors influence the presence and abundance of rain forest insects, and environmental changes by humans disrupt many important natural balances. Conservation policies should include consideration of plant/insect relationships. -S.J.Yates