1. Lebendfotos

2. Diagnose

Sapkota et al. (2026: 314) notierten winzige Unterschiede gegenüber Colobura annulata und Colobura dirce: "Ventral forewing with third dark brown submarginal line from distal margin of even thickness throughout (unlike in C. dirce which is swollen posteriorly) and ending at vein M3, or if it crosses vein M3, it is faded and ends at middle of cell M3-CuA1 (unlike C. annulata where the line reaches to the transverse band). Ventral forewing with dark brown spot in cell M1-r5 small, of equal width to spot adjacent at costa in cell r4-r3 (as in C. annulata, whereas in C. dirce the distal spot is broader); dorsal forewing with distal edge relatively smooth (as in C. annulata, whereas in C. dirce distal edge of cream band often “kinked” at vein M3); dorsal forewing with pale band of even width throughout (as in C. annulata, whereas in C. dirce the band often narrows at the costa). Specimens with the shorter third dark brown submarginal line on the ventral forewing, typical of C. cryptica, are known from Costa rica, Colombia (from Valle de Cauca), Venezuela (from táchira), and eastern Ecuador (and potentially other areas in the lowland Amazon); however, a single barcoded individual from eastern Ecuador (from yasuní Scientific Station) proved to be a form of C. annulata. Additional barcoding is needed to better determine the range of variation in wing pattern within C. annulata, but, minimally, the diagnostic characters identified above seem to be valid within the distribution of barcoded specimens of C. cryptica."

3. Biologie

3.1. Nahrung der Raupe

[Urticaceae:] Cecropia sp.

Willmott et al. (2001) trennten Colobura annulata Willmott, Constantino & Hall, 2001 als neue Art von C. dirce ab, womit zwangsläufig auch ein Teil der Raupennahrungspflanzen der älteren Literatur nicht mehr zu C. dirce gehört. Für beide Falter-Arten akzeptieren sie nur Cecropia-Arten (Ameisenbäume) (Urticaceae) als Raupennahrung, während sie Angaben zu Arten aus anderen Familien als falsch oder zumindest fraglich ablehnen. Für C. annulata verbleiben: Cecropia virgusa, C. peltata, C. eximia und C. longipes, wobei C. peltata von beiden Colobura-Arten genutzt wird. Die Gattung Cecropia (Ameisenbäume) wurde klassischerweise zu den Moraceae gerechnet, gehört nach neueren genetischen Studien aber zu den Urticaceae. Auch die Raupen der jetzt neu abgetrennten Colobura cryptica leben an Cecropia-Arten - Sapkota et al. (2026) nennen aber keine konkreten Arten innerhalb dieser Gattung. Weiter ist zu erfahren: "Colobura cryptica occurs from sea level up to elevations of at least 1,350 m and perhaps as high as 1,800 m. In Venezuela, larvae are gregarious, typically found in clusters of around 30 individuals on the undersides of leaves. Ao observed one such batch on a Cecropia tree less than 4 m tall, growing in secondary growth within mature humid premontane forest. the caterpillars exhibited highly synchronous development, molting and pupating at the same time. Adult eclosion occurred within approximately 15 days of pupation. the pupae measured up to 40 mm in length (n=1) and resembled dried tree bark. they are cylindrical, tapering gradually from the head to the cremaster, with the widest point (6.5 mm) at the thorax. the surface is pale brown, marked with irregular projections and dark warts that enhance the bark-like appearance. Early instar larvae fed collectively and chewed through the primary veins of the leaves, causing the blades to fold in a “closed umbrella” fashion. this behavior likely reduces sap flow and may facilitate feeding or help circumvent plant defenses or provide the larvae with protection from predation. "

(Autor: Erwin Rennwald)

4. Weitere Informationen

4.1. Etymologie (Namenserklärung)

Sapkota et al. (2026: 314) erklären: “Although Colobura are among the most common Neotropical butterflies, realizing the true species diversity within this genus has proven challenging owing to cryptic morphological characters. the new species C. cryptica sp. nov. is very similar to its congeners C. dirce and C. annulata in larval and particularly in adult morphology, except for several subtle characters. the specific epithet is a feminine latin adjective meaning hidden or concealed, given in allusion to the cryptic identification features of this species.”

4.2. Faunistik

Sapkota et al. (2026: 314) fassen ihre Ergebnisse zusammen: "Colobura cryptica occurs from Chiapas in eastern Mexico to Panama in Central America, and in northwestern South America, west of the Andes in Colombia and Ecuador, and along the east Andean foothills from Venezuela to southern Ecuador. Specimens with ventral wing patterns similar to the holotype of C. cryptica have also been photographed at scattered localities in Amazonian Brazil and southern Peru (inaturalist.org), but to date no barcoded specimens are available to confirm this distribution (see Diagnosis above) (Fig. 14)."

4.3. Typenmaterial

Sapkota et al. (2026: 312-313) listen: “Holotype: UF / FlMNh / MGCl 1218008 [green printed label] // ECUADOR: Napo / Tena-Loreto rd., Río Chalayacu / 1000 m, 0°43'3"S, 77°40'56"W / 5.xi.2024, Hall, J.P.W., Willmott, K.R. / MECN-lD# 53713 [white printed label] // DNA sample ID: / NVG-24063C02 / c/o Nick V. Grishin [white printed label] // DNA voucher / LEP-98811 [white printed label] // holotype Colobura cryptica Sapkota, Orellana & Willmott, 2026 [red printed label] (1♂) (to be deposited in INABIO). Eleven Paratypes: ECUADOR: Esmeraldas. lita-San lorenzo road, NE San Francisco, ridge N la Ceiba, ii/2017, R. Aldaz, FLMNH 288578, DNA Voucher LEP-57412, MGCL (1.1325°N, 78.658889°W, 250m) (1♀); Pichincha. Hotel Tinalandia 12 km E Santo Domingo de los Colorados, v/9/1988, G. & A. Austin, NVG-24062F10, MGCL (failed) (2460 to 2800 ft) (1♂); Manabí. Pedernales-Jáma rd., Reserva Lalo Loor, M. F. Checa, 4329M, QCAz (0.0913888°S, 80.14888°W). COLOMBIA: Valle del Cauca. río Anchicayá, i/15/1997, S. & l. Steinhauser, NVG-24062G03, MGCL (3770 ft) (1♀); COSTA RICA. Alajuela. Área de Conservación Arenal, San ramón, Villa Blanca 5, xii/1/2008, R. González Tenorio, ASArD4868-12, INBio (10.202°N, -84.485°W, 1050m); vii/1/2009, r. Rojas Valverde, ASARD4865-12, INBio (10.203°N, -84.483°W, 1050m) (1♀); Cartago. Área de Conservación La Amistad Pacífico, Paraíso, Sendero Pava Catarata 2, vii/1/2008, R. González Tenorio, ASArD4866-12+I97BA97: N99, INBio (9.736°N, -83.782°W, 1350) (1♂); Sendero Pava Catarata 1, viii/8/2008, R. González Tenorio, ASARD4864-12, INBio (9.736°N, -83.783°W, 1350m) (1♀); Puntarenas. Finca Las Cruces, 5 km S San Vito de Java, ix/10/1987, G. & A. Austin, KW-24-68, NVG-24062G10, MGCL (1♂) (dissected); VENEZUELA. Táchira. San Cristóbal, Parque Nacional Natural Paramillo, iii/26/2023, A. Orellana, FUNEA (7.7931°N, -72.1949°W, 1100 m) (1♂); (1♀)."