Phavaraea rejecta (Geyer), 1832

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 : 733-734

Phavaraea rejecta (Geyer) Figures 305A–D , 306A , 310 ; plate 28 [EX]

Centronia rejecta Geyer, 1832 (in Hübner, 1832) 4: 18, [pl. 115], figs. 663, 664. TYPE LOCALITY: ‘‘Java’’ (‘‘patria falsa’’;

Bryk, 1930). TYPE: Not seen.

Josia stygne Walker, 1854: 313 .

TYPE LOCALITY: Brazil, Pará.

TYPE: Syntype ♀, Bates Collection ( BMNH).

Eucyane ortropea Druce, 1893: 286 .

TYPE LOCALITY: Interior of Colombia.

TYPE: Syntype ♀, ‘‘Wheeler, Mus. D’’. ( BMNH).

DISCUSSION: From a taxonomic standpoint, the species described in the Zuträge zur Sammlung exotischer Schmetterlinge by Hübner and Geyer (1806–1838), have provided nothing but headaches. This taxon is no exception. As with all names published in those works, we are left with only a color plate showing the moth’s dorsal and ventral views. The types are presumed lost, and no text accompanies the illustrations. Phavaraea rejecta is a particularly frustrating case because the type locality given, ‘‘Java’’, is obviously in error. Subsequent authors (e.g., Bryk, 1930) have extrapolated its provenance as Brazil.

After attempting to establish the identity of P. rejecta , it has become apparent that two species co-occur in Brazil. One of them is large (3 FW length 5 24.0–28.0) and broadly distributed across the Upper Amazon Basin from Brazil, Bolivia, and Peru north into Venezuela and French Guiana. The smaller one (3 FW length 5 21.0–24.0) is confined to eastern Brazil, from Bahia south to Rio de Janeiro. The genitalia of the two are distinct, showing differences in the shape of male St8, and in the configuration of the vesica. The question is: Which one of these is rejecta ?

Careful comparison of available museum material with the color plates in Hübner and Geyer leads me to believe that the smaller one from Rio, showing a wider and more orangecolored FW band, is P. rejecta . This moth is rare, known from six males and two females (MPM, OUMNH, USNM). The larger, possibly nameless, taxon is common; there are over 50 specimens in North American collections alone, as well as an even larger number at the BMNH. Unfortunately, all of this material is currently referred to a single name— rejecta . If specimens from southeastern Brazil are truly P. rejecta , then the name stygne Walker (type locality Pará), currently a synonym of rejecta , could be applied to the Amazonian taxon. Resolution will require dissection of Walker’s type.

I defer to all previous authors ( Prout, 1918; Hering, 1925; Bryk, 1930) in regarding ortropea Druce (1893) , where the transverse FW band is deeply indented along its outer margin, as being a synonym of rejecta . However, otropea could potentially represent yet a third valid species within this complex.

Finally, a USNM female from Panama, collected by Gordon Small, represents the lone Central American record for Phavaraea . Small (1934–1989) is one of the most important modern collectors of neotropical Lepidoptera (see DeVries, 1997). His material, most of which resides at the USNM, has been hugely important throughout this paper. Small’s specimen shows the same general size and wing pattern as P. rejecta . Its genitalia typify those of Phavaraea , but also show important autapomorphies. I have not described this taxon as new, choosing instead to wait until additional material, including males, is discovered. In the meantime, label data is as follows: Panama, Panama Prov., Distrito de El Llano, Cordillera de San Blas, North of El Llano, 330 m, 11 Jun 1978, leg. Gordon B. Small (genitalia slide no. JSM-1585).

DISTRIBUTION: Brazil (BMNH, CMNH, CUIC, MNHN, MPM, OUMNH, PMNH, USNM, ZMH); Bolivia (ZMH); Peru (AMNH, BMNH, CUIC); Colombia (AMNH, BMNH, CMNH, MNHN, ZMH) ; Venezuela (AMNH, BMNH, CAS, CMNH, OUMNH, USNM); French Guiana (AMNH, BMNH, CAS, MNHN).

DISSECTED: 3, Peru, Río Marañon , 1918, BMNH (genitalia slide no. JSM-1527 ) ; 3, [no data], USNM (genitalia slide no. JSM-1353 , wing slide no. JSM-1354 ) ; ♀, Venezuela, Las Quiguas , Esteban Valley, Nov- Mar 1910, USNM (genitalia slide no. JSM-1355 , wing slide no. JSM-1356 ) ; ♀, Brazil, Humayta , Rio Madeira, Jul–Sep 1906, leg. W. Hoffmanns, BMNH (genitalia slide no. JSM-1586 ) .

EPHIALTIAS HÜBNER, 1816

Figures

Fig. 305. Morphology of Phavaraea (33). A, head of P. rejecta, lateral view; B, head of P. rejecta, lateral view; C, head of P. rejecta, frontal view; D, head of P. rejecta, posterior view; E, head of P. dilitata, lateral view; F, head of P. dilatata, frontal view; G, head of P. dilatata, posterior view (illustration by J.S. Miller).

Fig. 306. Morphology of Phavaraea (33). A, wings of P. rejecta; B, wings of P. dilatata (illustration by J.S. Miller).

Fig. 310. Genitalia of Phavaraea rejecta (3 JSM-1353, ♀ JSM-1355). A, 3 genitalia; B, ♀ genitalia; C, aedeagus; D, 3 Tg8; E, 3 St8 (illustration by A. Trabka).