A new species of Leptomyrina Butler, 1898 (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae) from Mts Mecula, Namuli, Inago, Nallume and Mabu in Northern Mozambique

Abstract

This paper describes a new species of Leptomyrina from five mountains in northern Mozambique – Mts Mecula, Namuli, Inago, Nallume and Mabu. Specimens were collected over the course of several years between 2007 and 2019 through a series of biodiversity surveys of the mountains of northern Mozambique. This species differs from others in the group based on the rounded and tail-less shape of the hindwing, and the dusting of powder blue scales on the upper side of the males. The genitalia also show significant differences to others in the group. It is found towards the summits of these mountains at elevations generally over 1000m and feeds on Crassulaceae.