Lycaenidae : Polyommatinae
Leptotes hedgesi (Schwartz & Johnson, 1992)
Hedges' Blue
Leptotes hedgesi (Schwartz & Johnson, 1992)
Hedges' Blue
Description and Similar Species: This species was described as new to Science in 1992 (Schwartz & Johnson) and you can read the paper here which was published in the Caribbean Journal of Science, Vol 28. It was based on the finding of a single female in August 1991 in the hills of the western Province of Pinar del Rio. The specimen is slightly worn and, to my mind, looks indistinguishable From Cassius Blue Leptotes cassius. It was dissected and the genitalia were considered to be sufficiently different to warrant describing it as a new previously undescribed species. Note that the person or persons that did the dissection and drawings are not identified in the paper, and neither is the location of the genitalia preparation. Hernández (2004) synonymised this under Leptotes cassius.
Note also that Ministrymon hernandezi which was described also as new to Science in the same paper has been synonymised under Ministrymon azia (Hernández, 2004).
Note also that Ministrymon hernandezi which was described also as new to Science in the same paper has been synonymised under Ministrymon azia (Hernández, 2004).