Taxonomía y distribución de Nathalis (Lepidoptera: Pieridae) en Colombia

Abstract

The taxonomy and distribution of Nathalis (Lepidoptera: Pieridae) in Colombia. In Colombia, Nathalis has two described species: N. iole and N. plauta. Previous authors did not make detailed descriptions of its distribution in meridional regions and failed to differentiate both species based on genitalic characters. Some wing marks have been enough to separate them, but cospecificity was a possibility. They inhabit Colombia above 2000 m in the paramo, and have a vicariant distribution freom the remaining population of N. tole in the Antillean and Central and North America. An analysis focused on male and female genitalia, as well as the wing pattern of more than 100 specimens freom the Colombian Andes (Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta and Sierra de Perija) and Mexico, indicates that the two species differ in their genitalia, and considering their allopatric distribution, we support the specific distinction of N. tole and N. plauta. We describe a new endemic subspecies found exclusively in the paramo above 3000 in, an area where other endemics occur. It has phenotypic plasticity related to environmental factors. Rev. Biol. Trop. 58(1): 273285. Epub 2010 March 01.