Philiris diana

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Philiris diana
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Lycaenidae
Genus: Philiris
Species:
P. diana
Binomial name
Philiris diana
Waterhouse et Lyell, 1914

Philiris diana is a species of

Wet Tropics of northeastern Queensland of Australia, commonly known as large moonbeam. It consists of two subspecies.[1][2][3]

The species belongs to the diana species-group, which are relatively large butterflies within the genus

valvae assymetry. The valvae of P. diana, however, differ by the less arched middle section of the left valva, with shorter apical spine; and right valva having short beak-like process, directed dorsolaterally (the process is longer and thinner, with curved apical spine in P. papuanus).[2]

Taxonomic History

In April 1907 F. P. Dodd collected ten males and seven females in

type specimens.[1]

The original series was deposited in the

allotype, respectively.[5]

In 1998 M. J. Parsons designated a

paralectotypes (13 specimens). Similarly invalid was a lectotype designation of D. P. A. Sands in 2015.[6][7]

Discovery of subspecies

Philiris diana was long known only from the coastal escarpments near Kuranda in Queensland. In April 1972 N Qu, N and K. Tindale caught a female in the rainforest near

Australian National Insect Collection, Canberra. The latter was identified as Philiris diana, though the females of the species were considerably variable in the wing upperside coloration.[6]

Visiting the Atherton Tableland in March 2021, B. S. Hacobian found near

larvae were collected on brown bolly gum near Beatrice by E. Petrie and R. Mayo, and reared to adulthood. Genetically there was a negligible variation within P. diana from different parts of the range. In 2023 the entire collection from Atherton Tableland, including the earlier discovered females from near Lake Tinaroo and Lake Eachem, were described as a new subspecies Philiris diana fortuna. The name fortuna meant luck in the discovery of the first specimens. The holotype was deposited at the Australian National Insect Collection, Canberra.[2]

Classification

Philiris diana is divided into two subspecies:[2]

  • Philiris diana diana Waterhouse et Lyell, 1914
  • Philiris diana fortuna Hacobian, Braby et Petrie, 2023

Philiris diana diana diagnosis

Males, upperside: ground color paler violet-blue;

valvae narrower than in P. p. fortuna. Early instar dorsal blotches reddish or pinkish. Instar III ground color green or yellow.[2]

Philiris diana fortuna diagnosis

Males, upperside: ground color from intensive cobalt-blue to purplish-blue;

valvae broader than in P. p. diana. Early instar dorsal blotches deep red-brown. Instar III ground color green.[2]

Distribution

The nominotypical subspecies P. d. diana is known only from Kuranda near Cairns and Paluma Range, and P. d. fortuna from the Atherton Tableland.[2]

Habitat

Philiris diana diana prefers coastal

escarpments at low to mid-elevation forests, while P. d. fortuna lives in montane forest at elevation of 750–1090 m asl. The larva feeds on the brown bolly gum of the laurel family, growing on basalt soil.[2]

Life History

The flight period extends from November till April, with at least two generations. The adults were observed among the sunlit brown bolly gums and other trees nearby in the early-late afternoon. Copulation took place for about 35 min. Females ovipost on

instars.[3] Instar I lives for six or seven days, instar II for six to eight, instar III for seven to nine, instar IV for eight to twelve, instar V for nine to fifteen, and instar VI for 15–31 days.[2]

References

  1. ^ a b Waterhouse, G.A.; Lyell, G. (1914). The Butterflies of Australia. A Monograph of the Australian Rhopalocera. Sydney: Angus and Robertson.
  2. ^
    doi:10.3853/j.2201-4349.75.2023.1826
    .
  3. ^ a b Petrie, E.A.; Hacobian, B.S. "Notes on the life history of the Large Moonbeam Philiris diana Waterhouse and Lyell, 1914 (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae), including confirmation of its native larval foodplant". Australian Entomologist. 49: 137–143.
  4. ^ a b Parsons, M.J. (1998). The Butterflies of Papua New Guinea. Their Systematics and Biology. London: Academic Press.
  5. ^ Peters, J.V. (1971). A Catalogue of the Type Specimens of the Hesperioidea and Papilionoidea (Lepidoptera) in the Australian Museum. N.S.W.: Australian Entomological Press.
  6. ^ a b Sands, D.P.A. (2015). "Review of Australian Philiris Röber (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae), with Notes on Variation and Descriptions of Two New Subspecies from Cape York Peninsula". Australian Entomologist. 42 (4): 219–252.
  7. ^ Edwards, E.D.; Newland, J.; Regan, L. (2001). Lepidoptera: Hesperioidea, Papilionoidea. Zoological Catalogue of Australia. Vol. 31.6. Collingwood, Melbourne: CZIRO Publishing.
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