A new taxon of Nacaduba Moore, 1881 (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae: Polyommatini) from Agasthyamalais of the Western Ghats, India

Authors

  • Kalesh Sadasivan Travancore Nature History Society, MBRRA 65, Jyothis, Mathrubumi Road, Vanchiyoor, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala 695035, India. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6151-8020
  • Baiju Kochunarayanan Travancore Nature History Society, MBRRA 65, Jyothis, Mathrubumi Road, Vanchiyoor, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala 695035, India.
  • Rahul Khot Bombay Natural History Society, Hornbill House, S.B.S. Road, Fort, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400001, India. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6215-6965
  • Ramasamy Kamaya Naicker Palace, Saptur Post, Peraiyur Taluk, Madurai, Tamil Nadu 625705, India. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4214-8236

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.6285.13.3.17939-17949

Keywords:

Nacaduba, Lepidoptera, New taxon, Agasthyamalais, Western Ghats, Kerala, Butterfly Checklist

Abstract

A new butterfly taxon, Nacaduba sinhalaramaswamii ssp. nov. (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae: Polyommatini), is described from Agasthyamalais of southern Western Ghats in peninsular India.  The new taxa can be diagnosed from all other Nacaduba of southern India and N. sinhala Ormiston, 1924  from Sri Lanka, by its distinct male genitalia.  The early stages, larval hostplants, flight periods, ecology and the known distribution of the new taxa are discussed.  The revised keys to all known Nacaduba of Western Ghats of peninsular India are provided.

References

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Woodhouse, L.G.O. (1947). Observations on species of Nacaduba moore, and some other Lycaenidae from Ceylon. Proceedings of the Royal Entomological Society of London. Series B, Taxonomy 16: 3–9. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-3113.1947.tb00838.x

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Published

26-03-2021 — Updated on 29-03-2021

Versions

Issue

Vol. 13 No. 3 (2021)

Section

Communications

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Copyright (c) 2021 Kalesh Sadasivan, Baiju Kochunarayanan, Rahul Khot, Ramasamy Kamaya Naicker

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