Corresponding author: Chris J. Müller (
Academic editor: M. Nuss
Müller CJ (2016) A stunning new species of
The new species introduced herein is exceptionally distinct from all other
Examination of type and other relevant material was carried out in various institutions (as listed below). Adult specimens were photographed using a Nikon D300s Digital SLR Camera with a Nikon AF-S VR Micro-Nikkor 105mm f/2.8G IFED Macro lens and Nikon R1C1 Close-up Kit Flashes Speedlights. RAW images were edited using Adobe Photoshop CS6. Editing included alignment, auto contrasting and removal of background. A standardised procedure was followed with photography and image editing to ensure consistency of image output. Genitalia were extracted following maceration of abdomens in 10% KOH at room temperature for 36 hours. Genitalia were photographed in glycerol using the fore-mentioned camera body adapted to a Meiji Techno EMZ-5TR-P-FOI Trinocular Stereozoom Microscope, with OPTEK FL95E Fibreoptic Illuminator and twin arm optical fibre. Individual images were taken with the remote acquisition software DIYPhotoBits Camera Control 5.2. Sliced genitalia photographs were stacked and concatenated using the software Helicon Focus 6.0 and edited in Adobe Photoshop CS6. The plates were assembled in Adobe InDesign CS6 and the phylogeny tree in CorelDRAW X6. Genitalia were stored in small glycerol-filled vials pinned beneath the specimen.
Descriptions of external facies follow that of the numerical vein system of
Tissue material (two legs) was collected from representatives of all of the eight
Individual sequence properties were assessed using MEGA, version 4.1 (
Sequences were uploaded to GenBank (
Australian Museum, Sydney, Australia
Reference collection of Chris J. Müller, Sydney, Australia
Museum für Naturkunde der Humboldt-Universität, Berlin, Germany
National Agricultural Research Institute, Boroko, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea
Natural History Museum, London, England
Staatliches Museum für Tierkunde, Dresden, Germany
Holotype ♂ (Figs
Both sexes of
The male genitalia of
♂ Forewing length 15.8mm (Holotype), Antenna length 9.5mm (Holotype). Head grey; antenna long and extending well beyond end of cell, black ringed with white; thorax blue scaled on upperside, grey beneath; abdomen dark grey with blue scales near base on upperside; legs black with white between segments.
Forewing with tornus rounded (in congeners squared), and inner margin convex (in congeners straight).
Forewing upperside brilliant metallic sky blue, darkening slightly towards termen and apex, a prominent black termen border widening to ~1.5mm at apex; cilia black. Forewing underside deep grey-brown; inner margin broadly pale grey-white (in spaces 1a and 1b), with some metallic sky blue scales along vein 1b; termen narrowly white; a narrow grey-brown subterminal band, narrowly edged with white that forms triangular marks on basal edge; a postmedian band of similar colour to ground colour, about 2mm wide, narrowly edged with curved white on outside margin and with corresponding dark brown on inside margin, band is strongly displaced at veins by approximately 1mm, towards base in spaces 6 and 7 and incrementally towards base towards inner margin in spaces 2, 3 and 4; a median band at end of cell, approximately 1.5mm wide, curved and edged with white and dark brown as in postmedian band; cilia dark brown.
Hindwing rounded, with 2.5mm long, black tail at vein 2, tipped with white.
Hindwing upperside brilliant metallic sky blue, darkening slightly towards termen; a large purple-brown patch, clothed with long androconia along costa and in median area, occupying much of spaces 6 and 7 as well as part of cell and space 5; termen narrowly black; a series of diffuse black-dusted and indented subterminal spots, as well as two small black spots at tornus near intersection of vein 1b. Hindwing underside deep grey-brown; inner margin narrowly white, interspersed with black at vein ends; a large black apical spot (1.5mm diameter) in space 6 and another apical spot of similar colour and dimensions in space 7, both spots rimmed narrowly with white; two large subtornal black spots in spaces 2 (approx. 1mm across) and 3 (approx. 0.4mm across) and smaller, less regular black spots in spaces 1b and 4, each of these spots broadly edged along veins with metallic sky blue and basally with bright orange, and then fine white arcuate lines; an additional arcuate white subterminal line in space 5 linking the subapical and subtornal black spots; a postmedian band similar to that on the forewing underside, curved and strongly displaced at veins; a median band edged with white and dark brown at end of cell; a basal band approximately 1mm wide, edged narrowly with white, displaced at either side of cell; cilia dark brown.
♀: Forewing length 20.6mm, antenna length 10.8mm, antenna, thorax, abdomen and legs similar to male.
Forewing with inner margin straight.
Forewing upperside bright lustrous sky blue, darkening towards termen; apex of termen and apex broadly and sharply edged black (2.5mm and 8mm wide, respectively). Forewing underside similar to male, ground colour slightly paler and inner margin only narrowly white-grey and without blue scales, postmedian band extending to vein 1b, white edging to bands slightly wider and more diffuse.
Hindwing rounded, with black, white-tipped tail at vein 2 (approx. 4mm long).
Hindwing upperside bright lustrous sky blue, darkening towards termen; inner margin broadly black, basally transitional to brown, with narrow blue scaling along edge of space 6 and 7 adjacent to cell; a row of black subterminal spots (each averaging 0.6mm diameter) in spaces 2, 3, 4 and 5; two irregular black subtornal lines in spaces 1a and 1b, subparallel to termen; inner margin narrowly white. Hindwing underside similar to male, ground colour slightly paler, orange bordering subterminal spots wider and very extensive, reaching from the inner margin to space 5.
Male genitalia. Vinculum and tegumen ring broadly oval; sociuncus divergent; socii with lateral margin rounded, socii distinctly separated by straight, perpendicular sinus; saccus of even thickness, brachium widely bowed dorsally, yet sharply bent laterally, tapered dorsally; valva elaborate, hollowed, with serrated margin and teeth-like processes on inner margin, long narrow process stemming from near base of valva, weakly clubbed with pointed ventral surface on club; phallus with prezonal section approximately one tenth the length of postzonal section, slender, with apical rounded pencil-like process.
This enigmatic and exquisite new butterfly is named in honour of the author’s wife, Vasilia (Vicki) Savvas (Muller). Vicki has always supported the author’s obsession in butterfly research, despite the many sacrifices both on and off the field.
New Britain Island, Papua New Guinea.
Adults of
The phylogeny of
There is no significant variation in the type series of
The extent of distribution of
The type (?types) of
“Ailes d'un bleu-argenté luisant; les inférieures avec une petite queue; dessous des quatre avec plusieurs raies blanches interrompues; les inférieures ayant en outré une rangée marginale de taches noires, don't les trois voisines du bord abdominal marquées de fauve et de vert doré.
Il a le port et la taille d’Elpis, auquel il resemble beaucoup.
Nouvelle-Irlande.”
Translated, this states that the insect (presumably a male), has “Wings a shiny silvery blue; the hindwings with a small tail; underside of the four [wings] with several broken white stripes; the hindwings additionally having a marginal band of black spots, of which the three adjacent [closest] to the abdominal [inner] margin are marked with fawn and golden green. It has the appearance and size of Elpis [
The description above is pertinent only to the male of
Nominate
In the Bismarcks
This insect is unique in its comparatively large size, bright silvery blue upperside and boldly patterned underside. On the underside, the ground colour is a distinct deep grey and, like
The male genitalia of
That
Various phylogenetic analyses produced a range of trees for the
Fifty percent majority rule consensus phylogram for selected
The Bismarck Archipelago, Papua New Guinea, showing all main islands (excluding the Admiralty Group), provinces (upper case), main centres and localities referred to in the text. Shading represents approximate expanse of land above 1000 m elevation.
The Whiteman Range, West New Britain; type locality of
A number of friends and colleagues assisted the author, who is indebted to all of them. John Tennent photographed relevant specimens in institutional collections and facilitated several of the author’s trips to the UK. Geoff Martin and Blanca Huertas (