Araragi panda sp n., an intermediate taxon in the phylogeny of Theclini (Lepidoptera : Lycaenidae : Theclinae)

The current placement of the genus Araragi in the Chaetoprocta lineage has been problematic because Araragi does not possess a bilobed uncus, a synapo morphy shared by all the other genera of the lineage. The discovery of Arar agi panda, a new species with features of Araragi and a bilobed uncus, just ifies this systematic treatment. Phylogenetic analysis identifies Chaetopro cta as the sister of Araragi, and demonstrates that colonization of walnuts as larval hosts occurred only once in Theclini evolution, contradicting pr eviously proposed hypotheses.