A new species of Actinote Hübner (Nymphalidae: Heliconiinae: Acraeini) from southeast Brazil

Abstract

Abstract The present paper describes a new species of Actinote (Nymphalidae, Heliconiinae, Acraeini) from southeastern Brazil, and describes the morphology of the adults and immature stages of this species. Actinote mantiqueira sp. nov. occurs in the Serra da Mantiqueira and Serra do Mar in the Atlantic Forest. Adults from this population are very similar to other species of the “orangish red mimicry complex”, including Actinote alalia (C. Felder & R. Felder, 1860), its sister species, restricted to the mountains of southern Brazil. Actinote mantiqueira sp. nov. and A. alalia are distinguishable by wing pattern, male genitalia and larval morphology, and have strongly allopatric distributions. A redescription of Actinote alalia is also provided.

Keywords

• Atlantic Forest
• Araucaria Forest
• Actinote alalia
• Species redescription
• Immature stages