Volume 10 Number 1 10 JANUARY 2022

The Taxonomic Report

OF THE INTERNATIONAL LEPIDOPTERA SURVEY

ISSN 2643-4776 (print) / ISSN 2643-4806 (online)

Natural history of the Guatemalan copper /Jophanus pyrrhias (Godman

and Salvin, 1887) (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae) in Guatemala

José Monzon-Sierra

Centro de Estudios Ambientales y Biodiversidad

Universidad del Valle de Guatemala

18 avenida 11-95 Zona 15, Vista Hermosa III

Guatemala, Guatemala, C. A.

Gregory R. Ballmer

Department of Entomology

University of California, Riverside, CA 92521

ABSTRACT. Detailed information including photographs about the natural history of Jophanus pyrrhias (Godman and Salvin

1887) in Guatemala is presented. Information includes geographic and altitudinal distribution and phenology. We reconfirm the

immatures stages use Muehlenbeckia tamnifolia (Kunth) Meisn., 1841 (Polygonaceae) as the host plant.

Key words: Natural history, distribution, Guatemala, Lycaenidae, Lycaeninae, host plant.

RESUMEN. Se presenta informacion detallada incluyendo fotografias de la historia natural de Jophanus pyrrhias (Godman

y Salvin 1887) en Guatemala. La informacion incluye distribucion geografica y altitudinal y fenologia. Confirmamos que los

estados inmaduros se alimentan de Muehlenbeckia tamnifolia (Kunth) Meisn., 1841 (Polygonaceae).

Palabras clave: Historia natural, distribucion, Guatemala, Lycaneidae, Lycaeninae, planta hospedera.

INTRODUCTION

The Guatemalan copper is a small butterfly in the family Lycaenidae. This family is well known

for their small, usually very colorful species. With an estimated number of over 6,000 species, it comprises

around a third of all Papilionoidea butterflies (Pierce et al. 2002). Even though Guatemala has a very high

diversity of butterflies in this family (171 species in 69 genera); the subfamily Lycaeninae is represented

by only one species, Jophanus pyrrhias (Godman and Salvin 1887) (Salinas-Gutiérrez et al. 2009). In the

American continent this subfamily is mostly restricted to North America and contains 18 species mostly

in the United States (Warren et al. 2016). The only species that has a distribution range into the neotropics

is the Guatemalan copper, known from Chiapas (Mexico) and Guatemala (Lamas 2004). Specimens from

Chiapas are mainly known from the vicinity of San Cristobal de Las Casas (e.g. cerro Huitepec, coll. J. F.

Emmel, 12 Aug. 1966); other localities include Motozintla, near Tacana Volcano and 1.7 km NW of Cha-

mula (GBIF.org 2021). Originally this species was described in the genus Chrysophanus Hubner 1818,

but this has now been restricted to species in East Asia (Heppner 2007). The biogeographical affinities of

this butterfly are mysterious (Yago et al. 2010). Jophanus pyrrhias appears morphologically and ecologi-

cally most similar to species of the New Guinean genus Melanolycaena Sibatani (1974); both genera have

been assigned to the primarily Southeast Asian Heliophorini (Ibid). Species of Melanolycaena, as well as

I. pyrrhias, share the same larval host plant genus (Muehlenbeckia) and occur in relatively high elevation

tropical cloud forest habitats (Yago et al. 2010). Nevertheless, recent molecular analysis suggests that /

pyrrhias has a closer affinity to some North American copper butterflies (Zhang et al. 2020).

The information published about this species since the original description by Godman and Salvin

(1879-1901) is scanty. The original description indicates the relatively nonspecific distribution: GUATE-

MALA, Volcan de Fuego, San Geronimo, Chilasco, Cubulco, Quiche Mountains and Duefias. Altitudinal

information given was “6000-7000 feet” (Godman and Salvin 1887). The only other publications avail-

able with information on the Guatemalan copper are Heppner (2007), and Yago et al. (2010). The former

reported this species at Fuentes Georginas, Quetzaltenango (alt. 2,400 m); while the latter described the

immature stages from a colony at Acatenango, Chimaltenango (alt. 2,200 m), and speculated that the but-

terfly had multiple annual generations. Observations reported here largely confirm aspects of the biology

reported by Yago et al. (ibid) and expand the known range and flight season within Guatemala.

More than 20 years ago, author GRB brought to the attention of the first author the importance of

finding more information about this species. Most of the life cycle, distribution, altitudinal range, and host

plants were still vague. During dozens of field trips around the country by JM-S, information about this

butterfly was recorded, mostly photographically. Dedicated trips to learn more about the life history of this

Species were undertaken by both authors in March 2015 and May 2016.

The Guatemalan copper was observed many times associated with the presence of Muehlenbeckia

tamnifolia (Kunth) Meisn., 1841. This plant has a very wide distributional range from Mexico and Central

America to Colombia, Ecuador, Pert, Bolivia and Argentina (Tropicos.org 2021). In Guatemala it is a rare

plant that occurs in middle to high elevations. In most cases, examining the plants revealed Jophanus pyr-

rhias larvae feeding damage and in many cases eggs and caterpillars, which are very hard to see because

of their size and appearance. It is also commonplace to find the butterflies flying around and landing on

or very close to the host plant.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Materials. The natural history and distribution records are based on specimens documented and

collected in Guatemala. Pinned specimens and larval stages samples were deposited at the Universidad del

Valle de Guatemala Collection of Arthropods (UVGC) and University of California, Riverside Entomolo-

gy Museum (UCR). An herbarium sample of M. tamnifolia was deposited at the Universidad del Valle de

Guatemala Herbarium (UVAL00021837). Caterpillars were preserved in 95% ethanol. Field photography

was done with a Nikon D7100 camera with a Micro-Nikkor 105 f/2.8 lens and a Canon SLI with 100 mm

{/2.8L and 65mm macro lenses.

Field study. Since the first communication between both authors of this publication in the late

1990s, the first author has been working on finding more information about the Guatemalan copper.

During many trips several populations were found and eventually it was discovered that the butterfly was

associated with a large climbing vine in the family Polygonaceae. The growth habit of this plant is peculiar

and easy to distinguish while driving around. Subsequent documentation of the species occurrence was

facilitated by observing the host plant while driving through suitable habitat.

Study area. Information provided for distribution was gathered through the mountains of Guate-

mala. The first author travels frequently through the country and was able to document different popula-

2D

tions of the Guatemalan copper. The country has an area of 108,889 square kilometers of which about half

is covered with mountains. There are several mountain ranges and volcanoes, with a maximum altitude of

4,220 m above sea level at Tajumulco Volcano.

Host plant. The plant associated with the Guatemalan copper was identified by Carlos R. Beutel-

spacher as Muehlenbeckia tamnifolia (Kunth) Meisn., 1841, thus confirming its reported use by Yago, et

al. (2010). The plant is not common but usually obvious with its lush and conspicuous growth (Fig. 1). The

flowers are greenish white and very small (Fig. 2); fruits abundant, small, and red (Fig. 3); leaves alternate

and lanceolate (Fig. 4). The plants’ new growth is very distinctive with its reddish brown and green leaves

and reddish erect stems (Fig. 4).

™~ : —, +

=

ela vs

pe,

ti : bd f r

Pee Ey, A rte,

Figures 1-2. Habitus of Muehlenbeckia tamnifolia. Fig. 1. Dipterologist Gary Steck walking by a big patch of M. tamnifolia

in cerro Pifialon, sierra de Las Minas, May 2010. Fig. 2. Flower of M. tamnifolia from cerro Tecpan, 3066 m altitude, October

i”

2020.

Under laboratory conditions, 1. pyrrhias larvae can feed on Rumex crispus L. (Polygonaceae), a

plant of Eurasian origin that has spread throughout the world. Ultimately the larvae fail to mature on this

plant (GRB, personal observation). It is worth noting that several Lycaeninae species in Eurasia, North

America, and Africa use various species of Rumex as a larval host plant. As reported by Yago, et al. (2010),

there are two native Rumex species in Guatemala, neither of which are reported to be associated with /.

pyrrhias. Miller and Brown (1979) quote the larval host plant as Rumex via personal communication with

J. F. Emmel. There are no botanical specimens associated with this second-hand claim, and the descrip-

tion of the host by Emmel, as related by GRB, comports more with the description of Muehlenbeckia; the

claim of Rumex as a host remains unsubstantiated.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Geographic distribution. Populations of I. pyrrhias were found in seven Guatemalan departments:

Chimaltenango, El Progreso, Guatemala, Quetzaltenango, Quiché, Sacatepéquez, and San Marcos (Fig.

5). All these departments have high altitude mountains above 1,800 m. Interestingly, the host plant spe-

3

Figures 3-4. Habitus of Muehlenbeckia tamnifolia. Fig. 3. Fruits of M. tamnifolia from cerro Tecpan, 3066 m altitude, Oc-

tober 2020. Fig. 4. Leaves and new growth of M. tamnifolia from sierra de Las Minas, 2568 m altitude, May 2010 showing

leaf shape and conspicuous growth.

cies is reported to occur as far south as Argentina (Tropicos.org 2021), whereas the Guatemalan copper is

known only from Guatemala and adjacent mountainous regions of Mexico.

Altitudinal distribution. Populations were found at altitudes that range from 1,800 meters at the

Refugio del Quetzal, San Marcos, to 3,066 m at cerro Tecpan, Chimaltenango. Most populations were

found at an average of 2,502 meters (Table 1).

Phenology. Adults of I. pyrrhias were found during the months of March, May, June, July, Septem-

ber, October, and November. In Chicabal volcano (Fig. 6) adults are common in the northwestern shores

of the lagoon in late November.

Ecology. The distribution of /. pyrrhias in Guatemala is restricted to three specific life zones (sen-

su Holdridge). Most sites where the butterfly was found occur in tropical montane wet forest (TM-wf),

characterized by high elevation (2,445-3,066 m) and high precipitations (average 1,484 mm of yearly rain)

(Pérez-Irungaray et al. 2018). The second ecological zone where the Guatemalan copper is most abundant

is in tropical lower montane moist forest (TLM-mf), characterized by high elevation precipitation (aver-

age 1,360 mm of yearly rain) (Pérez-Irungaray et al. 2018). 2. pyrrhias was also found in tropical lower

montane forest (TLM-mf), characterized by being lower in elevation than the others (2,200-2,635 m) and

with higher average yearly precipitation (2,401 mm) (Pérez-Irungaray et al. 2018). The copper is much

less abundant in this life zone, requiring inspection of several plants to find caterpillar damage and adults

flying.

Adults. They can be typically found along roadsides and forest openings (often adjacent to agri-

cultural plots), in association with its host plant. Seasonal diapause has not been observed and adults may

4

be active during all months of the year. Adult wingspan: forewing length from base to apex 12.25 mm and

12.38 mm, respectively, for males and females; hindwing length from base to tornus 10.75 mm for both

sexes (N=4); tail length 1.625 mm for males (N=4) and 2.17 mm for females (N=3). Male. Dorsal col-

oration dark brown with iridescent purple. Hind wings with premarginal orange undulated line bordered

by very dark brown and thin purplish-blue line; tails short and orange (Fig. 7). Ventral coloration lighter

brown, front wing with large yellowish area and three longitudinal dark lines (middle one short); two

premarginal thin dark lines. Hind wing homogeneous light brown with two lines of wide darker reddish

marks and a third line with separated marks seemingly spotted. Two premarginal lines, one very thick and

dark and one thin closer to the margin; area between lines and tails brick red in color (Fig. 8). Female. Dor-

sal coloration similar to male except iridescent purple much reduced, and front wing with large yellowish

orange postdiscal suffusion and three longitudinal dark lines (middle one short). Posterior wing light

brown with two dark lines; orange premarginal undulated line thick (Fig. 9). Ventral coloration similar to

male (Fig. 10).

Meters above sea level

0-300

/ 300-900

900-1500

[1500-2100

Ms 2100-2700

[| 2700-3600

M888 360- and above

Figure 5. Map of central Guatemala showing known distribution for Jophanus pyrrhias: 1. Cerro Tecpan (Chi-

maltenango); 2. Cerro Pifialon (El Progreso); 3. Fuentes Georginas (Quetzaltenango); 4. San Juan Ostuncal-

co (Quetzaltenango); 5. Volcan Chicabal (Quetzaltenango); 6. Laj Chimel (Quiché); 7. Finca El Pilar (Sacate-

pequez); 8. Finca El Pilar (higher elevation); 9. Refugio del Quetzal (San Marcos); 10. Vega del Volcan (San

Marcos); 11. Cerro antenas Las Nubes (Guatemala); 12. Finca San Francisco Las Nubes; and 13. El Naranjo, Las

Nubes (Guatemala).

Immature stages. Female I. pyrrhias deposit eggs singly on host plant leaves (Fig. 11). The tiny

neonatal larvae hatch within a week, feed on the leaves and are yellowish (Fig. 12). They grow quickly and

molt four times before pupating on the host plant. Larvae are pale green (Fig. 13-14), often with maroon

dorsal line (with pale whitish border). Pupae are initially translucent green and darken to a mottled brown

and have a compact, rounded shape typical of many lycaenid butterflies (Fig. 15). The pupae are attached

to a silken pad on foliage by cremastral hooks on the venter of the posterior segments and a slender silk

girdle around the thorax. Adults mature and eclose in 1-2 weeks, depending on ambient temperature.

5

Table 1. Geographic information of populations of Jophanus pyrrhias in Guatemala.

Locality Department Altitude (m)

1-Cerro Tecpan Chimaltenango | 3,066

2-Cerro Pifialon El Progreso 2,568

3-Fuentes Georginas 2,445

4-San Juan Ostuncalco 3,000

8-Finca El] Pilar 2,260

5-Volcan Chicabal 2,746

6-Laj Chimel 2,200

9-Refugio del Quetzal 1,800

7-Finca EI Pilar 2-639

Figures 6. Aerial photo of Chicabal Volcano and its lagoon, typical habitat for 7. pyrrhias. Visible in the back Santa Maria

(the tallest) and Zunil (to the right) volcanoes, where other populations are known near Fuentes Georginas.

Figures 7-15. Adult Jophanus pyrrhias and immatures stages. 7. Male dorsal aspect from cerro Tecpan, 3044 m altitude,

September 2015. 8. Male lateral aspect from finca El Pilar, 2260 m altitude, November 2007. 9. Female dorsal aspect from

San Juan Ostuncalco, 3000 m altitude, March 2015. 10. Female ventral aspect from cerro Pifialon, 2568 m altitude, May

2010. 11. Egg. 12. First instar larva. 13. Second instar larva. 14. Fourth instar larva. 15. Pupa.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

We would like to thank Gabriela Fuentes and Diego Incer (CEAB), Maria René Alvarez (UVAL)

and Universidad del Valle de Guatemala for support. Consejo Nacional de Areas Protegidas de Guatemala

(CONAP), especially Miroslava Rodriguez and Jose Luis Echeverria for support and assistance to get our

research, collecting and export permits. Carlos R. Beutelspacher kindly determined the host species of

plant. Juan Rivera from finca El Pilar always facilitates our research in his property. Dave Wright gener-

ously shared important information about this species. Thanks to Doug Yanega and José Francisco Garcia

for reviewing the manuscript. Special thanks to Harry Pavulaan for making this publication possible.

LITERATURE CITED

GBIF.org. 2021. Jophanus pyrrhias (Godman and Salvin, 1887). Available at: https://www.gbif.org/spe-

cies/1933080 (Last accessed October 6, 2021).

Godman, F. D. & O. Salvin. 1879-1901. Biologia Centrali-Americana. Zoologia, Lepidoptera-Rhopaloc-

era. London. 1269 p. (“Chrysophanus pyrrhias” 1887, Rhop. 2, pl. 58).

Heppner, J. 2007. Notes on Jophanus pyrrhias in Guatemala (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae). Tropical Lepi-

doptera 17(1-2): 14.

Lamas, G. 2004. Atlas of Neotropical Lepidoptera. Checklist: Part 4A. Hesperioidea-Papilionoidea. Sci-

entific Publishers; Gainesville, FL. 439 p.

Miller, L. D. & F. M. Brown. 1979. Studies in the Lycaeninae (Lycaenidae). 4. The higher classification of

the American coppers. Bulletin of the Allyn Museum 51: 1-30.

Pérez-Irungaray, G. E., J. C. Rosito-Monzon, R. E. Maas-Ibarra & G. A. Gandara-Cabrera. 2018. Eco-

sistemas de Guatemala basado en el sistema de clasificacién de zonas de vida. IARNA; Guatemala,

1223p;

Pierce, N. E., M. F. Braby, A. Heath, D. Lohman, J. Matheu, D. B. Rand & M. A. Travassos. 2002. The

ecology and evolution of ant association in the Lycaenidae (Lepidoptera). Annual Review of Ento-

mology 47(1): 259-267.

Salinas-Gutiérres, J. L., C. Méndez, M. Barrios, C. Pozo & J. Llorente-Bousquets. 2009. Towards a syn-

thesis of the Papilionoidea (Insecta: Lepidoptera) from Guatemala with a historical sketch. Caldasia

31(2): 407-440.

Tropicos.org. 2021. Missouri Botanical Garden. Available at https://www.tropicos.org/name/26000308

(Last accessed June 2021).

Warren, A. D., K. J. Davis, E. M. Stangeland, J. P. Pelham, K. R. Willmott & N. V. Grishin. 2016. Illustrat-

ed lists of American butterflies. Available at http://www. butterfliesofamerica.com/ (Last accessed

June 2021).

Yago, M., T. Miyagawa, J. Yokoyama & M. Williams. 2010. Life history of the Guatemalan Copper, Ly-

caena pyrrhias (Godman and Salvin) (Lepidoptera, Lycaenidae). Transactions of the Lepidoptera

Society of Japan 60(4): 269-267.

Zhang, J., C. Quian, S. Jinhui, P. A. Opler & N. V. Grishin. 2020. Genomic evidence suggests further

changes of butterfly names. The Taxonomic Report of the International Lepidoptera Survey 8(7):

1-40.

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