Lyces solaris (Schaus) FW, 1892

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 : 778

Lyces solaris (Schaus) , new combination Figure 324F–J ; plate 30

Scea solaris Schaus, 1892: 285 .

TYPE LOCALITY: ‘‘Peru’’.

TYPE: Syntype ♀ ( USNM type no. 11572).

DISCUSSION: Schaus (1892) described solaris in the genus Scea , undoubtedly because of its wing pattern (pl. 30). However, as has happened to so many taxonomists studying the Josiini , he was misled by convergence. Subsequent authors ( Prout, 1918; Hering, 1925; Bryk, 1930) followed Schaus, retaining the species in Scea , but here solaris is referred to Lyces as a new combination.

Another taxon formerly in Scea but now in Lyces — vulturata Warren (pl. 30)—shares wing-pattern similarities with solaris . Ignoring wing pattern, the genitalia of solaris (fig. 324F–J) are similar to those of L. fornax (pl. 30) in every detail. The relationship of these taxa to one another, and to other members of Lyces , will be revealed only through a comprehensive revision and phylogenetic analysis of the genus.

The female syntype of L. solaris is missing its abdomen, but I examined a male and female, both from the USNM, identical to it in every way. The male of L. solaris possesses antennal rami so short that the antenna could be characterized as ciliate or subserrate.

Lyces solaris is extremely rare. In addition to the three USNM specimens noted above, there are six females at the BMNH. The male dissected (JSM-1391) is the only one known.

DISTRIBUTION: Peru (USNM); Bolivia (BMNH), Argentina (USNM).

DISSECTED: ³, ‘‘ Peru’ ’, Colln. Wm Schaus, USNM (genitalia slide no. JSM-1391 ) ; ♀, Argentina, [‘‘Valliceto’’], 27 Sep 1920, USNM (genitalia slide no. JSM-1392 ) .

Figures

Fig. 324. Genitalia of Lyces. A, ³ of L. minuta (JSM-1467); B, aedeagus of L. minuta; C, ♀ of L. minuta (JSM-721); D, ³ Tg8 of L. minuta; E, ³ St8 of L. minuta; F, ³ of L. solaris (JSM-1391); G, aedeagus of L. solaris; H, ♀ of L. solaris (JSM-1392); I, ³ Tg8 of L. solaris; J, ³ St8 of L. solaris.