Auroriana St Laurent & C. Mielke

St. Laurent, Ryan A. & Mielke, Carlos G. C., 2016, Three new genera of Neotropical Mimallonidae (Lepidoptera, Mimallonoidea, Mimallonidae) with descriptions of three new species, ZooKeys 566, pp. 117-143 : 121-124

Taxon classification Animalia Lepidoptera Mimallonidae

Auroriana St Laurent & C. Mielke gen. n.

Type species.

Auroriana colombiana St Laurent & C. Mielke, sp. n.

Etymology.

This genus is named for the sunrise (aurora Latin) because of the pink and orange coloration of all species in the genus. These colors are reminiscent of the light scattering phenomenon of the rising sun. The genus name is feminine.

Diagnosis.

Auroriana can be distinguished from all currently described Mimallonidae by the orange and diffuse pink coloration on all wings, and by the pink and beige head and thorax. Male genitalia are unique in the combination of the following characters: variably-shaped, heavily-sclerotized, unfused gnathos processes, relatively-simple valves, and downward-curved phallus with a distinct lobe-like process at the base. Only a few other similarly-sized, orange and pink Mimallonidae species are known: Druentica fatella (Schaus, 1905), Trogoptera semililacea (Dognin, 1916), and the species of Reinmara Schaus, 1928. These species, while superficially similar to Auroriana , can be easily differentiated by the straight forewing postmedial line and by the stark contrast between the completely or nearly completely pink medial region and the orange postmedial region rather than the much more diffuse pink coloration in Auroriana . Additionally, the dark brown wing fringes accent the notch at the tornus of both Druentica fatella and Trogoptera semilacea , a character not seen in Auroriana . Druentica fatella has a characteristic dark tuft of scales at the terminus of the abdomen, which is absent in Auroriana . Furthermore, the genitalia of these species are entirely distinct from those of Auroriana , where all major characters pertinent to the diagnosis of Auroriana are absent. Interestingly, the present study reveals that Druentica fatella likely does not belong to its present genus due to a combination of external and genitalia characters unlike what is seen in other species of Druentica .

Description.

Male.Head: Width roughly two thirds that of thorax, pinkish; labial palpus not extending beyond frons, pink; antenna bipectinate to terminus; rami increasing in length from antennal base to roughly one fifth of antennal length where rami length is nearly constant for following fifth of antennal length after which rami continuously decrease in length until terminus. Thorax: Pink and beige, thickly covered in long scales, darker petiolate scales absent. Legs: Light pink, vestiture long, tarsus usually tan, tibial spurs similar to those of Eadmuna Schaus, 1928. Forewing dorsum: Forewing length: 16-21 mm. Somewhat triangular, slight inward notch at tornus, margin convex mesally. Ground color light orange brown, overall very sparsely speckled by dark petiolate scales. Antemedial line faint pink, nearly straight or bowed slightly. Postmedial line slightly or moderately bowed inward, dark brown, outward edge lined with very pale pink band of varying width, postmedial line angled sharply to wards costa after passing Rs4. Discal spot a small black mark. Antemedial area usually more solid pink than diffusely shaded medial area. Sub- and marginal areas darker than medial area. Forewing ventrum: As for forewing dorsum but antemedial and postmedial lines faint or absent; pink suffuse line near apical quarter extending from costa to postmedial suffusion. Hindwing dorsum: Coloration as for forewing dorsum, but less pink, postmedial line may lack outer pink edging. Hindwing ventrum: As in for forewing ventrum but postmedial line better developed, lobed outward mesally. Frenulum a single bristle. Venation: Typical of Mimallonidae , very similar to Cicinnus melsheimeri but CuA1 bent more posteriorly. Abdomen: Short, not extending beyond hindwing tornus, stout, coloration as for thorax but with more beige than pink. Genitalia: Somewhat complex; tegumen very broad to narrow, subtriangular, or more rectangular. Vinculum ovoid or irregularly shaped, lobes present mesally below gnathos, or when not present, elongated, trumpet-like structures present at base of valves instead; uncus tubular or triangular, in most species hardly differentiated from tegumen; gnathos as two unfused heavily-sclerotized processes, either roughly triangular or two-pronged. Valves triangular, with triangular or rounded saccular edge lobe, valve with mesal tooth present in one species; saccular edge of valve with longer, heavier setae in Amazonian species. Juxta fused to phallus, with elongate ventral process connecting phallus at base of valves. Phallus variable in length, but always curved downward; basally with ventrally angled elongation, terminus with hook-like process or simple. Female.Head: As for male, but antennal rami shorter. Thorax: As for male, but with more beige scales. Legs: As for male. Forewing dorsum: Forewing length: 17 mm. As for male, but broader, pink suffusions reduced, ground color more olive green than orange. Forewing ventrum: As for forewing dorsum but pinkish suffusions nearly absent, postmedial line absent, discal mark more pronounced. Hindwing dorsum: As for male but slightly broader, dark petiolate scales more numerous, especially antemedially. Hindwing ventrum: Following same pattern as forewing ventrum. Abdomen: As for male, but broader. Sternite VIII with pair of short sclerotized bands posteriorly. Genitalia: Papillae anales broad, somewhat rectangular, covered in setae, increasing in length at base. Apophyses anteriores with curved tips; apophyses posteriores robust, wide, slightly longer and broader than apophyses anteriores. Ductus bursae very long, somewhat sclerotized near ostium, ductus not differentiated from long, narrow corpus bursae. Dorsal sclerotization of tergite VIII as narrow band with posteriorly directed mesal arc with membranous center. Lamella antevaginalis very large, broad, trapezoidal, notched mesally.

Remarks.

This new genus is erected to include three South American species. All three species are known from very few specimens, being poorly represented in collections. Herbin (2012) was the first to recognize the uniqueness of Auroriana florianensis at the time of its original description, but did not describe a new genus in which to place it. Upon the discovery of two additional species similar to Auroriana florianensis , the first author determined that external morphology and male genital characteristics united these three species and set them apart from all other described Mimallonidae genera. We hereby describe a new genus in which to place the previously described Auroriana florianensis and the two new species described below.

Key to species of Auroriana *

*Note: the females of Auroriana colombiana and Auroriana gemma are unknown.