Orsotriaena medus licium (Fruhstorfer) (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae: Satyrinae) in Queensland, Australia

Abstract

The underside occlli patterns and the width and prominence of the underside white transverse lines on 39 specimens of 'Orsotriaena medus licium' (Fruhstorfer) from Papua New Guinea and 91 'O. m. moira' Waterhouse and Lyell from Torres Strait were examined and their variability assessed. Based on these assessments, 'O. m. moira' is placed as a new synonym of 'O. m. licium', with the latter becoming the appropriate subspecific name for 'O. medus' (Fabricius) in Australia. In addition, specimens of 'O. m. licium' from Torres Strait, collected throughout the wet season, showed a higher frequency of extra ocelli on the underside of the wings of both sexes than specimens from Papua New Guinea, which were mostly collected during the dry. In contrast, the width and prominence of the underside white transverse lines in both populations did not correlate with season or gender. Two Torres Strait specimens collected in February 1994, during the wet season, are similar to a dry season form recorded from India.