A new species of Cigaritis Donzel, 1847 (Lycaenidae, Aphnaeinae) from the southern Western Ghats of Peninsular India

Abstract

A new species Cigaritis meghamalaiensis sp. nov. (Lycaenidae, Aphnaeinae) is described from the Meghamalai hills of the Periyar landscape of the southern Western Ghats. Images of adults and illustrations of male genitalia are presented. Information on myrmecophilous immature stages is provided and its ecology is discussed. The new species is very distinct from all the known Cigaritis species in WG, and is diagnosed based on the following combination of characters–upper side of both wings marked extensively in blue; discal and post-discal bands on forewing underside conjoined and lying parallel from their origin at the costa; post-basal band in hindwing underside continuous and not broken into three smaller bands and this post-basal band ends at vein1b, is not continued along it to reach discal band. The discal and post-discal bands on the underside of the forewing is conjoined and lying parallel from their origin at the costa which is a unique feature that distinguishes the new species from all other Cigaritis species occurring in Peninsular India and Sri Lanka. A key to all known species of Cigaritis from the Western Ghats is provided.