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T hisbe silvestre sp. nov. ( L epidoptera: R iodinidae): a new myrmecophilous butterfly from the B razilian A tlantic F orest
Author(s) -
Kaminski Lucas A,
Iserhard Cristiano A,
Freitas André V L
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
austral entomology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.502
H-Index - 39
eISSN - 2052-1758
pISSN - 2052-174X
DOI - 10.1111/aen.12159
Subject(s) - myrmecophily , population , biology , threatened species , habitat , butterfly , host (biology) , zoology , ecology , geography , demography , hymenoptera , sociology
This paper describes a new species of T hisbe H übner from the A tlantic F orest of south‐eastern B razil. Both adult and immature morphology are described and illustrated, and the natural history, behaviour and symbiotic interactions with ants (myrmecophily) are documented. This new species, T . silvestre sp. nov., is known only from the type locality at P arque N acional do C aparaó, M inas G erais state, B razil. Due to the isolation of the known population, specialised host plant use, restricted geographic distribution and high degree of specificity in a vulnerable habitat, T . silvestre is considered threatened. Thus, monitoring this population is urgently needed, as well as the search for other populations of this butterfly in potential localities in order to evaluate its conservation status.