Search

Thalerommata Ausserer, 1875 is a theraphosid genus with very small species that resemble Trichopelma, although they lack the dot pattern on the abdomen. They are also distinguished from all other Theraphosidae by the presence of flattened, iridescent setae covering the abdomen, and sometimes, the legs too. Its current distribution includes the following countries: Argentina, Bahamas, Colombia, Cuba, Jamaica and Venezuela. Three new species of tiny tarantulas of the genus Thalerommata are described from northern Colombia: Thalerommata yukpa sp. nov. from Cesar Department, Thalerommata kogui sp. nov. and Thalerommata margarita sp. nov. from Magdalena Department. Colombia has now seven of the thirteen Thalerommata species.

We present evidence from DNA barcodes, wing pattern and distribution to support the hypothesis that an entity flying in sympatry with Thaeides theia in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, is an undescribed biological species named herein as Thaides ramoni Prieto, sp. nov. Adult specimens and genital structures are illustrated for both species along with molecular and morphological diagnostic characters. In addition, we present some considerations about the taxonomy of the species in the Thaeides muela group.

Seven new species of the genus Sparianthis Simon, 1880 are described and illustrated: S. chicaque spec. nov. (♂♀), S. iguaque spec. nov. (♂), S. medina spec. nov. (♂♀) and S. tuparro spec. nov. (♂♀) from Colombia, and S. boibumba spec. nov. (♂), S. cascalheira spec. nov. (♂) and S. matupiri spec. nov. (♂) from Brazil. The female of S. megalopalpa (Caporiacco, 1954) is newly described and new distribution records are provided for S. caracarai Rheims, 2020, S. chickeringi (Gertsch, 1941), S. megalopalpa and S. ravida (Simon, 1898). The identification key is updated and new distribution maps are provided for all known species of the genus.

Based on literature review, curatorial work in national and international collections, information available on online databases, and field work conducted from 2017 to 2022, we provide the first checklist for the family Notodontidae in Colombia. A total of 515 species (51 endemics), 122 genera, 7 subfamilies as well as 108 new records for Colombia are presented. These data position Colombia as the country with the third highest diversity of prominent moths in the world, based on current knowledge. Furthermore, 239 known hostplants are listed for 91 species. The distribution map of the family shows the highest concentration of national records in the Andean and Pacific regions. Future surveys in less explored zones, long-term monitoring, expansion and maintenance of biological collections, and working collaboratively with communities will surely increase the known diversity as well as the conservation of prominent moths in Colombia.

N/A.

Lamprospilus stegmaier Prieto & Faynel sp. nov. is described from five specimens collected in sympatry with L. nicetus C. Felder & R. Felder on the northern central range of the Colombian Andes. Lamprospilus bicolor Faynel & Prieto sp. nov. is described from specimens collected in Colombia, Peru and Bolivia. Lamprospilus bicolor mirador Faynel & Prieto ssp. nov. is described from specimens collected in Peru and Bolivia. Lamprospilus decorata valluna Prieto & Faynel ssp. nov. is described from specimens collected in Western Colombia. Male and female phenotypes are associated, and we present morphological and molecular diagnostic characters for the new species. We also evaluate the congruence between a priori morphology-based species identifications and Molecular Operational Taxonomic Units (MOTUs) delimitations based on Barcode Index Numbers (BINs) in the genus. DNA barcodes are in perfect agreement with morphology in 64% of the species. Interspecific distances were found to range from 3.22% to 8.42% (average 5.48%), whilst their mean intraspecific variation ranges from 0.0% to 4.30% (average 1.78%). Based on DNA barcodes evidence of topotypic individuals, the study of original descriptions and illustrations of the holotypes, we consider here that Lamprospilus occidentalis Johnson & Salazar 2004 is a new junior subjective synonym of L. draudti Lathy, 1932.

Catasticta lycurgus is a striking endemic butterfly, restricted to high elevation habitats in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, an isolated mountain range separate from the Andes in the north of Colombia. The type, which for almost a hundred years was the only known specimen, was collected in 1878 by Frederick Simons in the vicinity of Atánquez and was sent to the UK to be described by renowned naturalists Godman and Salvin in 1880. In 1972, explorers Adams and Bernard collected a second specimen of C. lycurgus in the locality of San Pedro at 2,900m of elevation in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta. These two specimens were the only known ones for many decades until recently, when Colombian entomologists found the species again in San Pedro de la Sierra and later, when a female was discovered in 2013. Here, we report the rediscovery of this rare and charismatic species, with new specimens collected near the type locality, which have not been reported previously. The female of C. lycurgus is described and illustrated for the first time as well the male genitalia of this species. We combine all information available to provide some insights on the systematic relationships of this species within the genus Catasticta Butler, discuss its distribution and provide a preliminary conservation assessment. Despite the newly collected specimens, the species remains very rare in the field and in collections.

Specimens of the palpimanid spider subfamily Otiothopinae Platnick are commonly collected in soil and leaf litter in tropical and subtropical environments (Platnick 1975; Cala-Riquelme et al. 2018). However, otiothopines are generally poorly represented in biological collections and usually collected in low numbers during field campaigns, with many species represented by only a single sex (Cala-Riquelme et al. 2018). These difficulties, combined with our scarce knowledge of the biology and natural history of these spiders, mean that there are regional gaps in our systematic understanding of the group. Thus, taxonomic additions and notes about natural history are essential in order to increase our knowledge of the group and gradually close those gaps.

The knowledge on the diversity of the genus Patrera Simon in Colombia is widely expanded. P. auricoma (L. Koch, 1866) and P. armata (Chickering, 1940) are redescribed and their females are described for the first time and recorded from Cundinamarca and Meta departments, respectively. Aysha strandi (Caporiacco, 1947) is synonymized with P. armata. Three species groups in the genus Patrera are proposed to include the bulk of its species (fulvastra, florezi, and philipi). These groups are diagnosed based on sexual characters. Twenty-five new species are herein described, illustrated and mapped: P. anchicaya n. sp. (♂♀); P. barbacoas n. sp. (♂); P. borjai n. sp. (♂♀); P. danielae n. sp. (♂♀); P. dimar n. sp. (♂♀); P. perafani n. sp. (♂♀); P. platnicki n. sp. (♂); P. quillacinga n. sp. (♂♀), and P. ramirezi n. sp. (♂♀) into the fulvastra species group. P. bonaldoi n. sp. (♂♀); P. boteroi n. sp. (♂); P. carvalhoi n. sp. (♂♀); P. florezi n. sp. (♂♀); P. perijaensis n. sp. (♀); P. quimbaya n. sp. (♂♀); P. sampedroi n. sp. (♂); P. yukpa n. sp. (♂♀), and P. wiwa n. sp. (♂♀) in florezi species group. P. sutu n. sp. (♂); P. chucurui n. sp. (♂♀); P. dawkinsi n. sp. (♂); P. dentata n. sp. (♂); P. dracula n. sp. (♂); P. kuryi n. sp. (♂♀), and P. longitibialis n. sp. (♂) in philipi species group. We also briefly discuss some aspects of the species groups' genital morphology, based on a comparison with the type, P. fulvastra Simon. Additionally, distribution maps for all Colombian species including new records for P. armata (Chickering, 1940), P. auricoma (L. Koch, 1866) and P. suni Dupérré Tapia, 2016 from Cundinamarca, Meta and Nariño departments are also herein included.

Two new species of the elongated-body ghost spider genus Macrophyes O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1893 from Colombia are herein described and illustrated: Macrophyes sanzi n. sp. known by both sexes from Chocó department and Macrophyes ceratii n. sp. by females from Santander department. Additionally, the male of Mesilla vittiventris Simon, 1903 is described for the first time based on specimens from Nariño and Cauca departments, Colombia. A distribution map for the species herein reported is included.

Pseudotepuibasis gen. nov. is erected for P. garrisoni sp. nov. from the Colombian Amazon (December 2015, Caquetá Department, Solano Municipality, Araracuara, Guacamayo Guard, -72.2497, -0.6308, L. Pérez leg.). Male and female of this new genus are described and illustrated, cerci of male with a ventrobasal spur for which it is considered in the tribe Teinobasini, close to Tepuibasis De Marmels, 2007 and Austrotepuibasis Machado Lencioni, 2011, by its color pattern and cerci morphology; and close to Leptobasis Selys, 1877 and Mesoleptobasis Sjöstedt, 1918, by its genital ligula. Some notable characters of Pseudotepuibasis are a chitinized spine-like process directed posteriorly on the genital ligula, male cerci with chitinized median tooth, and thoracic color pattern.

We diagnose a new butterfly species from the Belmira paramo in the central cordillera of the Colombian Andes. We infer from the barcoding analysis, wing pattern, morphology and distribution that this entity is not a geographical variation or subspecies of any named lycaenid, and it is described herein as Rhamma eleonorae sp. nov. Adult specimens and female genitalia are illustrated and compared with R. arria (Hewitson, 1870) and R. oxida (Hewitson, 1870), the most closely related taxa based on similarities of wing pattern and COI sequences.

Two new Colombian species of Quindina Roewer, 1915 are here described based on genital morphology and external characters. Quindina hermesi sp. nov. (type locality: Bolívar, San Jacinto) can be diagnosed externally by having a combination of colored tubercles on the ocularium, the anterior margin, areas I, II and IV of the dorsal scutum, and the free tergites; Q. discolor sp. nov. (type locality: Magdalena, Ciénaga) shows a different combination of colored tubercles on the ocularium and lateral margins. Phylogenetic analyses were performed by adding both new species to an existing matrix for Nomoclastidae. The analyses resulted in various topologies for the relationships among Nomoclastes Sørensen, 1932, Napostygnus Roewer, 1929, Kichua Pinto-da-Rocha Bragagnolo, 2017, Callcosma Roewer, 1932 and Quindina Roewer, 1914, but all analyses recovered the monophyly of Callcosma and Quindina. This constitutes the first record of the family in northern Colombia.

Two new species of the armored spider genus Tetrablemma O. P.-Cambridge, 1873 from Colombia and Venezuela are herein described and illustrated: Tetrablemma tatacoa sp. nov. from Huila department, Colombia and T. mochima sp. nov. from Sucre state, Venezuela. These species represent the second record of the genus in the New World. Specimens of these new species were collected in pristine ecosystems, which suggests a natural Gondwanan distribution of the genus. Additionally, a distribution map of the Tetrablemma species in America is herein included.

A new monobasic genus Dactylobasis is erected for D. demarmelsi sp. nov. (Holotype male, COLOMBIA, Chocó Department, Salero 05°19'01" N 76°36'52" W, alt. 129m, 10 VIII 2005. L. A. Pérez leg. UARC), is described and illustrated. The new genus is considered a member of the Teinobasini by the presence of an articulated ventral spur at the base of cercus in male. Generic characters are: mesanepisternum entirely metallic green, each with a horn in both sexes, propleuron laterally swollen with a spinulose conical posterior projection; male paraproct long with ventral branch at half of its length. Dactylobasis demarmelsi is probably endemic to the Biogeographic province of Chocó.

The large genus Heteragrion has a wide distribution in the Neotropics from southern Mexico to northern Argentina, occurring from sea level to 1800 m.a.s.l. In Colombia, so far ten species and two subspecies of the genus Heteragrion have been found; here we raise this number to 14, with three new records for the country (H. angustipenne Selys, 1886, H. flavidorsum Calvert, 1909 and H. valgum Donnelly, 1992), and the description of H. demarmelsi sp. nov. from Leticia Municipality, Amazonas Department. Also, the females of H. angustipenne and H. flavidorsum are described for the first time. Heteragrion peregrinum Williamson, 1919 is rediscovered and reported in new locations. Photographs of the main structures of taxonomic importance of males and females of all species of Heteragrion from Colombia are presented. Finally, we provide distribution maps, a taxonomic key (for males and females), and comments on the natural history of all Heteragrion species known from Colombia, are also included.

Psapharochrus auratus sp. nov., from Colombia, is described and illustrated. A new combination, Psapharochrus penrosei (Thomson, 1864) is proposed. The geographical distribution of seven species of Lamiinae is expanded to include them in the Colombian fauna, and eight new department records from Colombia are reported. Moreover, taxonomic notes in Lamiinae are provided.

Five new species of the ghost spider genus Anyphaenoides Berland from Colombia are described and illustrated: A. sierraensis sp. nov. (based on male and female) from Magdalena department, A. caribensis sp. nov. (male and female) from Atlántico department, A. foreroi sp. nov. (male) from Vaupes department, A. hilli sp. nov. (male) from Putumayo department and A. enigmaticus sp. nov. (male and female) from Santander department.

A preliminary assessment of barcode data for the genus Rhamma suggests the presence of several cryptic species in Colombia. Based on morphology and barcodes, we were able to diagnose one of these lineages as a new species that is described herein as Rhamma dawkinsi, sp. nov. Adult specimens and the genitalia of both sexes are illustrated and compared with R. adunca (Draudt, 1919) and R. comstocki (Johnson, 1992), the most closely related species based on phenotypic appearance.

The Colombian species of the genus Rhamma Johnson, 1992 are revised. Male and female phenotypes of all species are associated and diagnosed, and data on their distributions are given along with a discussion of the geographic variability of the species. Thirteen taxa are considered valid at the species level. The following taxonomic changes are proposed: Rhamma andradei (Le Crom & Johnson), stat. nov, comb. nov.; previously considered a nomen dubium in Penaincisalia Johnson, the taxon is considered a valid species of Rhamma. The placement of Rhamma anosma (Draudt), comb. nov., described as Thecla, is confirmed as belonging to Rhamma. A lectotype is designated for Thecla mishma Hewitson, 1878. Adults, male and female genitalia, and distribution maps are depicted for all species, along with an identification key based on adults.

The phylogenetic position of a new high-elevation butterfly species, which we describe as Electrostrymon picoloro Prieto & Robbins, new species, is assessed. The ventral wing pattern and genitalic structures of this species are unique among Electrostrymon. This species is also unique among Electrostrymon in that it occurs, so far as is known, only in habitats above 2800 m elevation. A phylogenetic analysis places this species in Electrostrymon as the sister of a multi-species clade. The ancestors of E. picoloro appear to have colonized its high elevation habitat relatively early in the phylogenetic history of Electrostrymon, but the species then did not recolonize lower elevation habitats nor did it diversify into other extant species.