Strymon astiocha

Strymon astiocha is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae. It is found in Brazil, including the states of Rio de Janeiro and Rondônia.^[1][2]

The species exhibits sexual dimorphism in size, with males being about the size of Alexis.^[3] The wingspan is similar to other Strymon species in the region. The forewings are white with brown coloration on the body, breast, and a very short tail-like projection. The antennae are black with white bands.^[3]

The hindwings have distinctive markings including a black line in front of the fringes, from which individual dark stripes extend into the wing margins. Above this line is a whitish line on the posterior part of the hindwings, with 2 to 3 large black spots located right and left from the hindmost branch of the median vein.^[3]

The underside of the forewings shows brownish-gray coloration from the base for about two-thirds of the wing length. The wing pattern includes a brown shadow, a series of small dark-brown crescent-shaped spots, a white zigzag line with gray filling, a series of gray spots, a fine dark line, and white and gray checkered fringes.^[3] The hindwings are white with many gray-brown spots and two crossbands of brown and black-bordered small spots. The wing base is dark-spotted and dusty, with a black spot above the tail-like projection.^[3]

A fine dark line appears in front of the black and white checkered fringes.^[3]

The species was originally described as Thecla astiocha by Otto von Prittwitz in 1865.^[3] It has since been transferred to the genus Strymon and has several junior synonyms, including Thecla faunalia Hewitson, 1868 and Thecla deborrei Capronnier, 1874.^[1][4]

S. astiocha is found in Brazil, with confirmed records from Rio de Janeiro and Rondônia states.^[1][2]