Cambridge Entomological Club, 1874
PSYCHE

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Harry K. Clench.
The Lycaenidae of the Bahama Islands (Lepidoptera Rhopalocera).
Psyche 49(3-4):52-60, 1942.

This article at Hindawi Publishing: https://doi.org/10.1155/1942/12765
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5 2 Psyche [Sept.-Dec.
THE LYCBNIDX OF THE BAHAMA ISLANDS (LEPI- DOPTERA, RHOPALOCERA)
Cambridge, Mass.
So little has been written about the LyccEnidcE of the Bahamas that it was thought advisable to publish some account of the species of this family that are known to occur there. Due to a lack of complete information, it has been impossible to work out distributions among the islands of the group. As a result, this paper will be limited almost entirely to a system- atic list of species, with such locality data as are available. The history of the recorded Bahaman Lycmidce may be summed up as follows: E. M. Sharpe (1900, pp. 199-200), in her account of a collection made on New Providence Island, listed three species; M. Bates (1935, pp. 189, 195, 197, 198) mentioned an additional four as occurring in the Bahamas, but gave no specific localities; and lastly, the author (1941, p. 3; 1941a, p. 407) added two more, bringing the total number known for the region to eight. An additional five in this paper raise that number to thirteen. This figure compares, now, more favorably with the sixteen species of Cuba. Of the thirteen Bahaman species and races in this family, two species and three races are indigenous. The latter, quite
naturally, show affinities with both Florida and Cuba, but appear to be more strongly connected with the latter. The specimens upon which this paper is based are contained chiefly in the collection of the Museum of Comparative Zool- ogy. The general arrangement follows Bates' 1935 paper, "The Butterflies of Cuba."
Genus Eumaeus Hiibner
1. Eumaeus atala Poey
Eumenia atala Poey, 1832, no. 3, 3 figs. Eurnceus atala: Bates, 1935, p. 189.
Pu&e 4952.60 (1942). hup ttpsychu einclub orgtW49-052 html



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19421 Lyccenidce of Bahamas 53
I have seen but two Bahaman specimens, both badly worn. Insofar as can be determined, they do not differ from either Floridian or Cuban specimens.
Distribution. Great Abaco Island (Mathiew's Point, July 9, 1904). Also from Cuba and Florida.
Genus Strymon Hiibner
2. Strymon martialis Herr.-Schaff.
Thecia martialis Herrich-Schaffer, 1864, p. 164. Stryrnon martialis: Bates, 1935, p. 192. This species is allied to the following, but the blue on the upper surface will at once distinguish it. Distribution. New Providence Island (Mar. 12, 1934, Ar- mour Exp.) ; Andros Island (Mangrove Cay, Aug. 1, 1904, 0. Bryant) ; Cat Island (Arthurs Town, July 2 1, 1935, W. J. Clench); Conception Island (Feb. 12, 1934, Armour Exp.); Great Inagua Island (Feb. 1934, Armour Exp.). S. martialis is also reported from Florida and Cuba. Bates' statement that it is found in "most arts of the West Indies" A
is open to question.
3. Strymon acis armouri, new subspecies
UPPERSIDE :
Both sexes brownish black. Fore wing in the female with a rather indefinite central patch of jet black. Male with a more definite and smaller central patch of the same color, in this case the scent pad, located on the outer end of the cell. Hind wing with the anal lobe orange, capped by a thick, short white bar. Between the lobe and the lower tail is a second, thinner, white bar, and between the two tails is a third. Basal to the second of these bars is a small, frequently obsolete, patch of white scales. Basal to the third bar is a patch of orange scales. The tail at Cui is the shorter, as is customary in the genus, and both that and the one at Cua are black, tipped with white. Fringe of both wings white, except at the anal lobe and the costal part of the outer margin of the hind wing which are .
brown.
UNDERSIDE :
Both sexes similar. Ground color grayish tan, rather dark. Fore wing crossed by a diagonal, rather thin, straight white



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54 Psyche [Sept .-Dec.
line, basally bordered with black. This line runs from a point on the costa, two-thirds from the base, to Cus, about 3 mm. in from the outer margin. The inner marginal area from here is slightly grayer than the rest of the wing. Hind wing with a marginal white streak running from Ms almost to 2A. Anal lobe black, surmounted by a white area. Between 2A and Cu2 is a patch of gray and blue scales. Between Cui and Cua, set back from the margin, is an orange patch, most intense basally. Adjoining this, in the Cu2-Cui-Mg-Ma interspaces are smaller orange patches, each of which is bordered outwardly with a small amount of white. Basal to these orange areas is a black line, parallel to the margin, and running from outer angle to Cu2. Marginal to this, near the outer angle, is a heavy white band, a continuation of the white bordering of the orange patches, mentioned above. Between the orange patches and the white bar (the former merging into the latter toward the outer angle), and the outer margin is a strip of gray. Outward of this strip is a thin, thread-like line of white, running the whole length of the outer margin. From the center of the costa runs a continuation of the white line on the fore wing. It pro- ceeds straight to a point on Cu2 just basal to the large orange spot, where it angles sharply inward for a short distance, then downward, touching at 2A just basal to the patch of blue and gray scales, then inward again, reaching the inner margin at the center. Throughout its whole length it is basally bordered with black. Near the inner margin, and just marginal and parallel to the last segment of this line, is a black streak which basally limits the white patch next the anal lobe. In the basal area are two white spots, small, occasionally almost obsolete, which lie parallel to the body line. Length of fore wing as in the typical.
Holotype, male, Rum Cay, Bahamas, Feb.-March, 1934 (Armour Exp.) .
Allotype, female, Arthurs Town, Cat Island, Bahamas, July 16, 1935 (W. J. Clench).
Paratypes, one female, same data as holotype ; two females, same locality and collector as allotype, July 8, 16, 1935. Holotype, allotype and two paratypes, M.C.Z. no. 2 5848. One paratype in the author's collection. Remarks. This subspecies differs from typical (Florida) ads in the narrower post-discal white lines on both wings,



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19421 Lyccenidce of Bahamas 55
and in the reduction of the orange patch on the under surface of the secondaries. This orange in typical acis is large and unicolorous, while in a~mouri it is much reduced and lighter marginally. The two basal spots on the secondaries below are usually smaller than in the typical form. Drury (1770, p. 2, pi. 1, fig. 2) gave in his description the locality "New York," undoubtedly false. No Cuban examples have been seen. This subspecies is named for Mr. Allison V. Armour, of the yacht "Utowana," through whose efforts a large part of the museum's Bahaman butterflies were obtained. 4. Strymon maesites Herr.-Schaff .
Thecla masites Herrich-Schaffer, 1864, p. 165. Strymon masites: Bates, 1935, p. 194; Clench, 1941, p. 3. Specimens from Florida and the Bahamas might each repre- sent undescribed races, but they would at best be insignificant, and, for the present at least, it is better to leave them all under one name. 5. masites is a close relative of the continental telea Hewitson (1 873, Illustrations of Diurnal Lepidoptera. Lycaenidae, p. 143, pi. 57, figs. 350, 351 (not original descrip- tion)) and is in all likelihood only subspecifically distinct. Distribution. Cat Island (Arthurs Town, July 16, 1935, W. J. Clench). Florida and Cuba, and also Puerto Rico have been cited as localities for this species. It is found very likely in Hispaniola as well.
5. Strymon columella columella Fabr .
Papilla columel~a Fabricius, 1793, p. 282. Tmolus salona: Sharpe, 1900, p. 200.
Strymon columella: Bates, 1935, p. 194, fig. 15. Mexican specimens belong to a separate subspecies (istapa Reak.) according to Field (1939, p. 346). Distribution. New Providence Island (Nassau, June 189 7, C. J. Maynard; Feb. 1933, J. C. Greenway; Feb. 1, and Mar. 12, 1934, Armour Exp.) ; Southern Eleuthera Island (Feb. 1934, Armour Exp.) ; Conception Island (Feb. 12, 1934, Armour Exp.) ; Rum Cay ( 1934, Armour Exp.) ; Long Island (Clarence Town, Feb. 20, 1934, Armour Exp. ; Simm's, July 16, 1936, H. D. Russell and R. A. McLean).
Typical columella is widely distributed throughout the West Indies and Florida.




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56 Psyche [Sept .-Dec.
6. Strymon angelia dowi Clench
Tmolus angelia: Sharpe, 1900, p. 200.
Strymon angelia dowi Clench, 1941, p. 4. S. dowi is quite distinct from the Cuban race (typical an- gelid), having a lighter ground color, and nearly lacking the fulvous on the upperside of the secondaries in the male. Distribution. New Providence Island (Nassau, June 189 7, C. J. Maynard) ; Cat Island (Arthurs Town, July 14-16, 1935, W. J. Clench) ; Long Island (Simm's, July 7, 1936, H. D. Russell and R. A. McLean) ; Mariguana Island (Feb. 2 5, 1933, Armour Exp.) . All types.
The typical form is found in Cuba, Puerto Rico and Jamaica. It will in all probability turn up in Hispaniola when that island is more thoroughly explored.
Genus Hemiargus Hubner
7. Hemiargus hanno filenus Poey
Polyommatus filenus Poey, 1832, no. 13, 3 figs. Hemiargus filenus: Bates, 1935, p. 196, fig. 16. Judging by the available data, filenus, in the Bahamas, is restricted to the more southerly islands. However, more ex- tensive collecting may turn it up in the northern part of the group. It seems strange, nevertheless, that records of it are absent from New Providence Island, and Cat Island, the two islands most thoroughly known.
Distribution. Long Island (Clarence Town, Feb. 1934, Ar- mour Exp.) ; Great Inagua Island (Feb. 1934, Armour Exp.). Specimens from Florida, Cuba, Jamaica and Hispaniola seem to agree with those from the Bahamas, and together form the Antillean race of hanno.
8. Hemiargus catilina thomasi Clench
Hemiargus catilma thomasi Clench, 194la, p. 407. This race differs from the typical (Florida) form in the reduction and graying over of the white bands on both wings below.
Distribution. Cat Island (Arthurs Town, July 16, 1935, W. J. Clench; Russell's Creek, July 16, 1935, W. J. Clench);



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19421 Lycamidx of Bahamas 57
Rum Cay (1934, Armour Exp.) ; Great Inagua Island (Feb. 1934, Armour Exp.).
9. Hemiargus catilina ammon Lucas
Lyccena ammon Lucas, 1857, p. 612, pi. 16, figs. 7, 7a, 7b. Hemiargus ammon: Bates, 1935, p. 197.
This record is founded upon a single and very badly damaged specimen. Though positive examination is very difficult, i.t doesn't appear to differ from typical Cuban specimens. Distribution. Long Island (Simm7s, July 16, 1936, H. D. Russell and R. A. McLean).
This subspecies of catilina is found also in Hispaniola and Cuba.
10. Hemiargus bahamensis, new species
UPPERSIDE :
Male. Both wings blue. Fore wing with a thin black mar- ginal border, faintly thicker at the apex. Hind wing with a single black spot between veins Cui-Cu2, and a suggestion of another between Cu2-2A. Fringe of both wings white, darker at the ends of the veins.
UNDERSIDE :
Male. Ground color uniform gray-brown. Markings char- acteristic of catilma, but hardly distinguishable, due to the darker ground color, and almost complete absence of the white which usually surrounds them. In addition, the three spots in the basal area of the hind wing, usually jet black, have here lightened to the color of the ground, and can hardly be dis- tinguished from it. On the fore wing there is a submarginal line of white, rather thin, contrasting sharply with the dark gray-brown which surrounds it. On the hind wing there is a corresponding white line, slightly thicker, which runs from costa to inner margin, as does that of the fore wing. On the outer margin, near the anal angle, are two black spots, irrorated heavily with metallic blue green scales on their outer margins. The one in Cui-Cug is capped by a thin curved line of orange, while the smaller one adjacent to it is capped by a similar line of white. Length of fore wing 9 mm. Holotype, male, Crooked Island, Bahamas, March 1, 1934 (Armour Exp.), M.C.Z. 25737.




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58 Psyche [Sept-Dec.
Remarks.
This species belongs to the group in the genus Hemiargus that includes catilina Fabr., and its races, and dominica Moschl., though it is quite different from either. It bears a certain resemblance
to dominica in the reduction in
color of the basal spots, but there the similarity ceases. H.
dominica, like ammon, is very light, with scattered brown markings, while bahamensis is dark, with the markings scarcely apparent. It is, perhaps, closest in appearance to thomasi, the Bahaman race of catilina.
However, it can be distinguished
readily by the pure white (though thin) lines, one on each wing, below, and in the reduced color of the basal spots, which are in thomasi jet black, as in the other catilina races. The reduction of the orange lunule below also seems characteristic of bahamensis.
Genus Brephidium Scudder
1 1. Brephidium isophthalma Herr.-Schaff. Lyccena isophthalma Herrich-Schaff er, 1862, p. 141. Brephidium isophthalma: Bates, 1935, p. 198. Bahaman specimens seem to agree with those of Cuba. Distribution. New Providence Island (Nassau, June 189 7, C. J. Maynard).
12. Brephidium barbouri, new species
UPPERSIDE :
Male. Fore wing dark brown with a reddish discal tinge. Base of wing blue. Hind wing dark brown, with a basal blue area as in the fore wing, but more extensive. The veins in this blue area are obscurely pencilled with dark brown. A row of inconspicuous dark spots adorns the outer margin. Fringe of fore wing brown, faintly whitish towards apex; that of hind wing white.
UNDERSIDE :
Male. Fore wing with the base, outer margin and apex dark gray; disk ruddy brown. A submarginal row of white dashes parallels the outer margin. In the disk is an interrupted, badly dislocated, double white line, and a double dash at the end of the cell. Hind wing dark gray brown. Obscure white dashes and white scaling are scattered over the entire surface with the



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19421 Lyccenidce of Bahamas 59
same general pattern as found in isophthalma and exilis Boisd. At the base is a narrow area of greenish scaling. There are seven spots on the outer margin, the anal one and apical two all metallic green, the remaining black, with a convex line of green irroration in each. Between these spots and the outer margin is a thin line of dull orange, which extends basally between the spots for a short distance. Basal to the row of spots is a faint and rather indefinite whitish line. Holotype, male, Great Inagua Island, Bahamas, Feb. 1934 (Armour Exp.).
Paratype, male, same data.
Holotype and paratype, M.C.Z. no. 25738. Remarks. This species differs from the related isophthalma and exilis in the absence of a white patch of fringe near the anal angle of the fore wing, and in a darker color below, espe- cially on the fore wing. It also appears to be darker above. Two specimens from Rum Cay (Feb. 1934, Armour Exp.) seem referable to barbouri.
This species is named for Dr. Thomas Barbour, director of the Museum of Comparative Zoology.
Genus Leptotes Scudder
13. Leptotes cassius theonus Lucas
Lyccena theonus Lucas, 1857, p. 61 1, pi. 16, figs. 8, 8a, 8b. Tarucus cassius: Sharpe, 1900, p. 199.
Leptotes theonus: Bates, 1935,p. 198.
Bahaman specimens agree with those found elsewhere in the West Indies and Florida.
Distribution. South Bimini Island (Alicetown, Apr. 194 1, R. W. Foster and J. Huntington); New Providence Island (Nassau, June 1897, C. J. Maynard); Southern Eleuthera Island (Feb. 1934, Armour Exp.) ; Cat Island (Arthur's Town, Aug. 5,1935, W. J. Clench) ; Stranger's Cay, Little Abaco Island (July 5, 1904, 0. Bryant) ; Crooked Island (March 1, 1934, Armour Exp.); Great Inagua Island (Feb. 1934, Armour Exp.) ; Long Island (Clarence Town, July 29, 1936, W. J. Clench and J. C. Greenway); Grand Bahama Island (Eight Mile Rock, Apr. 22, 1936, W. J. Clench) ; Rum Cay (1934, Armour Exp.); Watling's Island (Feb. 17, 1933, J. C. Green- way) *




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Psyche
[Sept .-Dec.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Bates, M.
1935. The Butterflies of Cuba. Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool. 78, pp. 63-258, 24 figs.
Clench, H. K.
1941. Notes on two Bahaman Lycsenidse, with the Description of a New Subspecies. Torreia, no. 7, 7 pp.
1941a. A new Race of Hemiargus for the Bahamas (Lepidoptera: Lycseni- dae). Mem. Soc. Cubana de Hist. Nat. 15, pp. 407-408. Drury, D.
1770-1782. Illustrations of Natural History. London. 1, 1770, 32, 130 pp., 50 pis. [Index, published in 1773, gives names to these species.] Fabricius, J. C.
1793. Entomologia Systematica Emendata et Aucta. Tom. 111, pars I. (Glossata) . Hafnise. 487 pp.
Field, W. D.
1939. Distribution Notes and Comments upon a Collection of Mexican Lepidoptera. Part I: Rhopalocera. Univ. Kansas Science Bull. 26, pp. 339-354. (Bull. Univ. Kansas 41.)
Herrich-Schaffer, G. A. W.
1862. Schmetterlinge aus Cuba. Correspbl. Zoo1.-Min. Ver. in Regensburg, 16, pp. 118-120; 141-143 ; 156-157 ; 175-180. 1864. Die Schmetterlingsfauna der Insel Cuba. Correspbl. 2001.-Min. Ver. in Regensburg, 18, pp. 159-172.
Lucas, H.
[1857. Lkpidopt6re.s in Ramon de la Sagra, Histoire Physique, Politique, et Naturelle de Pile de Cuba. Animaux Artic. Paris. [7] pp. 474-750. pis. 14-17.] (Quoted from Bates, 1935, p. 246.) ~c~unnou~h, J.
1938. Check List of the Lepidoptera of Canada and the United States of America. Pt. 1, Macrolepidoptera. Mem. S. Cal. Acad. Sci. 1, pp. 275. Poey, F.
1832. Centurie de L6pidopt6res de l'ile de Cuba, contenant la description et les figures colorikes de cent espkces de papillons nouveaux ou peu connus. Paris. [Only 20 parts issued, not numbered], 54 pp., 20 pis.; [also 4 pp. prospectus, 1 p. avertissement of the interruption of the work].
Sharpe, E. M.
1900.
On a Collection of Butterflies from the Bahamas. Proc. 2001. Soc. London, 1900, pp. 197-203, pi. 19.




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