Scea gigantea (Druce) Plate, 1885

Miller, James S, 2009, Generic Revision Of The Dioptinae (Lepidoptera: Noctuoidea: Notodontidae) Part 2: Josiini, Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 2009 (321), pp. 675-1022 : 848-849

Scea gigantea (Druce) Plate 34

Thirmida gigantea Druce, 1896: 42 .

TYPE LOCALITY: ‘‘Bolivia’’.

TYPE: Syntype ♀, leg. G. Garlepp ( BMNH).

Scea caesiopicta Warren, 1900: 128 .

TYPE LOCALITY: Bolivia, Río Songo to Río Suapi, 1100 m.

TYPE: Holotype ♀, leg. Garlepp, Mar – Jun ( BMNH).

DISCUSSION: Whereas Druce (1896) described this species in Thirmida, Prout (1918) , presaging the classification proposed here, moved it to Scea . Early authors were rightfully confused regarding the boundaries of the two so-called genera. Here they are treated as one. Scea gigantea is known mostly from females (9 BMNH, 4 ZMH, 3 USNM). I have seen three males (AMNH, MNHN, and ZMH). Scea gigantea , the only Scea species exhibiting a gray HW area with black veins running within it (pl. 34), is endemic to Bolivia and southeastern Peru.

Superficial study of BMNH types supports the hypothesis that S. caesiopicta Warren is a synonym of gigantea , the hypothesis proposed by Prout (1918) and accepted by Hering (1925) and Bryk (1930). Wing patterns in the two are identical, and both types are from Bolivia. On the other hand, Prout (1918) described subcyanea , from Carabaya in southeastern Peru near Cuzco, as a subspecies of gigantea . Instead, my studies shows that S. subcyanea Prout is distinct and should be elevated to species status (see below). In S. subcyanea , there is an infusion of purple at the outer margin of the orange FW area (pl. 34) not present in S. gigantea , and the HW is much darker, almost purplish, rather than showing a light gray central area. The female genitalia of S. subcyanea (JSM-1620) are markedly different from those of any other Scea species, including S. gigantea .

DISTRIBUTION: Bolivia (AMNH, BMNH, USNM, ZMH); Peru (BMNH, MNHN).

DISSECTED: ³, Bolivia, Yungas de Palmas , 2000 m, 5 Mar 1949, Colln. Grace H. & John L. Sperry, AMNH (genitalia slide no. JSM-1481 ) ; ♀, Bolivia, Locotal , leg. Garlepp, Wm. Schaus Collection, USNM (genitalia slide no. JSM-1482 ) .