Ephialtias choba (Druce) Druce, 1899

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 : 747-748

Ephialtias choba (Druce) , new combination Figure 315 ; plate 29

Myonia choba Druce, 1899: 297 .

TYPE LOCALITY: Brazil, Amazonas, Santarem.

TYPE: Syntype 3, leg. Leech ( BMNH).

Actea transita Hering, 1925: 524 . New synonymy. TYPE LOCALITY: Brazil, Pará (3).

TYPE: Syntype 3/ ♀ ( ZMH).

DISCUSSION: This species was formerly placed in the genus Actea Walker ( Prout, 1918; Hering, 1925; Bryk, 1930). Here, it is newly combined with Ephialtias .

Typical specimens of Ephialtias choba differ from E. monilis (pl. 29) in possessing a single small yellow spot near the FW costal margin, rather than having a pair of large spots separated at M 2. Comparison of male and female genitalia (figs. 315, 317) confirms that the two species are distinct. They show strong differences in the shape of male St8, in the shape of the male vesica, and in the shape of the signum of the female CB. In fact, within the Abrupta Group, E. choba and E. monilis do not appear to be sister taxa. For example, they show different scale configurations on their labial palpi (see species key), and the frontal scales are oriented differently—vertically in monilis but horizontally in choba . Such traits indicate considerable divergence between the two. At this time, I am unable to suggest a precise placement of E. choba relative to other Ephialtias species.

Dissection of the ZMH syntypes of Actea transita , described as a species by Hering (1925) and retained as such by Bryk (1930), produced an interesting result. These specimens show a long yellow transverse FW band (pl. 29), rather than a single spot near the anterior margin. Their FW pattern thus approximates that of E. monilis . Nevertheless, their male and female genitalia (JSM-1764, 1765) are identical with those of E. choba , as are their palpus and head-scaling patterns. Here, transita Hering is placed in synonymy with E. choba (Druce) . To stabilize the nomenclature of transita , I also designate the male as a lectotype and the female as a paratype. In addition to the ZMH type material, there is a male paratype of transita at the BMNH.

This synonymy demonstrates the existence of wing-pattern variation in E. choba , with most specimens showing a single small FW spot, but rare examples (the transita types) exhibiting a long, uneven band. The best wing-pattern trait for separating E. choba and E. monilis involves the FW ventral surface, where choba shows a diffuse basal streak, absent in E. monilis .

Ephialtias choba is not common in collections, but a fairly large series (633, 6♀♀) is housed at the USNM. The species is found on the lower Amazon of Brazil, in the vicinity of Santarém, occurring in sympatry with E. abrupta and E. consueta .

DISTRIBUTION: Brazil (BMNH, CMNH, NMW, USNM, ZMH).

DISSECTED: 3, Brazil, Amazonas, Taperinha, Dognin Colln., USNM (genitalia slide no. JSM-1343 ) ; 3 type of transita Hering , Brazil, Pará, A. Schulz S., 23/992, ZMH (genitalia slide no. JSM-1764 ) ; ♀, Brazil, Amazonas, Taperinha, Dognin Colln., USNM (genitalia slide no. JSM-1344 ) ; ♀ type of transita Hering , Brazil, Pará, ‘‘7738’’, ZMH (genitalia slide no. JSM-1765 ) .

Figures

Fig. 315. Genitalia of Ephialtias choba (3 JSM-1343, ♀ JSM-1344). A, 3 genitalia; B, aedeagus; C, 3 Tg8; D, ♀ genitalia; E, 3 St8.