A review of the Ocaria arpoxais species group (Lycaenidae: Theclinae) with the description of a new species previously confused with O. cinerea (Lathy).

Abstract

The genus Ocaria Clench comprises fourteen small to medium-sized Neotropical species within the Eumaeini tribe (Lycaenidae: Theclinae). They inhabit lowland to mid-montane habitats across Central and South America. A phylogenetic analysis of Ocaria is presented based on the COI barcode region to test the monophyly and species composition of the arpoxais group, a subset of six species sharing similar size and wing patterns. The genus Arases K. Johnson, syn. rest., is reestablished as a synonym of Ocaria, and two species recently assigned to Arases are transferred to Ocaria: O. moseranki (Bálint) comb. nov. and O. pricarlosi (Bálint) comb. nov. During the comprehensive review of the arpoxais group, an undescribed species has been identified based on differences in wing morphology, genital structures, genetic markers (COI) and geographic distribution. Ocaria delphinae Faynel, Fåhraeus & Busby sp. nov. is described from 48 male and two female specimens, with Peru as type locality. It is widely distributed across South America in Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia and had historically been confused with O. cinerea. Females are associated with males for the first time and illustrated along with their genitalia when possible. Key diagnostic characters for adults are detailed and illustrated. Updated distribution maps are provided for all species within this group.